A Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Realistic, Attainable Fitness Goals

As we near the end of the year, it’s time to start thinking about resolutions. For many, this means re-evaluating and ramping up their approach to health and wellness. While it’s easy to feel energized and motivated at first, it’s no secret that this inspiration quickly wanes. In fact, one survey found that 44% of Americans usually give up their fitness goals by the end of January!

From gym intimidation to energy slumps, there are many reasons why this might be the case. Still, it isn’t impossible to set goals you actually keep. Today, we’re sharing a step-by-step guide to help you create and stick to a plan you’ll feel great about all year long. 

1. Create a Realistic Timeline

As you open the first page on your new planner, you might feel a surge of enthusiasm. This will be the year you finally train for a marathon, double your lift weight, and start every morning with fresh celery juice.

This all-encompassing plan might start fresh on Monday, but by Friday, you’re likely to feel more than a little burned out. One of the most common mistakes that people make when setting fitness goals is to over-commit. Suddenly, you’re multitasking and trying to get it all done, only to discover that you’re half-committing to each endeavor.

Instead, take the time to stagger your goals, approaching them one at a time.

This way, you give yourself the freedom to live comfortably when you’re not at the gym. This can help keep any anxious feelings at bay, and ensure you don’t feel defeated before you even begin. Organize your goals in order of priority, and once you’ve mastered the first, you can move on to the next.

2. Set SMART Fitness Goals

There’s a reason why every business professional knows the meaning behind the SMART acronym: It works. Standing for Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Relevant and Time-Based, this is a proven method for distinguishing between daydreaming and day-doing.

In short, this is the process of putting fire under your goals. It’s tempting to simply say, “I’ll work out more this year” or “I’ll run as much as I can.” However, unless your goals are more clearly defined, how will you track your progress? 

To stay on course and create a clear path to success, be as detailed as possible with your fitness goals. For instance, the above examples could change to “I want to deadlift 15 repetitions in my home gym” or “I want to run a 5k.”

Do you see the difference? In addition to taking these steps, you should also make your goal time-based. For instance, you might aim to run in a local 5k in May or deadlift 15 repetitions by the start of summer. By giving yourself a timeline, you have an ending to work toward, and you’re less likely to slack off. 

3. Don’t Compare Yourself to Others

In today’s Digital Era, it’s all too easy to hop on your phone and scroll away. Before you know it, you’ve killed 30 minutes and all you’ve gained is a jab to your self-esteem.

While platforms like Instagram and Facebook can be great ways to connect, they can also be detrimental to your fitness journey if you use them the wrong way. There’s a reason why one in two Americans are intimidated at the thought of working out in a gym. It’s easy to compare ourselves to others and think there’s no way we can get to where they are.

Instead of measuring your own success by comparing it to others, keep in mind that this is a personal and unique experience. You might not be able to do the advanced yoga poses you see on YouTube and that’s OK. Instead, focus on what you can do and seek to improve from there.

4. Psych Yourself Into It 

Quick: Think about the reasons you abandon most of your fitness goals. Chances are, it isn’t that your body wasn’t up to the task. Rather, it became too stressful, overwhelming and daunting. 

Health and wellness are largely mental, and overcoming common obstacles is the key to long-term success. That’s why it helps to start with small, obtainable goals that don’t require too much change to your normal pace.

This means instead of saying you’re going to run three miles without stopping, make your first goal to simply run the quarter mile around your neighborhood. Reward yourself when you meet this goal, and slowly inch it up from there. 

By creating smaller goals that you know you can achieve, you’ll give yourself a great boost of self-esteem, along with the motivation to keep it up. Otherwise, it can be hard to get going if the mountain in front of you looks unmovable.

5. Find Your “Why”

Most of the truly transformative fitness goals go much deeper than surface-level. Sure, you want to look good and feel great, but what’s really driving you to get up in the morning and stick to your plan?

Is it to be around a long time for your children? Do you want to prove those bullies in high school that you can do it? Are you working through self-esteem issues that took root when you were young?

All of the gains in the world won’t be enough to satisfy you if these issues are still lingering without resolution. Instead of ignoring them or pushing them aside, take the time to really understand and work through these emotions. You might find that the sense of clarity this exercise brings is plenty of motivation to propel you through even the most challenging workouts!

Of course, if this brings up new hurts or you find that it triggers new anxieties, it’s always best to speak to a mental health expert. This is a critical component of your overall wellbeing and it’s equally important as any physical goal you could set.

6. Acknowledge the Challenges

Your journey to optimal health won’t be smooth sailing all the time. Rather, you’re almost guaranteed to have hurdles and challenges that make you question your progress. In some cases, they could even be enough to make your consider abandoning your effort altogether!

To prevent this from happening, go ahead and acknowledge these potential challenges before they turn into strongholds. This means taking a realistic look at yourself and being honest about your weaknesses. Ask yourself:

• What’s holding me back from achieving this goal?
• Why haven’t I tried this sooner?
• What derailed my efforts last time?
• Which of my habits are counterproductive to this goal?

You might even find it helpful to write these answers down. Ponder them and consider how you could make a new start this time around. Sometimes, it might mean cutting back on certain routines you thoroughly enjoy. For instance, if you’ve planned to work out Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, then you might need to abandon late-night “Thirsty Thursdays” for an earlier bedtime.

7. Find Resources and Products to Help

You don’t have to do this alone. Today, there are more resources than ever before, all designed to help you crush your fitness goals. 

As you make progress, look for ways to work smarter, not harder. For instance, you might find that adding SARMs to your routine can help you see the results you want quicker. Available in liquid or powder form, SARMs can help deliver the safe and effective workout boost you need. 

Or, you might find that you prefer to take a dose of nootropics in the morning or afternoon to bolster your performance during the day. You can find these products and more in our online shop, along with other guides and resources to help you stay on track with your goals. We even 

If you’re looking for an everyday supplement that can help sharpen your focus and ease your nerves, you can also look into starting a kratom regimen. This do-all plant from Southeast Asia can help you achieve the mindset needed to get motivated and stay there. 

Ultimately, the supplements and products you select should be well-suited to your personal fitness goals. Think about what you want to achieve and which products could help you get to that finish line.

Need Help Reaching Your Fitness Goals?

We might be closing out one year, but we’re on the cusp of the next. This is a promising and exciting season for everyone, and it’s an ideal time to set new fitness goals.

To resist falling into the trap that the overly ambitious often set for themselves, start small and keep the plan realistic. Reward your successes and hold yourself accountable for completing the next step on time. Along the way, look for products and supplements that can help you feel your best.

Curious about purchasing the highest-quality SARMs, peptides, nootropics and more? It helps to know what to look for. Check out our guide to buying supplements safely online!