Week 1: Developing a Plan & Setting Goals

As I mentioned previously, my goal with 52 weeks is to slowly work through different fitness ideas and concepts to figure out what works best for me in creating a healthy body. Our first week's goal is to develop a plan for what exactly this will look like. The key things we should each focus on in setting goals are:

1. How do I want to measure my success? 
2. How often should I take these measurements? 
3. What is my ultimate goal? 
4. When do I want to accomplish this goal? 

I would encourage each of you to look above and beyond the traditional "weight loss" goal. Our society focuses so much on a specific number that we need to be "ideal," when instead we should aim for being strong, healthy human beings--in both our bodies and our souls. That being said, it is okay to make a goal to lose a certain amount of weight, but try to set some goals that are different and more personal to you. For example: 

1. Run 1 mile in under 7 minutes
2. Exercise 5 days each week on average 
3. Decrease number of medications I take daily 
4. Meditate x 10 min each day
5. Perform 50 push-ups in a row. 
6. Fit into 1 size smaller jeans

Next, we want to develop a plan to get there. Luckily, I have this one set for you already (don't say I never gave you anything!), and my hope is that we will all slowly reach our health and fitness goals through each week's challenges. 

What are your goals for fitness for this upcoming year? How do you plan on measuring your success? 

I look forward to beginning this journey with you! 

Welcome!

Welcome to 52 Weeks of Health, Wellness & Fitness! Every year, millions of people around the world set resolutions for what they want to accomplish in the upcoming year. Sadly, according to Forbes, only 8% of those people actually accomplish that goal. Weight loss and "being healthy" tend to be some of the big ones--and few people even make it past the first month on that one.

I've been there. Too many times. And, I'm a physical therapist. Yep, you heard that right. My job is literally to tell people how to be more healthy every single day. Unfortunately, I fail to live that out in my normal day-to-day life. What kind of example is that to my patients? Thus, the birthplace of 52 Weeks of Health, Wellness & Fitness. I'll be honest--I don't enjoy exercising. I like eating french fries, sloppy saucy wings, ice cream and especially chocolate (the darker the better in my book). So, in 2013, I plan to take 52 different health & wellness ideas, and implement them 1 week at a time. I plan to experiment with different types of exercises, recipes, and other activities to create a healthier and better Jessica. My goal is that by the end of 2013, I will learn what works best for me in terms to creating and maintaining the most healthy body I can, and learning to nurture my body, soul and mind in the way I live my life. I hope you will join me on this journey.