Analysis of Fitness Goals

Whether you’re training for the Olympics or just following New Year’s resolutions, you likely have fitness goals in mind. At the outset, your goals might be abstract and idealistic. But the more serious you get about fitness and the more you analyze your goals, the faster you’ll realize that fitness goals must be objective, relevant and realistic. Not all fitness goals are created equal, but by examining them you at least know whether they keep you on track and aware of your fitness status.

  1. The Multifacetedness of Fitness Goals

    • Before you analyze your progress in a certain area of fitness, you should first look at the goals themselves. Good and bad fitness goals are different. For example, good fitness goals are prioritized, measurable and time-specific, notes Canada College. Prioritized refers to focusing on one or two long-term goals. Measurable refers to being objective; such as in “I want to get below 15% body fat” instead of “I want to be thinner.” Time-specific refers to giving yourself a deadline for your goals. Finally, be sure that your fitness goal matches your personal or athletic goals. For example, a sprinter is likely more interested in his aerobic capacity than he is in his levels of body fat. Likewise, a bodybuilder’s goals are more likely to include muscle size than they are to include flexibility.

    Measuring Components: Being Scientific

    • Just as each person has different fitness goals, different components measure the progress toward those goals. Before you analyze these, find those methods of measurements that match your goals, allowing for simple measurement throughout your training routine. For example, if you objectify a goal of “strength” by certain benchmarks on your lifts, such as a 300-pound deadlift, you should be recording the weight you deadlift as your measured component. Likewise, someone working toward a 15% body-fat composition can measure her body fat with calipers or through testing facilities at her university.

    All That Matters Is You… Most of the Time

    • Though many people in individual sports might disagree, comparisons to others can be valuable. This is especially true when it comes to your fitness goals. Researchers of exercise and health have compiled statistics for decades on what the “norms” are for certain fitness factors. For most people, the important norms are those of age and sex, as these characteristics often impose the most limits on individual fitness. For example, a 60-year-old newer swimmer shouldn’t be comparing herself to younger competitive swimmers, whether it be in aerobic capacity or 100-meter freestyle speed, as she could set herself up for disappointment as pertains to reaching her goals.

    Back to School

    • Testing can help you to determine both where you are and where you want to go. An initial assessment can give insight into your weaknesses and strengths. This can help you determine clear goals. Following an initial assessment, you should engage in regular testing, such as weekly or bi-weekly testing, to evaluate your progress. In this way, you can ensure that your fitness program is effective. If you find weak or no results, you will know that you need to change your routine. Through testing, you can define your goals, stay on course and objectively determine when you’ve reached those goals.