Steal Our Trainers' Goal Setting Formula

Whether you're just getting started or you've been going to the gym for years, we all have one thing in common: We want to see progress!

The path to progress starts with choosing a goal and getting to work. But did you know that the goal you set for yourself might actually prevent you from seeing progress?

Personal trainers are industry experts who are trained to help clients stay motivated and accountable by helping them set goals that guide them to reach their full potential. 

In this blog, we're sharing their secrets so you can learn how to set the best fitness goal for yourself and keep seeing progress throughout your fitness journey!

1. Pick a SPECIFIC goal.

Many of us start training with goals to "lose weight," "get stronger," or "work out regularly." While these are all pretty positive aspirations, they lack one key element... specificity. When your goals aren't specific, it makes tracking progress and staying motivated even harder. Any goal you set should be able to answer questions like:

• What do I want to accomplish?
• How will I know when I have achieved this goal?
• How does this goal align with my long-term fitness goals?

Thinking through these questions will help you get to the heart of what you want to do. So, imagine your goal is to "get faster." A trainer will ask why you want to get faster and help you set a goal of something like "Run a 5k race in under 30 minutes by the end of the year" instead.

2. Determine how to measure your progress.

It's not surprising that achieving any goal you set will take time and effort. Otherwise, we would have done it already.

Your goals should be challenging but also obtainable. Personal trainers set goals with measurements built in to make it easier for both of you to track progress and know when you've reached the finish line! The metrics you use to measure your goal will depend on the goal itself.

For example, if you and your trainer discuss your long-term goal of getting stronger, your goal might be something like, "I will increase my bench press weight by 10% over the next 3 months." A goal like this would use workout performance and weight tracking to measure progress and eventually determine when the goal has been met.

3. Do a quick reality check.

There are two times when you'll be the most motivated to work towards your goal: when you set it and as soon as you reach it. So, at this point in the goal-setting process, we need to do a reality check. 

Goals need to be realistic—not something on top of a pedestal that you fall reaching for. Ask yourself: Is this goal something you can reasonably accomplish? (Again, goals should be challenging but not impossible!)

A personal trainer is smart about being the voice of reason. They consider how many times you can realistically workout during the week, whether you are currently at a fitness level where your goal isn't out of reach, and whether the goal aligns with what you want long-term. So, take time to consider whether your goal is realistic.

4. Find how it fits in the big picture.

Setting goals isn't just about the immediate results. It's also about knowing how it fits into the bigger picture of your fitness journey. Consider how achieving your goal will impact your overall health and well-being. Will you feel more confident? Will you improve your endurance? Will you enhance your quality of life?

Trainers work to help clients understand the broader impact that reaching their goals will have on their lives. Constant reminders and connections to the "why" is how they help clients stay committed and focused when motivation dips. 

5. Set a time and get to work!

To turn your fitness goal into reality, you need to set a clear timeline to achieve it. The deadline pushes you to stay focused and consistent. So maybe you give yourself a month, 12 sessions, or even a year to reach your goal. Having a specific time frame will help you stay on track and monitor your progress effectively.

Once you follow these steps to set up a solid goal to work toward, it's time to roll up your sleeves and get to work! Stay committed, stay motivated, and remember that progress takes time and dedication. Don't forget to celebrate little wins, be flexible and forgiving when things don't go as planned, and keep going!

Did you know that you can get a free monthly progress session to check in with a trainer (even if you're not a client)? These sessions are a monthly check-in where you can track your progress, assess your distance to your goals, and have a trainer help fine-tune your plan to get there. Click here to schedule yours!