By Andy Dick
As a personal trainer, I am often asked about what the best workout is, or which diet I prefer. The problems with these questions are that they do nothing to address the personal nature of your goals, and your situation. There is no “one size fits all” diet or workout.
It is important to figure out your true goals before you can plan a program on how to achieve them. Simply going to the gym regularly and eating a little better will get you similarly vague results. Instead, take some time before you do anything to map out what you really want to achieve.
Make it personal. People succeed at what they can be passionate about, so work towards what would make you happy.
Make it attainable. Your personal goal should reflect all the influences on your life. Do you work long hours? Do you have physical limitations? All obstacles should be laid out before you put together a program. Having too aggressive a goal will only result in a program that you cannot accomplish.
Make it specific. What would make you happier? “Running a few miles” or finishing a local 5K for the first time? A visual, specific goal with a set end date is a must.
Your personal goal should reflect all the influences on your life. Do you work long hours? Do you have physical limitations? All obstacles should be laid out before you put together a program.
How to set up a program. Once you have completed the above exercise, you are ready to set up your program.
Start now. There is no perfect time, so don’t wait for it. Any long term change will have to incorporate your everyday life. No one goes out and runs a marathon in day one of training, but they don’t run the NY Marathon in November by waiting until the weather is perfect to start training.
Stay motivated. Earlier, we chose a personal goal with visual motivation. Anyone can get up and push in the beginning when there are no obstacles. But what will get you out of bed and running when you have a small cold, you had a late work dinner the night before, and it is raining out? Passion is what drives us to keep going and to make sacrifices.
Work hard, and enjoy it. You have chosen a goal that you value and will enjoy the finished product. In any journey, there will be obstacles. Learn to enjoy every aspect of the journey. Who really expects to train for a race without a few bumps and bruises? These obstacles are what make the goal that much more special. If there were no obstacles, anyone and everyone would accomplish it!
– Andy Dick (A.C.E.) is the owner and operator of Optimum Results, a fitness company that provides a full range of health, fitness, and nutritional services.