I talked with five people over the last week about their fitness goals for the New Year. Each of them has great plans to change their lives for the better. Each of these men and women is ready to get moving with their changes. Each of these good folks is full of excitement and energy. But each one is likely to fail to achieve his or her goal because of one crucial step that is missing — they didn’t write them down!
The likelihood of achieving your goal increases about 80 percent when you write it down. It is hard to argue against odds like that.
Russell wants to lose 50 pounds of fat that he has been storing in his midsection since the first Gulf War. He has been telling everyone he has met since Halloween that this year will be different from all those other years. If those good intentions are enough, he will finally stick to his weight-loss plan and be a slimmer and happier man by next Christmas. But they aren’t! He needs to write down his goal with paper and pen.
Caroline wants to quit smoking. She has attempted this challenge several times before and has failed every time. She isn’t getting any younger and she knows all too well that three of her aunts and her father have died from cigarette smoking. She knows that others have been successfully weaned off their filthy tar habits. What more could she do to join those smoke-free ranks? She needs to write down her goal with paper and pen.
Dimitri wants to run a 5K race in less than 18 minutes this summer. He achieved this feat in high school about 15 years ago and is ready to feel the exhilaration of the fountain of youth. He knows he needs to change his running regimen. He will need to become more disciplined. He will need to train more frequently. He will need to replace his tattered running shoes. He will need to write down his goal with paper and pen.
Alexi wants to hike up her favorite mountain. It has always been her favorite mountain to look upon, but never to hike upon. Her friends and all the cool kids have been up and down that mountain many times. She has thought about tackling this climb for years but has never really done more than just wish for it to happen. This just could be the year for her! She will need to write down her goal with paper and pen.
Juan wants to play in that soccer tournament this fall. He hasn’t played in many years and he would love to get the old gang together for some great fun. The regional champions advance to the finals round in England. Juan knows it will be a lot of work, but well worth the effort. Juan enjoys a challenge almost as much as he likes British boys. He will need to write down his goal with paper and pen.
Find your goal and write it down. Keep it in a conspicuous location, and you’re ready for action!
This health and fitness article is brought to you by that guy who corners like he’s on rails. That ultimate driving experience is Ron Blake and he can be found in his pit stop at myblakefitness.com.
