These goals are normally some of the most ambitious and life changing achievements out there, but they are also some of the worst planned for. People use the New Year like a light switch. "Well the New Year is here...I'm gonna stop smoking even though I have no idea how". My buddy Steve says. For real Steve? As though the mere seconds that divide the fading darkness of 2013 from this hopeful 2014 year, hold some kind of magical will power for all who dream up achievements of grandeur and praise?
Honestly I applaud your desire to better yourself, community or planet but...
And this it a HUGE BUT! (I said huge but LOL). I am a big believer that if a goal is worth achieving, and if it's that important to you...YOU NEED TO GET OFF YOUR ASS AND START NOW! Don't wait weeks or months to do something you know you should be doing RIGHT NOW! I really mean that. If you have a goal in mind right now, get up, grab a pen and paper, and write out how you will accomplish said goal. Use detail.
For example:
Let's say that our buddy Steve would like to be able to deadlift 500 lbs. If Steve can only deadlift 200 lbs right now, this seems like an insane and lofty goal for my scronny little sidekick. So let's break it down into more digestible pieces...
To start, let's break that 500 lb number into four chunks. Our four goals will be:
275 lbs
350 lbs
425 lbs
500 lbs
These are mile markers toward our monumental 500. But they really just show you that it's possible, they don't really tell you how to get there. So let's break this down even further.
To start, let's break that 500 lb number into four chunks. Our four goals will be:
275 lbs
350 lbs
425 lbs
500 lbs
These are mile markers toward our monumental 500. But they really just show you that it's possible, they don't really tell you how to get there. So let's break this down even further.
Let's set a goal of adding 5 lbs to Steve's deadlift every week (which btw is very achievable). That's 20 lbs per month!
At this rate you will see a 300 lb gain in 15 months!
Now obviously you can't just add weight every week. There will be weeks of distraction, sickness, strength plateaus, vacations and other out of gym obligations so...I would add a 2 month buffer to the end of that, for a grand total of 17 months!
Please note that To make this happen Steve would have to be at the top of his game. Nutrition, rehab, and complementary exercises would all have to be perfect. But that's a whole other article.
If you are still confused, let me simplify it:
Goal: 500 lbs deadlift
Current deadlift weight: 200 lbs
Poundage needed to reach goal:300 lbs (200+300=500 lbs)
Mile markers:
275 lbs @ 17 weeks
350 lbs @ 34 weeks
425 lbs @ 51 weeks
500 lbs @ 68 weeks
68 weeks = 17 months. Remember the wiggle room?
Weekly goal: 5 lbs
•In this example we figured out a REALISTIC goal.
•We figured out a REALISTIC timeline to achieve that goal.
•We created mile markers of achievement on the road to our goal.
•Finally we created turn by turn directions (weekly 5 lb goal) to get to our goal.
So you can see, that with a well thought out plan, you don't have to fall victim to the dreaded failures of drunken empty promises you keep making to yourself once per year...every year...since you started participating in this backward tradition. It's as easy as a piece of gluten free Paleo pie!
I'll leave you with an analogy from a very smart man:
Nobody ever sits in their backyard wishing for a garden. It's common knowledge that it will take some work to create it. You have to prepare soil, plant seeds, water, pull weeds, and protect your fragile plants.
Yet when it comes to other aspirations in life, it seems that most people will sit on their couch wishing, hoping, and wondering "Why won't my dreams come true? Why won't a million dollars just fall into my lap"? The answer? BECAUSE IT TAKES WORK. Wishing doesn't make reality... ACTION DOES! (Loosely quoted from Jeff Gogue).
P.S. I know there is a Keyboard Warrior out there right now eating Cheetos and sucking down a 2 liter of soda going "500 lbs is nothing, I just watched a guy on You tube deadlifting 1000". I know it's not smart guy... this is just an example.
If you are still confused, let me simplify it:
Goal: 500 lbs deadlift
Current deadlift weight: 200 lbs
Poundage needed to reach goal:300 lbs (200+300=500 lbs)
Mile markers:
275 lbs @ 17 weeks
350 lbs @ 34 weeks
425 lbs @ 51 weeks
500 lbs @ 68 weeks
68 weeks = 17 months. Remember the wiggle room?
Weekly goal: 5 lbs
•In this example we figured out a REALISTIC goal.
•We figured out a REALISTIC timeline to achieve that goal.
•We created mile markers of achievement on the road to our goal.
•Finally we created turn by turn directions (weekly 5 lb goal) to get to our goal.
So you can see, that with a well thought out plan, you don't have to fall victim to the dreaded failures of drunken empty promises you keep making to yourself once per year...every year...since you started participating in this backward tradition. It's as easy as a piece of gluten free Paleo pie!
I'll leave you with an analogy from a very smart man:
Nobody ever sits in their backyard wishing for a garden. It's common knowledge that it will take some work to create it. You have to prepare soil, plant seeds, water, pull weeds, and protect your fragile plants.
Yet when it comes to other aspirations in life, it seems that most people will sit on their couch wishing, hoping, and wondering "Why won't my dreams come true? Why won't a million dollars just fall into my lap"? The answer? BECAUSE IT TAKES WORK. Wishing doesn't make reality... ACTION DOES! (Loosely quoted from Jeff Gogue).
P.S. I know there is a Keyboard Warrior out there right now eating Cheetos and sucking down a 2 liter of soda going "500 lbs is nothing, I just watched a guy on You tube deadlifting 1000". I know it's not smart guy... this is just an example.
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