The Smart Principle
All fitness goals and targets need to follow, what is known in the industry, as the SMART principle. They need to be:
S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Accurate
R = Realistic
T = Timed
| Smart Factor |
Explanation |
| Specific (S) |
Try and be specific when choosing fitness goals. Don’t just decide to lose weight or get fit. Be specific on how much weight you want to lose or how many inches or dress sizes you want to drop. You may want to gain muscle and get bigger.
You may want to start jogging for instance. Don’t be as general as this but put a specific jogging goal in place E.g. Be able to jog for 5mins without stopping or a bit more advanced, be able to complete a 5km course |
| Measurable (M) |
Make sure you can measure your goal so you can see whether you are getting closer to achieving it. This may mean using
- Weighing Scales
- Tape Measures
- Stop Watches
- Keeping an eye on the distance figure on a specific piece of gym equipment
- Making note of weights lifted e.t.c.
|
| Accurate (A) |
Try and be as accurate as possible when measuring:
- Use the same set of scales
- Weigh yourself @ the same time of day
- Measure yourself around the same body parts - Chest,
waist, hips and thighs.
|
| Realistic (R) |
Be realistic when picking your goals E.g. Don’t decide to enter the
London Marathon a few weeks before the event with no training!
Or 2wks before your holiday to Majorca, decide you want to lose 2
stone to look nice on the beach! |
| Timed (T) |
It is always good to put a time limit on your goals in order to keep
you motivated! It gives you something to aim for.
E.g. Book yourself in for a 5km Run/Race for life 3mths before and
aim to run the majority of it OR
Divide your weight loss into sections and aim to lose 7lbs every 4-
6wks. |
