Understanding goal setting
Main topic on most people’s mind at the moment is goal setting.
I am all for it, I think this is a great way to keep focused and put a little fire in your belly to achieve a challenge.
However when working on a goal you need to make sure that it is realistic and the outcome is to make you happy and content.
I have found over many years people commit to a goal, only to be disappointed either in themselves or the process of getting to the goal.
I also find some people are successful in achieving their goal – however they still have a ‘But’ and are never fully satisfied, happy or content.
Year after year the majority of people’s goal is weight loss. I understand this as this has been my focus for many years in the past. What is frustrating for many women is that you start a certain program and see results that others have achieved – body transformations – so this is what others set out to complete. Little do you realise that your attempt at the same weight loss program will not have the same outcome due to the fact you have unbalanced hormones – and no program will help you lose your unwanted weight.
My tips for you in setting goals are these:
- If you have been gaining weight in 2016 even though you truly have been following a good diet – eating well 80%-90% of the time, and you are gaining belly fat this could be a cortisol issue and could be a sign your hormones are unbalanced.
Your first step is to reset your hormones by completing a hormone reset or a metabolic reset diet. - Weight loss – aim for a realistic time frame. If you know your past year hasn’t been good with food choices – start to eliminate these bad habits one at a time. Pick the one you think will be the easiest first – then pick the hardest, then alternate between easier swaps to harder swaps.
Not everything weight loss is about the food – it’s about staying active – at least walking and also sleep is a huge part of weight loss.
Learn why sleep is important and how it can help you lose weight.
If you focus on other factors within your lifestyle – such as stress and have some time out for mindfulness this could be the key to your weight loss journey in 2017. - If your goal is to run a marathon, and you haven’t run a 15km or half marathon first – attempt this first – so as you build up to the marathon (these other runs can be used as training as well, plus you can get a medallion).
Before you even set the running goal, ask a qualified trainer who is familiar with running and has run long distances before to look at your running form to give you tips or advice. Discuss with them if you have had knee, hip or foot issues in the past, and get them to help you with an appropriate running and cross training program to ensure you complete your training injury and stress free. - Bodybuilding and power lifting have become popular goals over the past couple of years. Make sure you get advice from a trainer that again has competed themselves, are aware of all the LATEST dietary advice, can guide your through pre training, comp training and post training (very important).
If you have had any eating disorders prior to this goal – I would highly recommend you have a big talk with others whom have competed, you have a support team within your family and friends, plus a nutritionist/naturopath to advise on all supplementation to ensure your body is nourished throughout this process. - Goals can be for you and your family. It could be to eat healthy 6 times a week for dinner and only one night a week you eat out. It could be to share the cooking, it could be to all go for a walk or bike ride 3 times a week.
January goal setting is not about flogging yourself with exercise everyday and eating minimal amounts of food – this theory is outdated and scientifically proven not to work. Ask qualified health practitioners that have latest research information to back their programs – don’t go by what’s in a magazine aimed at a 20 year old female if you are a mum of 3 children in your 40’s – it’s a recipe or program for disaster. - Finally pick goals for you – don’t complete a goal for someone else, like your best friend, your workmate or your neighbor – pick a goal you want and most of all a goal you’ll enjoy doing and be happy with the result.
Happy New year and happy goal setting.
If you want help to get started book a consultation with me and we can have you working on some goals for 2017 in the right order for the right results.
