How To Set SMART Fitness Goals

Setting SMART Fitness Goals

Specific
Setting specific goals and creating specific fitness plans will help you reach your target. For your larger, overall goal, choose something specific to work towards to help keep you motivated. For example,  Instead of saying you want to lose weight, set a specific goal weight. This way you have a number to work towards. Make sure your fitness plan is also specific. For example, instead of saying you want to work out more, choose the exact number of workouts that you’ll do per week and how long each one is. Also specify what you’ll do for each workout. For example, if you’re working out 4 days this week and designating a day each for arms, legs, cardio, and core, set out specific workouts. You might want to do 30 minutes on the treadmill and 30 minutes on the stair climber. Whatever your goal is, ensure that it is not vague and that your steps to get there are laid out so you can establish whether or not you accomplished your daily goal and, eventually, your final goal. A personal trainer can help you reach a specific goal.

Measurable
For the same reason you want to be specific, you also want a measurable goal. This makes it easier to work towards something and it shows you your progress as you go. A large goal is measurable to see your progress overall, but you can also measure your progress with smaller goals so that you can feel accomplished as you go. For example, your end goal may be to eventually lift 300 pounds, but you can set a weekly or monthly goal in between that to help you measure and maintain your progress.

Attainable
Setting unrealistic goals will not get you the results you want and can discourage you from continuing or trying again. Unattainable goals can also be unsafe. For example, trying to lose 30 pounds in a month isn’t a very attainable goal and it might lead to extreme dieting that’s bad for your body. Trying to gain 30 pounds of muscle in a month also isn’t realistic and can cause you to push yourself too hard and can lead to injury. Instead, choose smaller, attainable goals. It’s better to reach these smaller goals than to aim for something unrealistic, not achieve it, feel unaccomplished, and then derail your fitness journey.

Relevant
Everyone starts their fitness journey for a different reason. If you have health issues that you’re trying to improve, tailor your fitness routine to address that issue. For example, if you’re trying to recover after an injury, you may want to focus on strengthening the injured area or increasing your mobility through stretching. Or if you have high blood pressure, you may want to get into cardio to strengthen your heart. Your fitness goal can also be related to your interests. For example, if you want to get into white water rafting or get better at rock climbing, you may want to create a fitness routine that builds on the skills and strengths needed for these hobbies. By keeping your fitness routine relevant, you get an obvious real-world application for all the time you put in at the gym.

Time-Bound
Setting a specific goal is great, but it also needs to be accomplished within a specific amount of time. For example, saying you want to be able to lift 300 pounds is great, but how long are you giving yourself to accomplish this? A few months? A year? 5 years? If you don’t have a specific time frame for your goal, you won’t have any sense of pacing and you will likely not stick to a strict fitness routine. When there’s no timeline, it’s much easier to justify skipping a day at the gym, but if you know missing workouts will put you behind on your fitness journey, you are far more likely to stay committed.

Keep Up Your SMART Fitness Goals With Jensen Fitness

If you’re ready to start on your fitness journey, Jensen Fitness can help. At our private gym, we have the tools you need to reach your fitness goals, and we don’t just mean the gym equipment. Jensen Fitness offers personal training to help you set goals and then give you the tools, motivation, and training to meet these goals. Our personal trainers will help you determine what is a realistic and healthy goal and then take the time to create specific steps and a timeline for your fitness journey. Our personal trainers will help you track your progress and adjust workouts as you go so that you can achieve your goals. Don’t want to come into the gym? Not a problem! Jensen Fitness also offers online personal trainers to help you reach your fitness goals from the comfort of your own home. To speak to the staff at Jensen Fitness, call 1-403-200-0199 or fill out the online contact form.

FAQ

Q: How many times should I exercise per week?
A: It is recommended that everyone gets at least 30 minutes of exercise per day, however, if you are embarking on your fitness or weight loss journey, you should workout at least three times per week.

Q: Can a private gym help me meet my personal goals?
A: Yes, at Jensen Fitness our personal trainers and our welcoming staff will help you reach your fitness goals through a personalized wellness plan. If you are training for a race or marathon, read Runners: How A Personal Trainer Can Help You Run A Better Race.

Q: How can I help myself stick to my fitness goals?
A: One of the best things you can do to help yourself reach your fitness goal is to stay accountable. Try working out with a regular gym buddy or hire a personal trainer so that you can’t skip out on sessions.