SO, now your mindset and consciousness have changed and you’ve decided to place yourself on the path to living well and being the best you possible. You have started taking steps to address all dimensions of your life as it pertains to wellness, not least of all your physical wellness. You are about to join a gym or embark on some other form of consistent exercise. Remember though that it is always a good idea to consult a physician and get clearance before beginning such a programme, especially if you have any serious illnesses or other physical challenges.

In order to get the best of it, you will need to find a way to maintain your initial level of motivation. It doesn’t so much matter whether your motivation is extrinsic or intrinsic, so long as it is sufficient to keep pushing towards the result you’re trying to achieve. Extrinsic motivation means the motivating factor is external to the person; someone else or something else is driving them. Intrinsic motivation on the other hand is motivation that a person summons from within themselves. It’s not dependent on external factors.

Now let’s focus a bit on your goal and things to consider when setting them for your workout programme.

Set realistic goals

Firstly, and most importantly, the goals you set for yourself should be realistic. If you set unrealistic goals you are setting yourself up for failure. This is because you will not achieve a goal that’s unrealistic, and, even if subconsciously you knew the goal was not realistic, the fact that you still set it will only serve to demotivate you.

So, set goals that you know are attainable. Nevertheless, setting realistic goals does not mean they should be easy. They should provide some amount of challenge.

Goals should be measurable

Your goals should be specific and measurable. This helps sharpen your focus because what you are working towards is more clearly defined, and it will be easier to identify when the goal has actually been achieved. So, instead of saying something like, “I want to lose weight off my belly”, say, “my goal is to take three inches off my waist measurement”. That is both specific and measurable.

You may even go as far as introducing a time factor, so your goal could be: “My aim is to take three inches off my waist in the next six weeks”.

Plan your route to achieving your goal

Have a plan for how you are going to go about achieving your goal. If you are joining a gym then the programme written by your gym instructor can serve this purpose. If you are embarking on your own exercise programme, outside of a gym, write for yourself a schedule of the days you’ll be working out, how long you’ll do it on any given day, etc. The more detailed the better.

Proper exercise gear

So, you’re motivated, your goals are clearly established and you have your exercise regime planned in detail. Next is to ensure you have the proper gear for the task you are going to undertake. Proper footwear, for example, is necessary to avoid lasting injury to joints and ligaments. When you visit the store, if you outline to the store attendant the kind of exercise in which you plan to engage, they should be able to direct you to the correct choice of footwear. Please, no slippers and dress shoes (oh, you’d be surprised how many people show up for a workout in these). Also, comfortable, loose-fitting or stretchable material is a must to allow free movement through whatever range of motion the exercise may require.

Now you’re ready. Only thing left to do is to get up and make it happen. Come on my people, let’s go, let’s get it!

Marlon Ebanks is a personal fitness instructor who has been certified by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America since 2009.