fitnessprincess’s BodyBlog

I hope you have set some goals.   If you haven’t identified any, now is a great time to reflect on the past year, to assess your progress and to identify new goals.  If you have goals, are they SMART?  If they aren’t then you may never actually follow through and achieve any of them.  Goals that are specific, measureable, attainable, realistic and timely have been shown to have the greatest likelihood of success.  Below I will briefly discuss each point.  Read each one and think about the goals that you have set.  If they don’t measure up take a few minutes and tweak them.  Then write them down and post them some place prominently so you can follow though.  Posting your goals here on your Bodybuilding.com blog would be a great way to build in accountability.
Specific – If your vision for your accomplishments is vague and poorly defined you are less likely to actually follow through and reach your goals.  What specifically do you want to accomplish/achieve? When do you want to reach your goals?  Why do you want to do this – how, specifically, do you expect to benefit?  What, if any, resources will you need in order to achieve your goal? 
Measurable – you will never know if you achieved your goals if you don’t assess your progress in some way.  If your goals are weight loss for example, a measureable goal would be losing X pounds of bodyweight or losing X% bodyfat.
Attainable – If you set a goal that is out of your reach, you are likely to give up in frustration so it is important to make sure that you set goals that you can attain with effort, time, and the appropriate resources. 
Realistic - You may never see the light at the end of the tunnel if you don’t have goals that are realistic for you in your present circumstances and with your abilities and resources.  Don’t make assumptions.  Don’t base your expectations on what others have achieved.  Do your research and then set goals that you make you reach but which you with consistent hard work you will be able to achieve.  If you underestimate what you can accomplish, no problem!  Just set a new SMART goal!
Timely – if you want to accomplish something you need to identify a deadline even if the deadline is artificial and one you impose on yourself.  Goals that don’t have deadlines lack a needed sense of urgency
I am going to close my blog today by sharing my own reflection and my goals for the new year.  Here’s to all of us achieving every one!
Personal Reflection:  This year I achieved my original goal of getting up on stage.  I did it not only once but twice.  In the process I realized I have a lot of work to do.  I was obsessed with my lower body and failed to realize I need to work on what’s up top, too.  I need shoulders, biceps, triceps, and a back – LOL!  I also need to continue to work on my legs, which are where I hold all my bodyfat.   I need to build more muscle so my legs will have shape.  I had a rocky trip to both competitions due to my struggles with dieting and binging in particular.  However I have successfully identified some of the underlying issues:  failure to make my macros, not realizing when I am overtired, eating food that I don’t really enjoy, and being too dogmatic/rigid (forbidding myself certain foods).  I also learned through competing that posing is really important and challenging.  I need to work on quarter turns and the model walk. 
New Year’s Goals
*Lift heavy, lift consistently (4 days each week M chest & shoulders and abs, T legs, Th back & traps and calves, and F bis & tris nnd abs)
*Focus on lagging body parts such as arms, shoulders, back
*Eat like it’s my job:  make my macros each day - don’t undereat, don’t overeat.
*Maintain a bodyweight of 130+2 lb throughout the year.
*Listen to my body and rest! when needed.
*Practice posing at least once each week for both fit body and figure, and practice the model walk for each
*All of this with the overall goal of competing November 2009 in the INBF Monster Mash in figure.