03/08/2017
Outcome vs Behavior Goals:
***Outcome vs. Behavior Goals***
Generally, when someone asks about their fitness goals, most people start with the outcome(s) they want:
-I want to lose 20 pounds.
-I want that thin-skinned, ripped look.
-I want to binge less often.
-I want to deadlift double my bodyweight.
Outcome goals describe how we want things to be at the end of the process.
There’s nothing wrong wanting things. Or talking about what you want. Or starting with the end in mind.
But we can’t stop there.
Wanting things isn’t enough. Even if you really, really, really want them.
Because: We often can’t control outcomes.
Outcomes are affected by environmental things. Like:
-Your job gets crazy busy.
-Your kid gets sick.
-Your gym closes for renovations.
-Your mom with dementia needs help.
-You have exams at school.
And they’re influenced by physical things. Like:
-Your hormones get out of whack.
-You have a chronic illness. (Or even just a tough bout with the flu.)
-You’re stressed.
-You’re traveling a lot.
-You’re getting older.
-You’re having problems sleeping.
-You sprained your ankle or your arthritic knee is doing its thing again.
You get the idea.
You can’t make your body do what you want it to. (And neither can your personal trainer.)
But you can control what you do.
That’s why behavior goals are so important: They focus on the things we do have control over.
Behavior goals represent your commitment to practice a particular set of actions or tasks every day, as consistently and regularly as possible.
For some practical examples-- including a cheat sheet to help you break your own (or your clients') goals down into actionable behaviors-- check out: http://www.precisionnutrition.com/fitness-goals