Anyone who goes in for fitness training needs to have a fitness goal. If you just decide to work out without a set goal in mind you may land up going through automatic workouts week in and week out without much progress or success. So once you decide to regular working out, be clear on what you want to achieve from the same – drop weight, build muscle etc.

The next step would be to check with a personal training the type of workouts you need to do and the time frame required for you to reach your goal. Steps required for you to achieve your fitness goals are as under:

• Your fitness goals should be specific and achievable. If you think up unrealistic goals you will be setting yourself up for disappointment and failure. Make a plan – in fact make two plans, long-term and short-term.
• The short-term plan will help you to track any progress you make on a weekly basis. If you feel you are not benefiting from the workout plan, the personal trainer can make necessary changes to achieve better results.
• Once you start working out you need to be committed. Whatever workout plan you decide on, it should take into account the amount of time you can commit to the sessions on a weekly basis. In case you need to cancel a session make sure you reschedule the same. It is easy to slacken off due to mood changes, tiredness or attending to other personal commitments. Such missed workouts will de-rail your efforts so it is important to stay committed.
• While on the subject of goal-setting, some goals are likely to be more achievable than others. This is where intrinsic motivation comes in. Intrinsic motivation is the reason you decide to work out. Are you working out to achieve something you want? Or are you working out to impress or please someone else? You need to really personally want to reach a particular fitness goal. Without that strong desire you will be likely to fail in your efforts.
• Tracking of short-term goals needs to be done on a weekly or monthly basis. You need to know whether the workouts are swinging in your favour. If you find yourself on track your chances of reaching your long-term goals are better. So regular measuring is recommended. Your diet is also an important factor when working out and may require changes if you do not see positive results.
• Add a ‘social’ touch to working out. This could be achieved in two ways. Either you find a partner to work out with, or keep family members and friends informed of your workout progress. Such social interaction will give you the required support and help to keep you motivated during any ‘off-time’ periods.

Conclusion

Working out to lose weight, build strength and generally keep fit is a journey. Yes, you need to be committed and take appropriate steps to achieve your goals. But – you do not need to be miserable and make it a drudgery routine.

You can make working out fun – get involved in activities that you enjoy and which can help you to reach both short term and long term goals. The same applies to the type of diet you need. If you make working out fun, you will definitely be able to achieve your fitness goals.