Goal setting will forever be a huge part of most people’s
end of year wrap up. The new years resolutions will be posted and the
motivation to achieve things will be at an all time high. With this I’d like to
provide a push towards setting performance based goals and being kinder to
yourself in the new year and beyond. I think it’s forever going to be a losing
battle if you place all of your emphasis on the way that you look, rather than
the way that you feel and the things you can do. I’d ten times out of ten
rather a significant weight on a barbell than one on the scales. I’d also
rather see that weight on the bar move comfortably and know I am able to
perform other great feats in the gym, rather than place my worth on the way I
look in the mirror. With this in mind, you have to remember that a strong
healthy body is more often than not, going to look the part anyway. I haven’t
met too many people who can squat over 140kg who don’t have decent legs. The
same goes for any other lift. Mass moves mass, and more mass in the right
places is going to make your physique look good regardless of your body fat
percentage. I think this approach really allows you to see the bigger picture
with your training and it helps to take some pressure off of the process. Save
your 12 week challenges, your keto, your burpees, your tough guy approach to
training and start writing down some things you’d like to achieve, then work
with a professional to make them happen.
Hire a professional:
Health professionals not only have the ability to help guide you towards your
goals, but ensure you get there in the safest most effective way. I can attest
to a lot of “professionals” spruiking the “cleanse”, “12 week challenge”, “shred
fat fast” approach. To me, these people are in no way a professional within
their craft so I’d steer clear of them if I was you. Aim to be guided by
somebody who can see your strengths and weaknesses, can devise a plan that is
sustainable and who doesn’t put too much pressure on you. It’s fine to be
motivated and held accountable, but remember, this is a very long term thing.
Training for the rest of your life is going to be a day by day process. You
want somebody in your corner who can get you there and beyond, but who isn’t
trying to sell you a pipe dream. By working with somebody long term, you should
be able to surpass all of your own expectations and know that the goals list is
slowly going to be ticked off. This shouldn’t be just a new year’s resolution
thing, it should be something you want for yourself for the rest of your life.
Having discipline:
In health and fitness terms, discipline and accountability go hand in hand. It’s
going to be hard to achieve anything in life without a bit of discipline. A
drive to achieve success without impediment, and a desire to hold yourself to
your word. These qualities are what are going to be the difference between
achieving something, and putting it on the back burner. This approach goes hand
in hand with performance based goals, and aiming to achieve something you have
set your mind to. Knowing the time frame and understanding the process of how
to get there is going to be all it will take. You can’t expect success or
mastery over night, so taking the day by day, long term approach is going to be
the way to go. Along the way you will learn a lot, have set backs, have doubts,
but it is going to be your discipline and dedication that will ultimately see
you through to the end, and beyond.
Think big:
I don’t necessarily mean the numbers on the bar here either. Take the time to
work out what you’d like to be able to achieve within the next 12 months, 2
years, 5 years etc. Think about what the process is going to look like. What systems
are going to be put into place? What routines will be built? Who you are going
to want to go through this journey with? What the rest of your life is going to
look like also? Forward planning is a great life skill and I am sure you have
thought this way during University, or your career, so why not align this
though process with your health? Remember this; you only get one body.
Formulate a plan to have it in good health for the rest of your life; so when
you are successful in your career and you want to travel etc, your body can
take you to where ever you want to go in life.