Hello, and welcome to the first installment of “UNB Fitness Corner”.  My name is Darrin Miller and I’m a new staff writer for UNB.  “UNB Fitness Corner” is tentatively scheduled to be a weekly posting dedicated to various topics related to health and fitness.  I little about me…

• I’m 45 years old and work as an IT professional by day
• I’ve been with my wife for 22 years and I have a nine year old son
• I’m the Founder of the Mister Texas Organization (www.mistertexas.net)
• I’m represented by NorCalBodz (www.norcalbodz.com) as one of their models
• I’m a faithful “gym rat” and proponent of simple, yet sound, approaches for staying fit

Enough about me.  Let’s talk fitness…

If you’re like most people, you kicked off the new year with a resolution to either get in shape or improve the fitness level you already have.  Here we are three months later.  Some of you are may be doing fine.  While others of you may be working out regularly and watching your diet; but still not obtaining the results you desire…or so you think.  Perhaps you are and you reaching your goals and you just don’t know it.  Before that first dumbbell gets thrust above your head, before you step onto the track, before any physical workout program begins, you must first perform the “mental workout.”  In many ways, the mental workout is one of the easiest things you will ever do, and in other ways it is the hardest, for the mental workout I am speaking about is goal setting.  On the one hand goal setting is easy-you know what you need to do, think of things that you want to accomplish.  On the other hand, it is difficult because in order for any goal to be achieved it must be:

• Written down and readily visible
• Well defined
• Measurable
• Realistic
• Modifiable

Although these constraints seem to make that simple desire of yours more complicated and difficult to develop, these guidelines for goals are essential in making goals useful tools for achieving success in your life.  In this installment of UBN Fitness Corner, we’ll focus on the first two attributes of successful goal setting.  Next week, we’ll expand on the remaining three attributes.

Goals Must Be Written Down And Visible

Certainly saying to yourself, “I want to loose some weight,” or “I want to have a bigger chest” or “I want to be able to jog farther” are valid goals.  However, these desires are in your head, a part of that mysterious thing known as human memory, and we all know how memory can fail us.  So what do you do?  Get out a sheet of paper and write that goal down.  Write it big.  Write it bold.  Put asterisks around it.  Use vivid colors in the text.  Bottom line, make that goal stand out and post it some place where you can see it and read it everyday.  Now this concept should not be anything new for anyone.  Think about where you work.  Doesn’t your company or department have goals posted somewhere for all employees to see.  Most businesses do.  Why?  The idea is simple.  If you are constantly reminded of what you are attempting to achieve, you will stay focused and eventually achieve that goal.  The real advantage of writing down and posting your fitness goals is that they are your goals, not something developed by someone else and tacked to a bulletin board like an “edict from the ivory tower.”  As such, your goals can be more individually inspiring rather than something that seems forced upon you, therefore the likelihood of you reaching these goals is increased tremendously.

Disclaimer: Exercise is not without its risks and this or any other exercise program may result in injury. To reduce the risk of injury in your case, consult your doctor before beginning this or any exercise program. The instructors and advice presented in this blog are in no way intended as a substitute for medical consultation, the instructor disclaims any liability from and in connection with this program. As with any exercise program, if at any point during your workout you begin to feel faint, dizzy, or have physical discomfort, you should stop immediately and consult a physician..