Let’s talk a little more about goals, shall we?

My goal is to eat peanut butter without freaking out. As I type this, I am drinking a delightful cup of coffee and licking spoonful upon luscious spoonful of peanut butter (house-made, nonetheless) in the outdoor cubicle of our favorite cafe. I feel minor anxiety, but I’m 99% sure the sweat I’ve broken into is a direct result of the rising temperature out here rather than of my one-track mind spiraling down into the depths of devastation.

What would you think if you saw me right now?

“Check that girl out. Totally prioritizing her health. Owning her diet.” Right? Right. <–More on this later.

Goals, by definition, have to be personal

What’s your goal?

In a previous post, I discussed the necessity of a goal and how to create a functional one. Then, last week, I wrote about nutritious eating and how that may or may not differ from eating for fat loss. After a week of reading the goals of my new clients, I realized I have a few more personal tenets I need to get off my chest.

Would you be so kind as to slide over the soapbox?

Ahem.

Let’s start with some cardinal rules to set the tone, to create some common ground for discussion.

1. Your goal gets to be whatever you want it to be.
2. You get to reach your goal however you want to reach it.
3. Other people get to set and achieve goals in their own ways.

Your goal is allowed to be dumb–shallow, silly, meaningless–to an onlooker. This should be of no concern to you or to the onlooker. You are allowed to pursue achievement of your goal by way of the high-speed train OR by way of the scenic, unpaved hiking trail, stopping to smell the flowers, splash in the creek, and catch a Pokemon or two. You get to choose!

(You don’t get to complain, though, if you choose the scenic route and then get grumpy that it’s taking too long.)

(Nor do you get to complain about how miserable and rushed you felt on the high-speed train.)

Lastly, can we all just agree not to demean others’ goals and paths just because we either A. can’t relate or B. don’t actually know what their goal is? 

A gifted professor of mine once used this illustration to make a point about trying to problem-solve for a group of which we are not a part:

If you see someone standing in the rain, you might think to offer them an umbrella. How very kind of you! If they don’t want the umbrella, how very silly of them! Unless….

Unless they want to be standing in the rain. Just because you don’t want to be wet, doesn’t mean that person doesn’t!

Unless they hate umbrellas. Just because you would use an umbrella, doesn’t mean they wouldn’t much prefer a rain jacket. And, given the option of using an umbrella or getting wet, might just prefer getting wet.

All of this to say, let’s think twice before making judgments. Let’s ask questions first. Let’s mostly stick to offering advice only when its requested.

So now I ask you: Do you want to be standing in the rain?

You might have the goal of losing weight. But your bigger goal might be to eat a healthy diet. Your first step might be to eat more vegetables. As a result, your first step might result in consuming additional calories. Someone witnessing your indulgence of roasted Brussel sprouts might think all sorts of things about you and how your actions are not matching your spoken goals. That someone, though, would be so very wrong.

If you don’t want to be standing in the rain, and you do want some assistance, reach out. If you are perfectly content standing in the rain, even better.

Keep on keepin’ on, my Brussel sprout-eating friend. Ignore all the nosey “someones” not minding their own goal pursuits.

In case your goal is a quick, efficient, metabolic-boost, and you DO want a suggestion, here’s your

5-minute Sweaty!

~~For this one, use a stopwatch rather than a timer!~~

10 bodyweight squats

10 reverse lunges (L)

10 reverse lunges (R)

5 push ups

8 bodyweight squats

8 reverse lunges (L)

8 reverse lunges (R)

4 push-ups

…and so on until…

2 bodyweight squats

2 reverse lunges (L)

2 reverse lunges (R)

1 push-up

 

How long did it take you? [Post-lower body workout yesterday, I got through it in 3:38.]

This is a fun one to repeat every few weeks, trying to beat your best time.

Ya know, if you want that as a goal.

 

Wishing you an empowering week,

Alyssa