Site Search

"How to Define Your Primary Fitness Goals"

By Brad Scott

When setting up your workout program, it is very important to have your Primary Fitness Goals defined. At a minimum, you should at least understand why you are exercising, what type of performance you desire or how you want to look. Sometimes our goals conflict with each other, but we can usually find a good combination to satisfy our needs.

When I first began training at a health club, I was once approached by a club member who told me I did not look like a bodybuilder. I told him "I am not a bodybuilder, I am a Fitness Trainer." I explained to him that I enjoyed basketball and martial arts and I trained to enhance my performance in those sports and not to have huge muscles. This point is missed by so many people.

They read an article in a bodybuilder type magazine and try to apply it to their non-bodybuilding physique. Often times when beginning with a new client whose main focus was on appearance, I would ask them are we going for Muscle and Fitness or Men's Health. Are you thinking Cosmopolitan or Shape?

Your primary goal determines the foundation of your workout program. Workout programs will be different for General Health, Modeling, Athletics, Bodybuilding, Power Lifting, Weight Loss, Weight Gain, Running, and the list goes on and on and on. Unfortunately, most people cannot even describe their primary fitness goal. In the next few paragraphs I will help you narrow your search.

First, ask yourself when your last physical with a doctor occurred. Have you visited your doctor in the past 12 months? Did you get a clean bill of health or does your doctor have concerns for you to address? If you have a clean bill of health, its time to move on to the next step. If your physician has issues, address those first. These could be as simple as lowering your cholesterol or as major as physical rehabilitation after an injury.

Second, do your means of income require a specific physical performance? A professional football player must maintain a level of performance required for the position he plays. A sprinters main goal is his/her speed. A groundskeeper requires lots of walking and moderate lifting. And at the far end of the spectrum, a secretary or salespersons biggest physical demand may be staying awake at their desk.

Thirdly, do your hobbies or social activities require a specific physical performance? Do you snowboard, water ski, hike, horseback ride, drive race cars, jog, bike, renovate homes, or play intramural sports in a local league. This question is just as important as the second. Activities we do for relaxation and enjoyment are always more fun when we do them well.

The fourth point addresses our vanity. What do you want to look like? This goal, although emotionally important, may or may not be achievable when related to the first three points. If you want to be a power lifter and also want to look like Brad Pitt, odds are working toward both goals will prevent you from reaching either. Power lifters are big and bulky while Brad Pitt is lean and toned. Achieving both successfully would require you to be a freak of nature.

Lastly, what type of lifestyle do you lead and are you willing to change it to reach your goals. If you plan to perform well on game day, you can't practice a lifestyle of daily drinking and carousing. Smoking limits lung capacity. Lack of sleep equals lack of energy. Get the picture. It's all related.

Use this short checklist to aid you in defining your Primary Fitness Goal.

1. Have you been cleared for exercise by your physician?
2. What are the physical requirements of your job?
3. What are the physical requirements of your hobbies?
4. What do you look like after your training is complete?
5. Can you commit to the lifestyle changes you need to make?


Of course designing a complete training program entails a little more planning, but you can get off to a great start by following these five steps. By defining your primary goal you will know where to focus the majority of your time and efforts. And good focus yields good results.

Live for the Moment...Exercise for Life

About the Author:

Brad Scott is Owner and President of Sport and Life Fitness in Melbourne Florida. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and is a Certified Fitness Trainer and Specialist in Sports Conditioning with the International Sports Sciences Association. With over 20 years of experience, Brad offers a wide variety of fitness solutions for most anyone. Visit him online at www.SportAndLifeFitness.com today and start your fitness journey.