How strong, slim, bulky, shredded, energetic and so on we want to be is our choice.
At one point after reading a book about David Goggin’s and listen to his personal story, I wanted to become a long-distance runner and have tried to adapt my body to run 50 km and beyond. I made the mistake of running 20 km every second day, but surprisingly, I enjoyed it. On weekends, I would run up to 35 km.
I paid the price for not being realistic. While I was able to handle the physical and mental demands initially, I began experiencing knee pain over time, as many runners do.
Unfortunately, this pain prevented me from stretching with clients or demonstrating proper exercise techniques, so I regret not being more realistic earlier.
I also realize that I shouldn’t compare myself to others, especially not to someone who is so unique and well-adapted to long distance running.
I learned my lesson, and I hope you won’t make the same mistake.
In order to achieve our goal, we need to be realistic.
We need to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals.
If you want to run a marathon within a year, you could start by setting smaller goals such as running a 5K or 10K, gradually increasing the distance until you can run a half marathon before attempting the full marathon.
It’s important to remember that everyone’s goals and abilities are unique, and what works for one person may not work for another.
We need to break down larger goals into smaller, more manageable ones, and to track progress along the way. We also need to be realistic and patient with ourselves – progress takes time, and setbacks are normal.
By setting realistic goals and expectations, we can stay motivated and focused on our journey to a healthier and happier life.
For example, if you want to lose 1 kg of fat per week, that is possible, you have to have plan, structure, good will and you will do it, if you want to lose 2 kg per week, it is also possible but I would not suggest it as it will not be sustainable and you might find it very hard and that can push you away from long term goal.
Personally, I had a client who have lost 30 kg in 4 months, those clients are very rear and again I wouldn’t suggest that rapid lost, but it is also possible if you have maybe wedding or some other event where you want to quickly become slimmer for your dress or other reasons.
It’s also important to be realistic about what you can achieve. Don’t set goals that are too ambitious or unrealistic, as this can lead to frustration and disappointment. Instead, set goals that are challenging but achievable, and adjust them as necessary over time.
Remember that everyone’s goals and abilities are unique, and what works for one person may not work for another. Don’t compare yourself to others or set goals based on what someone else has achieved. Focus on your own journey and what you want to achieve and set goals that are meaningful and motivating for you.
We personal trainers use term S.M.A.R.T
S- SPECIFIC
M- MEASURABLE
A- ACHIEVABLE
R- REALISTIC
T- TIMELY
Let’s become smarter by accepting this idea cos it is working and it is sustainable.