Happy Memorial Day! Summer Goal Setting 101

Posted May 26, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Megan Hueter

Section: In The News, His Fitness, Cardio Training, Strength Training, His Health, Physical Health, His Inspiration, Success Stories

The staff at Hesfit and the TFS Media Network would like to wish you a safe, happy Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a reminder that summer is right around the corner. Use this weekend as time to set goals toward getting your body in shape. Start by setting goals. Make your goals last from Memorial Day until Labor Day. The key is making sure your goals are SMART, an acronym which you should keep in mind as you create fitness goals.

S=specific. Make sure your goals are not too general. Instead of “lose weight,” your goal should be to “lose twenty pounds.” (The specific and measurable aspects of this acronym go together). M=measurable. Make sure your goals can be quantified. Having a specific number to work to is very important. A=attainable. Make sure your goals are attainable. Instead of “lose twenty pounds in two weeks,” your goal should be “lose twenty pounds over the summer.” Check with your health professional. If you don’t need to lose twenty pounds, find a goal that works for you. Maybe fifteen is all you need. (The attainable and realistic aspects of this acronym go together hand in hand). R=realistic. If your goals aren’t realistic, you’re probably not going to achieve them. For instance, as a female, my goal will not be to gain three inches of bicep muscle over the course of the summer. Instead, I might work to increase my arm strength by being able to curl three sets of ten reps with twenty-five pounds in each hand. T=timely. Your goals should have a beginning date and an end date. Having a deadline is critical to success. Sticking to this deadline is even more important. Work each week to get make a little more progress. Push yourself a little harder each week.

It’s best if you can work with a personal trainer at the gym. This is someone who can help you choose realistic goals and can measure your progress and motivate you to meet your deadline. I realize not everyone can afford this, but for some of us, if we prioritize our expenses in our lives, we can make it work. If you think you can swing it, try it out for the summer. It might be the best investment you’ve ever made.

For those of you who can’t afford it, use the internet. The internet gives you access to some of the best information available. Check out sites such as the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Strength and Conditioning Association. They often publish papers on fitness programs for specialized populations. Check out this article from the ACSM for developing strength and flexibility in healthy adults.