The key to successfully engaging in a fit lifestyle is having realistic goals and a plan for meeting them.

Sometimes we find that the goals we initially set may have been too ambitious. If so, that’s ok. It’s perfectly fine to lower the bar a little to start with. The most important thing is to keep at it!

All of us lapse in our efforts sometimes. It may be that we overdo it, get sore or injured and need a break. We may go on vacation or get sick. Whatever it is that causes us to fall short of meeting our exercise goals for the week, the important thing is to keep at it. The danger lies in feeling that we have failed and giving up just because we’ve taken a week or two (or even three) off.

Most of us move back and forth between the stages of change as we progress toward our goals. Like most things in life, getting fit is a journey, not a destination. You may find that you are maintaining your goals for aerobic exercise but “forgetting” to stretch and inconsistently meeting your goals for strength training. That’s ok! Don’t abandon the effort.

What makes this plan work is that at any time you can go back and reassess your plan for any part of your workout and change it. You may need more information about strength training or stretching to come up with a plan that works for you. Or, you may need to get additional support from an expert or others working our program. Everyone, even the professional athlete, has a lapse in motivation sometimes.