Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals for Changing Your Body through nutrition, strength training and conditioning.
S.M.A.R.T. Goals!
Specific. Measureable. Attainable. Realistic. Timeline.
By Michael L. Alves, ATC, CSCS
O.K. If you’re considering changing your body and getting in your best shape for 2009, then you must set S.M.A.R.T. goals.
What are S.M.A.R.T. goals? S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym for specific, measureable, attainable, realistic and timeline and is a formula for achieving goals. Read on to learn more.
Specific: You must set specific goals if you want to achieve them. General goals gets you general (read: mediocre) results, specific goals, get you…you guessed it, specific (read: awesome) results.
Ask yourself, “What is it I must change now? What way am I tired of being and I must do it now or I’m only going to get older and it’s never going to change.”
Measurable: You must be able to measure your progress in the short term (to keep excited or to make adjustments if not going as planned) and long term (how will you know you’ve achieved your goal).
What feeling/emotions and actions will you measure daily?
What objective & subjective things can you measure each week/month to give you feedback on your progress?
What objective/subjective things can you measure that will let you know when you’ve achieved your goal?
Attainable: The attainable acronym is your action steps. The things you will do to achieve your goal. “If I want this, I need to do this, this, and this.” What do you need to do to achieve this goal? What do you have to stop doing now and what do you need to start doing now? What habits, people, routines, distractions, foods, etc… are holding you back and what exciting and adventurous new habits can you start?
Realistic: O.K. You may have specific goals, ways to measure them and action steps to achieve them, but let’s play devil’s advocate for a moment. Are they realistic to your current situation, chosen lifestyle, personal schedule and family, social and work environments? Only you know. You may have to tone your goals down, extend the time to achieve them or just “cowboy up” and “get it done”.
Timeline: Now you have to set a date / deadline when will you complete this by including mini dates and deadlines? When will you achieve your specific goal by? You need to know. You have to have something to look forward to. You need a sense of urgency.
What to do next? Now that you know what a S.M.A.R.T. Goal is, go ahead and create one for yourself. Write out each of the acronyms on the left hand margin of your word processing software and write your responses next to each acronym. Save it. Print it out and post it somewhere you’ll see it everyday, like at your desk, on your mirror, above your dresser and on your bedroom door. Also print one out and keep it in your wallet. Review this everyday. Then announce your S.M.A.R.T. Goal(s) below. Making them public will inspire others and reinforce your commitment to them.
Cheers!
Your personal coach,
Mike Alves, ATC, CSCS
www.changeyourbodychallenge.com
More Posts
Tagged with: boot camps boston • changeyourbodybootcamps.com • changeyourbodychallenge.com • exercise • fat loss • Goal Setting • Mental Training • mikealves.com • Nutrition • personal trainer boston • weight loss
Filed under: Training Tips
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
