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By Wes Greer
You may think that getting healthy and staying in shape is difficult, but trust me – It’s all about the GOAL. If you don’t set goals in life, it’s very difficult to accomplish anything at all. Whether they are financial, health, spiritual or any other personal goals, start by writing them down.
Take your goals to T-A-S-K.
T-A-S-K is a simple acronym that will help you define and create accountability for your goals.
T – is for ‘time oriented’. Any goal without a time frame for achievement will always be pursued. I mean always, like forever and ever. Treat your personal goals like it is your job to get them done. Every job has deadlines, and the job of personal goal setting is no different. Your success and ‘promotion’ only happen when you stick to the schedule and get task accomplished!
A – is for ‘achievable’. You are doomed before you start if your goals are too lofty. You know your body, finances and psyche better than anyone, so setting a realistic goal for you should be the easy part. Of course, consideration must be paid to your goals being A – chievable within the T – ime you set up for them.
S – is for ‘specific’. In my experience as a professional fitness coach, a weight loss or strength gain goal means nothing if it not specific – I mean down to the number specific. Now is the time of year a lot of people are saying ‘I need to lose weight’ or ‘I need to tone’. These are terrible goals and probably why 60% have already given up. Think specific! How much weight do you need to lose? How many inches do you need to shed, and where?
K – is for ‘keep a journal.’ As I mentioned previously, write all of your goals down, circle the 2 or three most important, create guidelines for attacking them and go for it! Keeping a journal of progress is a fitness secret that only the most successful goal achievers do well. After deciding on your most important objectives, create your plan of action and write it down. For your health goals, record a daily log of your eating and workout routines. Look over it and critique it often. You will be amazed at how this little gem of accountability pays off in the form of success!
Any goal worth achieving does come with a price. Know the price you will need to pay. Be willing to pay that price. Acknowledge at the outset of your goal setting that you must be willing to put in the hard work necessary to achieve your goals, and actually PAY the price. This is where most goals and dreams fall flat. You need to actually do what it takes to realize your goals. You can’t just daydream your way to them.
If you really set your mind to it – if you truly decide that 2012 is the year that nothing will stop you – you can achieve just about anything!! Just take your goals to T-A-S-K!
Editor’s Note Wes Greer is owner of Fitness Together Jacksonville. Originally from Coffee County, Ga., Wes earned his B.S. in Engineering from Auburn University and worked as a Manufacturing Process Engineer until he decided to return to school. He then attended the University of South Carolina and Vienna School of Economics in Vienna Austria, where he earned an International M.B.A. Wes is a former NCAA athlete and has 15 years of experience as a personal trainer and fitness coach. Through his engineering, management and business experience, Wes has developed a keen understanding of people and how to motivate them. This plays a huge role in how he approaches his business and clients. Wes realizes how success becomes so much easier when you have someone in your corner.
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By AJ Beson
I’ve never thought of someone from Harvard as the underdog. But that is exactly the story playing out in basketball right now. Being a Harvard alum typically means belonging to the elite crème de la crème – the movers and shakers of our world – the CEOs who run companies, cities, states and countries. But this overreaching, alpha dog mentality doesn’t necessarily apply to those Harvard grads who pursue the business of basketball. Jeremy Lin is the Cinderella story of the NBA this week. As a Harvard graduate, he was an undrafted player who happened to get picked up by the New York Knicks. Due to the injuries of the team’s two major players, Lin had a chance to shine. He’s scored 20 points and has had seven assists for six games straight. Lin is an unlikely underdog in the national limelight who is serving as an inspiration in a league who could use a Cinderella story right now. Who are some unexpected underdogs you’ve been inspired by?
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By Wes Greer
Did the holiday season stick to you? I mean really stick to you, perhaps in the form of a few extra pounds? Here we are in the middle of February and it’s still stuck, right?
If so, you’re not alone. Over 65% of the U.S. population is overweight and more than one third are considered ‘clinically obese’. Being part of this group not only means increased risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and all sorts of other sicknesses, it also means increased health costs and puts more stress on our already stressed healthcare system.
The good news? It is NEVER too late. Even if you’ve already abandoned your Resolution 2012 – start over with a new one (and maybe be a little more realistic this time.)
The first step is to determine how you arrived at your present state. Much of the problem is our sedentary lifestyles. In the U.S., we rely on our feet way to little. We sit in offices or in cars or in our homes all the time and don’t move, lift, pull, run or walk nearly enough. Couple that with how we eat, and it’s no wonder that obesity is an epidemic.
Once you’ve established the some of the reasons why your body won’t cooperate, start looking at different exercise and nutrition programs. Trust me; there is one for you (and every other person, animal, alien or Neanderthal out there.) Throw your excuses out the window. If you’ve never worked out before or it’s been a while, contact a professional that can help you get started. The most effective and common routines will consist of some combination of weights, cardiovascular, and core training.
DON’T WAIT THOUGH. Your body is always changing, but you get to choose if those changes are improvements or not. If you’ve lost your path to health and fitness (or have never found that path), it’s not too late!
This is a problem that is easily solved. But it must start with you.
Editor’s Note Wes Greer is owner of Fitness Together Jacksonville. Originally from Coffee County, Ga., Wes earned his B.S. in Engineering from Auburn University and worked as a Manufacturing Process Engineer until he decided to return to school. He then attended the University of South Carolina and Vienna School of Economics in Vienna Austria, where he earned an International M.B.A. Wes is a former NCAA athlete and has 15 years of experience as a personal trainer and fitness coach. Through his engineering, management and business experience, Wes has developed a keen understanding of people and how to motivate them. This plays a huge role in how he approaches his business and clients. Wes realizes how success becomes so much easier when you have someone in your corner.
