As we’ve celebrated the beginning of 2010 and the great things to come, it’s time to get back into our routines. What will be different in your routine this year? 
Whether it is scheduling daily exercise sessions, decreasing time spent in front of the TV, or making healthy changes in your diet, it is time to stop thinking about the changes and start MAKING them.
If you already feel strong and healthy that is excellent but why not set a higher goal for yourself!
The best way to get started on making changes in your life is by SETTING GOALS. Here are some tips for proper goal-setting:
SMART Goal-setting:
Specific
Measureable
Attainable
Realistic
Timely
Example SMART Goal #1:
“Be able to complete a 5KM walk or run in 45 minutes by the end of February.”
Example of a type of goal NOT to set:
“Exercise more”
“Eat Healthy”
These types of goals are vague and have no numerical substance so they are hard to measure.
Instead, Try:
“Climb the stairs in my house 25 times a day everyday for 2 weeks.”
“Eat 2 fruits everyday”
Hmm… Not sure what kind of goals to set?
Here are some guidelines to get you started.
- How many calories approximately do you take in each day?
-
How many push ups (the real ones) can you do?
- What is your blood pressure?
-
How much water do you drink each day?
If you cannot answer a question, you have yourself a goal to work on!
*Start recording*
Example SMART GOAL #2:
Keep a food journal for 2 weeks to monitor: eating habits, types of foods, portion sizes, calories consumed, daily nutritional value.
Example SMART GOAL #3:
Shorten the time it takes to walk or run from your house to the nearest park or… to the nearest Starbucks. Practice 3 times a week. Time yourself every 2 weeks. Record the time and date.
Happy goal-setting everyone! If you have any questions, feel free to ask below!
Asma Kassam - Registered Kinesiologist
Guest Post for gymtechnik.com - The webs leading Online and Mobile Fitness Tracking Service