When it comes to your fitness, what do you want? Though this may seem like an easy question, you may be surprised how uncommon it is for a person to pause, think, identify, and pursue a fitness goal. In today’s article, we’ll explore how you can identify what you want when it comes to your fitness and start on the path to reaching it!
What Drives You?
Perhaps, like most people, you’ve had in the back of your mind for a long time the notion that, “I should really lose some weight.” But, if you’re anything like most people, that’s about as deep and as far as it goes. While that’s a fine place to start, we need to go deeper and get more specific.
Start by thinking along the lines of your primary motivations. Imagine your ideal life: what would you do with your time? Who would you hang around with, where would you go? What would your energy levels be like? Would you feel strong and healthy or fight colds and achy joints perpetually?
Perhaps you see yourself as a protector of those around you, or perhaps you desire to experience the full extent of what’s possible in order to fully embrace the life given you by your Maker. Whatever your motivators are, take the time to think, brainstorm and write down ideas, and craft the essence of what you want into a concise statement. My personal example is as follows:
I will excel in physical strength, stamina and endurance, such that others are in disbelief of what I can do, in order that I may protect others in dangerous situations and discover and enjoy the maximum capabilities of the body God has given me.
Discovering the Right Action
Writing out your fitness mission statement will help you to identify which activities are the right fit for you and how you can best use your time and effort. Your mission statement will help you turn a goal like, “I should lose some weight,” into a measurable, timely goal like, “I will lose 10 pounds by October 1 and reduce my 1-mile run time to 7:00.”
Evaluate your new goals using your mission statement, ensuring that they match and you are taking action that compliments your primary motivations. As another personal example, my goals include reaching 20 uninterrupted muscleups by 2014 and increasing my maximum deadlift to 415 pounds by October 2013. My ongoing goal is to consistently complete workouts faster and with heaver weights than I had donethe previous year. I track this using the Records page of this site, and encourage you to do the same!
Finally, seek out a friend who you can share your fitness mission statement and goals with. Doing so will motivate you, keep you accountable, and accelerate your progress. Be sure to let us know how you’re doing along the way, and enjoy the journey to thriving in your fitness!