Goal Setting Exercise

I have been thinking lately about why we women become so obsessed with fad-diets, and temporary weight loss programs, and I think part of it has to do with commitment. We have a hard time to committing to ourselves.

Today my challenge to you is to write down your commitment to this program. Your dedication to a better, healthier and most importantly HAPPIER you!

Here are some rules for goal writing that I encourage you to follow.
Do not start with goal #1: Lose 10 lbs. that is not a goal, that is a result, there is a huge difference.
Do not write a diet that is completely different than the one you currently partake in. Write down one thing a week that you want to change.
Last rule: Do not write down any sizes you want to fit into, or any person that you want to look like, it's not going to happen biology has made that impossible.

Here is a sample plan that I think you should follow:

Goal 1: Be able to run 1 mile in 9 minutes without taking any breaks.
Goal 2: Work out 5 days with Cross Tone and go full force during all the workouts
Goal 3: Be able to do 10 push-ups off my knees by week 4
Goal 4: Each week for the next month add or eliminate foods that are good/bad for me.
i.e. Week 1 add two servings of fruits and veggies a day. Week 2: Limit desserts to once or twice a week and only have one serving.
Goal 5: Tell myself something nice about myself and my improvements every day!
Goal 6: Seek the good in myself, STOP complaining about the bad

and the list can go on forever...

How to rewards yourself properly:
I have read so many books and magazines that give completely ridiculous advice on how to reward yourself.
Here are the don'ts first:
Do not let yourself eat anything you want and as much as you want to reward yourself for a week of working out and eating healthy. It will only set you back and ruin all the work you just accomplished.
Do not let yourself think that every time you complete a workout or a good week that you need something.
Do not let yourself take a week off because you've been so diligent so far.

Now lets get to the do's:
Do reward yourself by getting a new set of workout clothes.
Do reward yourself by having a treat once or twice a week, something within serving size and within your daily calorie limit
Do take off ONE day if you have been working hard and need some time to just relax and recover.
Do allow yourself to get to the point where accomplishing the workout IS the reward.
Get a massage as a reward!
Do buy a new swimsuit or a new outfit to reward yourself.

There are plenty more. I hope you see that the point is not to allow yourself to over indulge, but to allow exercise and the body changes to become the rewards themselves.

Good luck!

Post your goals at the bottom to share with others! We love to hear them. They inspire our own :)