If you don’t have a goal yet, you are probably working out in all directions. You can’t achieve success if you are not moving towards something. Often goals can be intimidating. I often hear people say – ‘but I have to lose 25 kilos to be my correct bodyweight… I know I need to exercise but I just don’t have the time… exercise is for fitness buffs not for guys like me, I am happy with my beer belly…’ What I really think is that people are often too scared to set goals and too lazy to stay committed. If you have thought about exercise, know you need to set the wheel in motion, are detracted by how far away your goals seems, stop being overwhelmed and get started. Set smaller more achievable goals and then set bigger ones only if you want to. It’s not a race but it is imperative to your health and wellbeing. Before you set goals, big or small, here are a few tips that may help:
- Think about what you really want. You goals should be about things that you really want to achieve, not based on what people think or what friends and family want. This will enable you to stick the course and take care of yourself.
- Always remember, the goals you set are not written in stone. If you meet roadblocks or are thrown off course, you can always get back or start afresh, or even create new goals that may be different to what you wanted before. How you react to situations is your choice. You have the power always. If you have steered off course, just get right back on – no ifs, ands or buts about it.
- Be realistic about your goals. If you are 5 feet 2 inches and have a stocky build, no matter how hard you work, you will never look waif like. Instead set goals that are realistic and productive. Think about being healthier and happier first rather than clinging to an image that you think you should be but one that is improbable to achieve. Be honest about where you are because building fitness requires time and commitment.
Working out and eating healthy must never be overly complicated, mundane, or make you miserable. The best formula is the one that you can sustain over a long period and learn to embrace as part of your life. Experiment to find out what works best for you, you may make mistakes or get angry, but that is also a part of the process. The one important thing – let exercise become something you enjoy.
Goals provide direction and help bring focus to our lives. This summer think about creating goals that will help you stay strong, fit and energetic. Remember it’s always possible no matter where you are at this point in time – even if you have never exercised before, even if you are 30 kilos overweight, even if you think you do not have the time, even if you have created mental blocks about exercise. Start small, start right, start now.
Sandesh Palungwa Limbu, Certified professional fitness instructor, founder of RAGE Fitness, and specialises in mixed martial arts.
