Goal Setting Tips For Marin Moms

Marin Mommies presents a guest article by health and fitness expert John Spongberg, founder of Personal Training in Marin, and creator of the Mother's Day Gift Experience, a personalized fitness and nutrition program for busy moms.

If you’ve watched Oprah or seen Bob Greene or Dr. Oz lately on television then you already know it’s not just about reducing calories or aimlessly exercising.... It’s about making lifestyle changes through nutrition and effective exercise personalized to your individual needs and preferences!

Focus On Goal Setting

If you want to lose weight, setting goals is going to help you immensely. Goals can keep you on track and they can motivate you when the going gets tough. Mini-goals can be especially helpful if you set them and reward yourself wisely each time a milestone is attained. You will need to seriously look at your motivation and commitment towards your goals. That’s where a professional can help. That way, you can stay focused even through the difficult times.

A problem comes in when goal-setting isn’t realistic. Yes, it’s true. There is a right way to set goals and a wrong one. This is especially true if weight loss is the motivation for goal setting in the first place.

Exploring The Wrong Way

All too often, people forget that it took more than a few days to gain their weight in the first place. It simply can take time to shed your weight. This is absolutely true if losing weight and maintaining health are both desired. Goals and actions that are unrealistic can foster weight loss, but unfortunately at the price of health. Plus, unrealistic goals can sometimes cause a loss of weight that’s only temporary. In fact, many people who precede with unrealistic weight loss goals often gain back their weight rather quickly and add a few pounds to boot. Sound familiar?
Here are some examples of unrealistic goals that can backfire:

• Working out too much—Exercise is critical for weight loss success, but too much working out can actually be counterproductive. Some people dive in with both feet but don’t temper their enthusiasm with good common sense. It’s simply not a good idea to work out seven days a week for more than an hour at a time. Have you ever heard the term “pattern overload?” It’s very possible to send your body into a catabolic state (breaking down).
• Eating wrong—A lot of people opt for diets that simply will not work for the long haul. Starve yourself and you might lose some weight on the front end, but you’ll harm your body nutritionally. The idea is to build your metabolism, not destroy it. Plus, you will very likely see every pound lost regained rather rapidly. Your eating should be analyzed on a cellular level.
• When goals are unrealistic and the tools used to attain them are wrong, the body will suffer. There are better ways to go about enjoying healthy, long-lasting weight loss.

The Right Way To Do It

Now there are some great ways to lose weight and set goals that will truly motivate you. If you want to stay on track, try shooting for:

• An attainable exercise plan—It’s a lot more effective to shoot for a good workout every other day. Stick to a plan that calls for 30 to 60 minutes of exercise at a time based on your current level of fitness. This will help prevent injuries and it can also assist with keeping motivation levels high. Besides, did you know that you actually get stronger with the proper rest?
• Eating wisely—Rather than starve your body by eating less than 1,200 calories a day if you’re a woman, opt for a healthier routine that truly nourishes your body. The key to smart, healthy weight loss lies in eating enough to maintain health without eating so much you gain weight in the process. Select whole foods, such as high fiber, unprocessed grains, diary that is right for your body, organic lean protein and fresh fruits and vegetables that are grown and harvested nearby.

When it’s time to set weight loss goals, opt for healthy choices. Work with a health and fitness professional with lots of education and experience to pinpoint goals that make sense for you. You may know exactly what you want, but an effective coach and educator will help you reach your goals much faster.

Work With A Health and Fitness Professional

Health and Fitness Expert John Spongberg founded Personal Training In Marin to help motivated individuals set realistic, personalized goals for their health and fitness. Then step-by-step, John helps them achieve their specific goals towards a happier, healthier, more active lifestyle. He does this through a measurable, comprehensive approach personalized for each individual he trains. “Everyone is different and has unique situations, personal to them... be it their specific health history, previous injuries or the demands of the life they live. The human body is an amazing machine but it does need proper care and maintenance to really thrive. I love helping my clients live fun, healthy, active lives.”

Personal Training in Marin has available a really special Mother’s Day experience designed specifically for the busy mom who deserves more time for herself. Eight participants will be involved together in a comprehensive four-week fitness and nutritional program that’s custom tailored to each individual mom. Mr. Spongberg promises “it will be a really fun and challenging experience. Along with all the fun and results-oriented weekly fitness sessions there will be a jaw-dropping grocery shopping encounter. My ladies will get to see firsthand many of the major food industry myths. You can actually ask questions right there on the spot as we examine what’s out there in our local markets.” Also included for each of the eight participants will be a special body work gift certificate and an exquisite healthy culinary celebration upon completion of the program. The mom who is voted as achieving the greatest overall improvement will win a one month free membership at 5 Star Fitness in San Rafael.

“The greatest athletes in professional sports all have trainers, coaches & mentors to help them compete at the highest level. Busy moms may not be professional athletes but their lifestyle definitely requires a lot of stamina and endurance! The bottom line is... you can’t expect to improve yourself as much as you would like without the help of a trainer, coach or a mentor, who’s already done it personally, to keep you focused, motivated, and committed towards your goals.”

You can find out more about the Mother’s Day Gift Experience or reach Mr. Spongberg at Personal Training in Marin by calling (415) 891-8787 or through the website PersonalTrainingInMarin.com.