By Jerome Boadu – Health Club manager, LivingWell Health Club
It's easy to fall into a fitness plateau, as discussed in our previous article, so if you’re looking for a way to boost your results and your motivation to train, there is no better way than setting a training goal.
It’s a lot easier to reach that finish line if you have a goal in sight. Whether it’s a 5km run for charity, an ocean swim or a triathlon, having a target event will generate a surge of motivation as you strive and focus on achieving the end result.
The most important thing is to ensure that you set a training goal that’s SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely. Your goal event must test and challenge you mentally and physically, but within reasonable parameters. For example it would be unwise to commit to an ocean swim in two months’ time if you need to learn to swim first. Setting a goal to complete a course of swimming lessons and swim unaided for 50m would be a much more achievable target and one that would deliver the most benefits to you both physically and mentally.
In addition to health and fitness benefits, there are a number of additional reasons why goal setting can positively impact your life;
1. With a clearly defined training goal you can monitor your progress toward the end result. This progress gauging will help to identify strengths, weaknesses and any barriers to completion, so you can adapt and amend your training as required to reach that finish line. Gauging progress in any task and then making the necessary adjustments is a very useful tool to take through life.
2. Not only is training towards that goal event improving your health and fitness, you will see unexpected and positive life changes evolving too. The individual that sets a training goal and commits to achieving it will typically enjoy more success in other performances in life, whether at work, in relationships or at home. Remember - a healthy body means a healthy mind!
3. The motivational benefits that come with training goals also leads to improved self-confidence and self-image. Those who train towards a goal and then achieve it will feel satisfied, empowered and confident – this can only lead to good things in life, right?!
4. Effective goal setting makes you happy – now who doesn’t want happiness!? Goal setting is fun, and doing it with a friend or colleague will also broaden your social horizons. This happiness injection can only positively influence others areas of your life.
LivingWell Health Club is building a team to tackle the Sydney Morning Herald City 2 Surf, so why not join us? The iconic, annual 14km run from College Street in the city to Bondi Beach held on Sunday August 12th, is a great goal event to strive towards for any fitness level. Search the LIVINGWELL @ HILTON group to join the Club's team and enter the password: Hilton. Please contact the club for more information.
LivingWell Health Club is free to hotel guests and open to club membership for busy city workers who need a little time out. Being exclusive to the Hilton Group with 90 LivingWell outlets worldwide, LivingWell members are able to take advantage of a host of other exclusive benefits. Membership packages start from $28 per week.
Visit LivingWell at www.livingwell.com.au and on Facebook for access to the latest information and promotions.
