Good Goals for Good Health

Want to move your health in the right direction? Start with attainable exercise goals.

You want to get fit, run the big race and fit in your favorite jeans. So you set a goal to make it happen. If this sounds familiar, it’s time to reimagine your goal-setting standards.

“Most people focus on end goals, such as wanting to run a 5K or lose 20 pounds,” said Billi Benson, MEd, certified personal trainer and manager of the Saint Joseph East bariatric department. “This can be frustrating and sometimes lead to failure, because it focuses on what the person wants and not how they’re going to achieve it.”

The Perks of Process

How can you focus on the right goals? Benson recommends shooting for process goals.

Examples include:

• Attending at least three yoga classes each month
• Exercising for 30 minutes, four days a week
• Biking a total of five miles over the next two weeks
• Walking four days a week

These very specific goals lead to lasting results and improved health. As an added benefit, you’ll notice other positive side effects. Regular exercise often leads to healthier eating. Over time, the combination will help you get fit, prepare for the big race and fit into your favorite jeans.

“Process goals focus on the journey more than the destination and are designed to build habits and structured routines,” Benson said. “The key is finding something that works for you and staying consistent.“

A version of this article originally appeared in the Summer 2021 edition of Spirit of Health. For more stories like this one, subscribe to Spirit of Health magazine today.