Saturday, May 11, 2013

Guest Post: Balancing Your Fitness Goals


The following post is from Michelle Pino of New York. She is based at a spa called Skana and is a lifestyle and wellness enthusiast. May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month (no wonder I like May so much!) and May 12 starts National Women's Health Week. Effective goal setting is a common session and workshop topic of mine, and it is always helpful to hear another's input on the subject. This is truly a post for everyone today.

Michelle will cover some basic goal-setting principles for both athlete s and non athletes alike and discuss the use of a modified" Vision Board"-a widely used, fun, and effective way to visualize and plan a roadmap to success. 


The month of May is a great time to get motivated.  Most people are unaware that May is the host to National Physical Fitness & Sports Month, as well as National Women’s Health Week, which kicks off on Mother’s Day.  The warm weather is finally here to stay, so get outside and get moving!

Balance is an important part of being successful at any health-related endeavor, whether the goal is improving health or losing weight. However, how can this balance be created in the bigger picture? People already know that dieting isn't sustainable. Diets might produce short-term weight loss, but they only force the body into starvation mode in the long run, resulting in more fat gain. This means that the conventionally excessive diet and exercise plan just doesn't work well. It spurs some people to waste untold hours at the gym without getting the results they expect. Meanwhile, others never get started because the prospect of fitness seems too intimidating. In truth, exercise has to be optimized, and it shouldn't be excessive. Below is a look at how you can develop a balanced exercise plan.


Organizing Your Fitness Goals
Many people envision an overwhelming pile of impossible goals and checklists when they imagine balancing an exercise plan. Inspiration is what's needed to overcome this feeling, and an inspiration board is an ideal way to develop a plan and keep track of goals and achievements. Whether simple or detailed, an inspiration board can bring ideas, thoughts and dreams out into the open. Ultimately, this results in better-organized thoughts and a focus on the target.


How to Make an Inspiration Board
This process shouldn't be boring. First, look for words, items and pictures that make you want to improve your health. You can look online, in magazines and at recipes for a start. Carefully study the images you find, then figure out how they're connected. Recognize their similarities and relate them to the fitness goals you've brainstormed.


Choosing Your Focus
Now you're ready to make an anchor point for your journey. An example of this could be a picture of a friend that suffered from cancer and made you want to improve your health. This picture will become a motivator that helps keep you on track toward a healthier life when you're feeling less motivated. Arrange the main items and images on your board so that they surround your anchor point. To create a feeling of connection throughout the board, take away items that don't fit. Finally, it's time to inspect your board for anything that doesn't match your goals, whether they're general or specific.

Put this board in a spot where you'll see it every day. This way, your creation will always remind you of why you're getting fit, driving you and giving you a sense of responsibility in the process. As you work toward your goals, you can continue to put new items, pictures and words on your inspiration board. For example, you can post your weight loss and measurements there. However, there are no limits to what you can use there, so just make sure you always enjoy using this board.


Photo Credits:

Smoothie recipe from Bar10der
Purple athletic tank from athleta: Athleta
New York golf course from turning stone resort: Atunyote
Running on road from Flickr: Running 
Pink golf ball from Flickr: Golf ball



Michelle can be reached at pinomichm@gmail.com.

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