When setting health and fitness goals, the SMART method is a great blueprint ;  Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic or Relative and Timely.   But there’s one more important piece of the puzzle.

Pat can I buy a vowel?  I’ll take an “e” please.  As in Effort.

When setting goals don’t forget to identify and quantify how much effort you are capable of or are willing to put in towards reaching your goal.   Because if you don’t feel like doing what it takes, you may be setting yourself up for failure.

• How much speed work, hill training and miles you log will determine if you can run a PR in a marathon or just drag yourself across the finish line.
• How strict your diet is will determine if you will flash a 6 pack in the summer.
• How hard you push in your HIIT workout will determine if you constantly struggle or improve.
• How much sleep you get will impact your ability to get up early for your workouts.

Where things go south is when you are trying to get rid of the muffin top but you don’t get rid of the muffins.

If you keep falling into this trap you may have to sit yourself down and re-evaluate your goal.

Maybe you’ll be ok with a slight muffin top and you just want to be able to run a few miles a few times a week.  Shift your goal.  Pivot your plan.  Adjust your expectations.  They’re your goals you can do what you want!

Now go run!

Keli 🙂