My fitness goal
I’m already an active person, but tend to slack a bit in the winter months. Cycling is my favorite sport and spinning classes in the winter months aren’t nearly as appealing to me as cycling outdoors. Therefore I tend to spend a little too much time sitting on my butt instead on the bike! So I decided to commit to doing the Gran Fondo in NYC in May. This is a 100 mile race (or you can do it without “racing”) from NYC to Bear Mountain and back. For me, 100 miles so early in the season will be quite challenging, but that is my goal and I’m committed to training for it (assuming my chronic hamstring injury doesn’t kick in!) It will mean cycling 3 times a week starting in February. Either taking a spinning class at the gym, getting on my dreaded trainer (after I wipe off the dust) in my apartment or forcing myself to bike outside despite the chilly temps.
Suggestions for setting your fitness goal for 2012
Here are some ideas to consider when setting your fitness goal. Being specific will help you be focused and is a lot more effective than just saying “I’m going to exercise more.”
1.If you don’t run but always wanted to, try the couch to 5K program. It will turn a couch potato into running a 5 K (3.1 miles) in 9 weeks. You can even get even get your dog off the couch with this program- pooch to 5K!
2. If you already jog on occasion, but need a little push, sign up for a race early in the spring. Start with a 5 K then build up to a 10 K later in the season. Check out active.com. It’s a great site that lists races (not just running) and athletic events across the country.
3. Find a charity you are passionate about and sign up for an fitness event to raise money. Here are a few examples:
Avon Breast cancer walk, JDRF Diabetes walk, Bike MS (I did this one – it was great!), Tour de Cure, AIDS walk , etc.
4. If you always wanted to learn to swim, sign up for swimming classes
5. Sign up for a sprint triathlon in the spring. Check out to find local races in your area. Again, check out active.com
6. If you’ve already done a sprint, take the next step and do an Olympic distance. Check out the race schedule now, and commit to it.
8. Sign up for boot camp classes.That will kick your butt into shape for the spring. .
Tips to stay on track to meet your goal:
1. Make a plan and commit.
2. Pick up the phone (or get online) and sign up. Paying a registration fee or being accountable to raise money for a charity event makes it even more likely that you’ll stick to it.
3. Find a workout buddy if possible. You’ll be less likely to forgo your workouts or training sessions if someone else is involved.
4. Keep records of your workouts. I personally keep a big calendar in my (miniature) kitchen to help remind me of what workouts I did – or didn’t do!
5. Plan your workouts in advance and write them in your log book. This way you’ll have no excuses!
6. Start slow with your training if you’ve been inactive for a while or if this is a new activity. If your goal is do to a 1/2 marathon walkathon in the spring, start with walking a few miles several times a week and build up a little each week.
7. Pay attention to your body as you don’t want to cause injury! Check in with your doctor before starting an exercise program if you have any health issues.
Bottom line – whether you sign up for a race, bootcamp or Zumba, don’t feel intimidated. You’ll find people of all abilities. Just have fun! And remember, focusing on this goal will help you keep your resolution to lose weight and exercise more.
So what will YOUR fitness goal be? I told you mine … send me yours!
