With the month of January in full swing, you may already be planning how you’ll fulfill your 2020 resolutions. Most of us have at least one resolution that’s focused around getting more in shape so that we’ll feel healthier and happier.
Unfortunately, this urge to “be healthier” can sometimes become overwhelming. Many people know that they are trying to “get in shape” or “lose weight,” but without specific goals, they may quickly lose motivation and give up. That’s because unless results are dramatic, they cannot check their progression on just how “in shape” they have become.
At Acacia Creek, a Masterpiece Living Certified Center for Successful Aging, and retirement community, we believe that fitness is an important part of all wellness categories – intellectual, social, physical, and purposeful. It’s important to begin your new fitness routine by taking time to establish specific goals. They will allow you to determine if you are headed in the right direction, and will help keep you motivated along the way.
When setting a fitness goal, it is best to be clear and specific about what you are trying to achieve. A great strategy is that used by most companies and trainers: the acronym SMART, which stands for specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound.
Here is an example of how to create your fitness goal using a SMART fitness guideline. In this example, we’ll say that our New Year’s resolution is to lose weight.
- Specific: Redefine your goal in detail. Rather than “I want to lose weight,” say, “I will lose ten pounds.”
- Measurable: Consider whether you can you measure your goal so that you will know when you’ve reached it. In this example, you would record your current weight, then weigh yourself in increments over time to determine if you have lost any pounds.
- Attainable: Is there a good possibility that you can reach your goal? In this example, ten pounds is a fair place to start. If you ultimately want to lose more weight, setting and achieving goals in smaller increments gives you an opportunity to celebrate progress along the way.
- Realistic: Is your goal realistic, based on your fitness ability and able to commit to its progress? Choose a goal that you are confident you can handle.
- Time-bound: Determine how often you will work at trying to achieve your goal and set a realistic timeframe in which the weight loss will be accomplished. For example: “I will lose five pounds by March and five more by June.”
And, there you have it: Set a goal, record your progress from start to finish, set an end date, and begin!
Acacia Creek Retirement Community inspires residents to live an active, meaningful life. Our mission as a senior community is to enrich the independence, well-being, and security of our residents through exceptional services and care based on Masonic values.
To learn more about Acacia Creek or our senior housing opportunities, contact us at www.acaciacreek.org/contact
