Setting Goals for Success

Good morning! Well, I've been thinking a lot about goal setting lately, and I've decided to turn my goal setting habits upside down. Usually I write down goals that go something like, "After this 90 day round of ChaLEAN Extreme, I will be down to __% body fat, have flat abs and lose two pounds each week." And sure, I would love to be down in weight, body fat and really increase my muscle definition, but those aren't the goals that are going to get me results. Those are my ideal results which I really don't have any direct control over - I have no idea how my body will respond to these workouts or my new diet. You see that on the Biggest Loser all the time - they work hard, eat well, and sometimes their body just has a different idea and they lose one pound for all of that hard work. It's still a pound though! I notice in myself that if I don't get the exact results I was pushing for that week, then I lose my gusto and bad habits start sneaking back. So why not just let those results happen?

Anyway, the goals that we do have direct control over are ones like pushing play or hitting the gym every day, eating good healthy foods each day, learning about moderation on the not so good for you foods, etc. The two times in my life that I've been truly successful with this healthy lifestyle change were when I focused on the work instead of the final outcome because if you focus on the work, the results will follow. (And you won't be upsetting your motivation if those changes don't happen as quickly as you want.) Just be patient, put your nose to the grind stone, and let those results happen.

So my goals for my 90 day ChaLEAN Extreme challenge are these: push play/hit the gym every day (even on those rest days for some active recovery), focus on moderation in my eating habits, drink water consistently and keep a positive attitude and self-talk. What are your new goals?

Off to push play this morning!

Court