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Are goals necessary in fitness?
Recently, a new client shared with us that setting goals makes her feel anxious. The idea of having something to “complete” created pressure rather than motivation.
This is far more common than people realise.
For some, numerical goals are genuinely helpful. Targets such as lifting a certain weight, training a set number of times per week, or reaching a performance milestone can create focus, structure and a strong sense of achievement.
For others, however, those same goals can become heavy. They can turn movement into something to keep up with rather than something to enjoy.
At ATTIKA, your goals are yours. While we can help you find yours, they are your own desires for the future. In this article, we uncover why goals are worth having and how to add the right amount of pressure for you.
Progress is not linear
Progress will always be up and down. And for each individual the same amount of effort can lead to different levels of progress. Life, stress, genetics and health all play a role. If you are someone who may be unmotivated when progress slows, goals that are only measured by numbers can make you believe that you are falling behind even when your working just as hard. The important thing to note is that even when the metrics you’re measuring aren’t going up, your body will still be adapting and improving in various positive ways.
It´s also important to consider how realistic your goal is for you. While everyone is different, your Coach can help you with an estimate of how achievable your goal is. Goals should be encouraging. Not impossible.
So what´s the other option?
If numerical goals aren´t for you, goals don´t need to be removed from the process.
Your goal should just be refined based on why you started in the first place.
While you may not want to add too much pressure to the goal, it is an important reminder of far you´ve come. Because we don´t always realise.
We encourage you to rate your current state from now. For example, if you want to reduce your back pain you can consider how much it bothers you, both on a pain scale and how often. Then, when you reflect in a few months time you can see how much your training has made a difference. This can be a positive motivator to keep going, or, if nothing has changed you can look into adjusting the training to try a new method.
A goal is not always something to hit. It is simply a reminder of why you started
That´s our ethos at ATTIKA.
People begin training for many reasons. Some want more energy during the day. Some want to feel more confident in their body. Some want to move without pain, stay consistent with exercise, or feel more capable in everyday life. These motivations are just as meaningful as any physical or performance outcome.
When a goal is centred around how someone wants to feel and function, it becomes supportive rather than demanding. It offers direction without creating pressure. It provides a way to reconnect with the bigger picture when motivation drops or life becomes busy.
Goals are feedback, not failure
Goals of all types create space for reflection. If your training does not lead to said goal (numerical or not) that is not failure. It is useful feedback. It allows the program, the training load and even the structure of sessions to be adjusted so that the process truly fits the person, not the other way around.
This is what a bespoke approach looks like in practice.
Goals at ATTIKA are used as part of an ongoing, personalised process. They evolve as the person evolves. They are shaped around real life, real constraints and real needs, not around a fixed outcome or timeline.
Goals help your trainer create a pathway to help you get to where you desire to be and readjust along the way.
Progress does not need to be driven by pressure to be meaningful
So, whether numbers help to give you that added push or the sentiment gives you more encouragement, the most powerful goal is simply staying connected to the reason you started. It´s about allowing your training to support your life, not compete with it.
Recently, a new client shared with us that setting goals makes her feel anxious. The idea of having something to “complete” created pressure rather than motivation.
This is far more common than people realise.
For some, numerical goals are genuinely helpful. Targets such as lifting a certain weight, training a set number of times per week, or reaching a performance milestone can create focus, structure and a strong sense of achievement.
For others, however, those same goals can become heavy. They can turn movement into something to keep up with rather than something to enjoy.
At ATTIKA, your goals are yours. While we can help you find yours, they are your own desires for the future. In this article, we uncover why goals are worth having and how to add the right amount of pressure for you.
Progress is not linear
Progress will always be up and down. And for each individual the same amount of effort can lead to different levels of progress. Life, stress, genetics and health all play a role. If you are someone who may be unmotivated when progress slows, goals that are only measured by numbers can make you believe that you are falling behind even when your working just as hard. The important thing to note is that even when the metrics you’re measuring aren’t going up, your body will still be adapting and improving in various positive ways.
It´s also important to consider how realistic your goal is for you. While everyone is different, your Coach can help you with an estimate of how achievable your goal is. Goals should be encouraging. Not impossible.
So what´s the other option?
If numerical goals aren´t for you, goals don´t need to be removed from the process.
Your goal should just be refined based on why you started in the first place.
While you may not want to add too much pressure to the goal, it is an important reminder of far you´ve come. Because we don´t always realise.
We encourage you to rate your current state from now. For example, if you want to reduce your back pain you can consider how much it bothers you, both on a pain scale and how often. Then, when you reflect in a few months time you can see how much your training has made a difference. This can be a positive motivator to keep going, or, if nothing has changed you can look into adjusting the training to try a new method.
A goal is not always something to hit. It is simply a reminder of why you started
That´s our ethos at ATTIKA.
People begin training for many reasons. Some want more energy during the day. Some want to feel more confident in their body. Some want to move without pain, stay consistent with exercise, or feel more capable in everyday life. These motivations are just as meaningful as any physical or performance outcome.
When a goal is centred around how someone wants to feel and function, it becomes supportive rather than demanding. It offers direction without creating pressure. It provides a way to reconnect with the bigger picture when motivation drops or life becomes busy.
Goals are feedback, not failure
Goals of all types create space for reflection. If your training does not lead to said goal (numerical or not) that is not failure. It is useful feedback. It allows the program, the training load and even the structure of sessions to be adjusted so that the process truly fits the person, not the other way around.
This is what a bespoke approach looks like in practice.
Goals at ATTIKA are used as part of an ongoing, personalised process. They evolve as the person evolves. They are shaped around real life, real constraints and real needs, not around a fixed outcome or timeline.
Goals help your trainer create a pathway to help you get to where you desire to be and readjust along the way.
Progress does not need to be driven by pressure to be meaningful
So, whether numbers help to give you that added push or the sentiment gives you more encouragement, the most powerful goal is simply staying connected to the reason you started. It´s about allowing your training to support your life, not compete with it.
