How to Set Fitness Goals You Can Accomplish

This post was sponsored by adidas, all opinions are my own.

When I started working from home as a result of quarantine back in March 2020, I picked up the hobby of baking. Cupcakes, cookies, cakes and tons of banana bread. Sounds both fun and delicious, I know, but because I was stuck indoors for multiple days on end and enjoying all the goodies I was learning to make, I stopped feeling my best. It wasn’t a matter of losing weight and eating certain foods, rather I stopped taking care of myself and my body thus the neglect was starting to show.

I woke up early one morning in June and decided that I wanted to change the way I felt. I squeezed into my workout clothes and headed out the door. I challenged myself to one hour of walking everyday, which gradually became a jog and then a run. Some days it’s simply a home workout but the goal is to keep it up.

With time I’ve started to look and feel like my best self again and I am so encouraged to continue to take small steps to reach healthy, life goals- whatever that may look like on a daily basis. You can also check out this post where I share three easy healthy habits that busy people start.

Below I’m sharing some tips that helped me to jump start my fitness journey when I was in a slump and they continue to help me to set lifestyle and fitness goals that are both practical and attainable. Incorporating running into my life has been transformational for the way I feel both inside and out. I hope my tips will inspire and encourage you to take action on your fitness goals. So let’s get into it: how to set fitness goals you can accomplish.

1. Share your fitness goals with someone for accountability

Once I said my plan to get healthy outloud and put it out into the universe, it made it real. This was a game changer for me. When we internalize the things we want to achieve, we do it in a way that if we fall short of the mark, then people don’t know that we didn’t succeed or follow through, there is no one to hold us accountable. Thus saving face. The problem with that, in my opinion, is that it keeps you from pushing yourself and finding a reason to show up.

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed that I created a story highlight that documents my daily runs and workout. By publicly showing friends and family that I have set this fitness goal, it allows me to show up regularly to hold myself accountable and the support I receive encourages me to keep going. I am constantly getting questions about how I stay motivated and continue to workout regularly, and seeing the impact it has made in the lives of my friends and family makes me feel really good.

2. Be kind to yourself and give yourself credit

The hardest part about starting something new and setting unfamiliar goals is that we often feel like it is either all or nothing. That just isn’t the case. If you fall off one day, two days or even a week, that’s alright! Just pick up where you left off the next day. Don’t beat yourself up for needing the time to refresh or taking a time out. All that matters is that you get back on track and keep pushing.

If you don’t accomplish your fitness goal in a certain amount of time, adjust the deadline. Go back to the drawing board and figure out a plan that will allow you to set a comfortable pace. Reflect on how far you’ve come and give yourself a pat on the back. For a while I was building up my stamina to run 5KM (which for me was quite a lot) in an hour and I would have days where my time was way over an hour. Rather than beating myself up about it, I would give myself for completing my run, regardless of how long it took me that day.

3. Invest in great pair of running shoes

I can’t stress how important it is to have a pair of shoes that are designed for the type of workout activity that you enjoy. As I’ve gotten better at running and being physically active, I’ve realized the importance of shoes that are both supportive and functional for me. Not all activewear shoes are made alike and though we all want to look good while working out, being safe is also part of the long game. 

These Ultraboost 20’s are extremely comfortable and I love how they form around my feet to give me all around comfort without being bulky. This pair is made with 78% recycled material containing Parley Ocean Plastic, how cool is that? They also offer a sturdy grip for running.

Over the years I’ve developed achy knees when I am active for a prolonged period of time so having a good pair of shoes helps to support my strides and cushion the pressure on my legs. This article gives great insight on the things to consider when you’re looking for a new pair of running shoes and talks about the essentials elements of a great pair.

If you have a solid idea of the type of shoe you need for your level of activity and looking for a new pair, you can find some great options here. Having great workout gear not only ensures that I am running in comfort but it always gives me a confidence boost because when you look great, you feel great too!

4. Write down your goals

You know how the saying goes: out of sight, out of mind. By writing down your fitness goals and putting them in a place that you can see them, especially first thing in the morning, it gets you in the mindset to take steps throughout the day that will help you get closer to that mark. I really enjoy writing motivation and reminders on sticky notes and placing them on my computer, fridge, mirror and anywhere else that is in my regular line of sight.

Another way that you could get your fitness goals out of your head and onto paper is by creating a vision board. This allows you to have a birds eye view of all your goals and what accomplishing them could look like. Creating a vision board will allow you to flex your creative muscle and maybe even encourage you to create multiple goals that you can manifest through this visual reminder.

5. Be intentional and have a plan on how you will get to point B

Alright, so you’ve made your fitness goals and took the necessary steps to ensure that they are actionable. They are spelled out clearly so you know what it is that you want to achieve, but now what? You start! Start by running (or jogging) 15-20 minutes today and work your way up from there. A good mix of brisk walking, jogging and running is a great way to switch things up and keep you going when you’re starting to feel the burn.

Connecting with like minded people or people who are on the same path as you is a great way to stay motivated. Having someone on your side who truly understands your fitness goals and the work that is required to get there can be very encouraging. My husband and I run together weekly and having someone to push me when I’m feeling unmotivated is really great. We can bounce ideas off of each other and find creative ways to get out of the house and be active, even if it’s taking a long walk and exploring a new area of our neighbourhood.

How to Set Fitness Goals You Can Accomplish

To sum it all up, setting fitness goals you can accomplish can be intimidating at first because it forces you to step out of your comfort zone and learn something new. I believe that what has really helped me with accomplishing my goal of becoming healthier and incorporating running into my life is sharing my fitness goals with others, setting myself up for success by investing in good shoes and attire, being intentional and reevaluating my goals to see how far I’ve come.