As we race towards the end of the year and begin to consider what our goals for 2025 might look like, slightly shifting your approach can help make your fitness goals more exciting.
To set a goal of losing 10lbs may seem important, but really it lacks substance. What happens when the 10lbs are gone? What can you attach your goals to then? Please don’t say ‘to keep the 10lbs off’. In the whole scheme of things, in this life, what does 10lbs really impact? What does 20 or 30 lbs impact? Why does losing that weight mean something to you?
When considering your fitness goals, shifting the approach to things you can do, accomplish, or experience is a much truer reflection of the work you put in.
By shifting the goal approach to activities rather than weight or size, you open the door for even more reward. And you know how we humans love to be rewarded!
Sample goals:
To climb Pico mountain without falling apart.
To be able to play with my grandchildren without being in pain.
To cycle the Tour de Crème or the Watershed Ride
To run a 5k, or learn how to surf, or join a hiking group…
Motivation comes with action! Try immersing yourself in experiences that, in themselves, are a celebration of your fitness.
Pico Mountain
I mention Pico Mountain because that was my goal this year. This past year it has been challenging for me to keep up with my running. Peri-menopause symptoms have been throwing my whole system for a loop – from digestion, to sleep quality (and you know how I NEED me sleep), to endurance. A 3 mile run for me suddenly became as laborious as a 10 mile run used to be.
Rather than dwelling by comparison, I set a goal that has been on my bucket list for a while – to climb up Pico Mountain in the Azores, camp in the volcano crater overnight, and watch the sunrise from the very top the next morning before climbing back down. I knew that if I at least kept my body strong with my Boutique Fitness workouts and maintained just a couple of 3 mile runs a week, that I could do it. But the proof is in the pudding!
I called on some of my dearest friends and avid hikers to embark on this adventure with me and, in October, off to Pico we went. The hike was tough, exciting, and breathtaking. We each carried an overnight pack that weighed about 28lbs and we climbed well above the clouds. We set up camp in the crater and then found a ‘cozy’ spot on the edge of the crater to watch the sunset. Holy manoly was it incredible.
The next morning we climbed another 70 meters or so to the very tip of the volcano to watch the sunrise. There was absolutely no wind (extremely rare) so we were graced by the steam from the volcano! Like a sauna above the clouds…
As the sun rose, the full moon began to make its exit, and the shadow of Pico landed perfectly on the clouds over Faial. It was ridiculous.
Then we climbed back to our camp site, packed it all up, and climbed down the mountain – which was the true test. We were all ‘weak in the knees’ the rest of the day, but when I woke up the following morning, I was OK! I could feel my quads – from the downhill, and my glutes – from the uphill… but I could walk just fine! I did my morning mobility without a problem and was so grateful for being able to accomplish this goal in one piece.
Raquel’s Goal
New Bedford coach, Raquel Branco, had a big ‘experience’ goal this year too! If you know Raquel, you know she does not like running. In fact, it’s just not something she would do willingly. BUT, after her partner completed a Tough Mudder, it inspired her to want to accomplish something similar.
Here’s her story:
‘I competed in my first Spartan race in September in Washington DC. The Spartan Sprint is a 5k with 20 obstacles. They call them “spartan miles” so it ended up being 4.4 miles instead of 3.2.
If you know me, you know I hate running. My typical quote is “if you see me running, call the police cause something has to be wrong”
The race kept me super motivated and ultra disciplined on the days I did not want to go. I knew I wanted to have a strong race so each week I pushed myself to go a little further. We also started “Ninja Warrior Training” to help increase my grip strength. It was so freaking fun but damn it was hard and humbling! I loved trying new things and really feeling my body get stronger every week.
I am super proud of myself for completing the Spartan during that hot summer day! There were some obstacles I thought I wouldn’t be able to do, and I crushed them so Woohhoo
The high you feel when you get there, during the race, and after is something that I had never experienced. I still feel it when I think about the race. The community of Spartans of all ages and sizes took my race day anxiety and threw it right out of the window. Switching up my normal routine to do this race was such an awesome decision!’
How to Decide
Setting new and different activity goals is a great way to help stay motivated. Maybe you want to run the NB half marathon? Just once or 24+ times like Barbara Belanger did… Maybe you want to climb Pico mountain with a 30lbs pack so you can camp at the top and soak in the life altering experience of watching the sun set and rise from above the clouds. Maybe you want to be able to Swim the Bay for BBC, or ride the Pan Mass Challenge, do a Spartan Race with your friends… or cycle the Tour de Crème ice cream ride.
Maybe you want to be able to ruck for Mission 22, or be able to do a handstand, or a split, or a box jump… or start rowing or get really good at pickle ball or tennis.
If you can shift your focus from diet and exercise to training for something exciting, you can then nourish that effort and celebrate the rewards that come with it – which will probably include improved fitness and better fitting clothes.
Exciting doesn’t have to be extreme! Just something that keeps you wanting more or better.
Accomplishing goals is a major motivating factor. It builds confidence in what you can achieve and will keep you wanting more. Just remember that keeping your goals attainable is key.
What goals do you have? Sharing them with your coach is a great way to be supported!
xo Lara
