Goals or Resolutions? You Need Both
Do you have health and fitness goals and resolutions? You need both.
A goal is the finish line. Once you’ve accomplished it, it gets crossed off your list. It’s done; You lost 10lbs, hit that PR at the gym, or completed a race. Resolutions, on the other hand, are the intentions that drive you to achieve your goals: Get in shape, be healthier, have more energy. You’ll never cross these off your list, they are ongoing.
Goals are the steps that lead you to realize your resolutions. If you lose the 10lbs your doctor recommended (goal), you’ll look at feel better (resolution).
As a Wellness Coach and Personal Trainer, I see many new clients coming to me with resolutions rather than goals: get fit, tone up, stay healthy, eat better. These are great resolutions to have and hiring a Coach/Trainer is a very important step (a.k.a. goal) in the process. As a coach, I help guide clients to set SMART goals (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound) based on their resolutions. I can help a client only when I know the goals they are working toward. Neither I nor the client will know if our relationship is successful if we don’t have a goal and some way to measure success.
For example, for a client who wants to eat better, we would first assess their current eating habits. The next step is education about dietary needs and showing the client where they are falling short or going over. I will then help the client to determine what goals they want to work on first: water, protein, fiber, etc. From there, I offer guidance and accountability to help the client reach these specific, measurable goals that they have set for themselves.
Another common example: a new client wants to get in shape. Again, we’ll first assess their current level of fitness. I’ll check weight, body composition, BMI (body mass index), and resting heart rate. I will also perform movement assessments to determine if there are any postural misalignments, compensations, muscles weakness/tightness, and joint instability. From there, I can advise the client of healthy ranges for their health markers for their age and I can suggests improvements based on what I found in the movement assessments. It’s up the client to decide what goals are important to them. From there, I can develop a program to help them reach their specific goals.
Your resolutions are the guiding principles that propel you into action. It’s important to also have specific, measurable, attainable, relevant (to you), time-bound goals. Having meaningful resolutions, SMART goals, a plan to get you there, and a coach to guide you and hold you accountable, is the formula for success!
Don’t know how to achieve your resolutions? I can help! Email me!
Alicia Cross is a Certified Personal Trainer, Wellness Coach, and Yoga Instructor with more than 15 years’ experience working with clients in classes and one-on-one. She is a yogi, meditator, vegan, and lifter of heavy things. If you’re ready to discover the strength and peace that comes from within, email Alicia@AliciaCrossTraining.com.
Related Posts:
Fix Your Nutrition in 10 Steps
Falling off the Fitness Wagon?
