10 Best Fitness Goals to Set for 2024 (and How to Achieve Them) (Good Housekeeping)

Posted: Feb 25, 2022 in In the News

This article originally appeared in Good Housekeeping on February 25, 2022.

 

10 Best Fitness Goals to Set for 2024 (and How to Achieve Them)

BY STEFANI SASSOS, M.S., R.D.N., C.D.N., NASM-CPT

 AND KAITLYN PHOENIX

Setting — and completing — a fitness goal can be amazing for both your mind and body. However, we often set unrealistic goals that are difficult to sustain for a long period of time. If your overall goal is to move more or increase the intensity of your current exercise regimen, setting specific and achievable targets can be the secret to lasting change.

The best part about fitness goals is that they don’t have to be (and shouldn’t be!) big things that require you to overhaul your routine. “The research is very clear that small improvements in physical activity can have large impacts on our physical and mental health,” says Tommy Wood, BM, BCh, PhD, an assistant professor of pediatrics and neuroscience at the University of Washington and the co-host of Better Brain Fitness Podcast. “Any increase in physical activity above and beyond what you’re doing now will be beneficial — even adding 1,000 steps to your day or joining a fitness class once a week.”

 

Whether you choose to focus on a particular fitness skill or exercising more in general, the most important thing is to think about your values. “For example, if the initial goal is to ‘lose 10 pounds,’ drill down a bit deeper and ask yourself why that is an important goal for you,” says Jacque Crockford, DHSc, an ACE Certified Personal Trainer. “Very generally speaking, weight loss goals usually have nothing to do with actually changing the weight on the scale. Doing this value assessment is essential as it will help to solidify what is important on an intrinsic level, versus chasing an external goal, which has been shown to lead to long-term behavior change, versus short-term solutions.”

Not sure where to start? Consider the expert-approved fitness goals below and remember that whatever goals you set are unique to you and need to be suited to your lifestyle. It’s also smart to consult your healthcare provider before starting any new fitness regimen.

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