Ah, the onset of the New Year brings on fresh possibilities, a renewed outlook on life, and for many of us, resolutions. We promise ourselves to save more money or learn a foreign language, or the most popular resolution….GET HEALTHY (substitute “run more”, “lose weight”, “slim down my love handles and pump up the junk in my trunk”). The idea of a fresh start marking the beginning of the year may help us let go of past imperfections and embrace the possibility of what could be.
Setting resolutions, or goals, can go one of two ways. We lay out the things we hope to change, jump in, and lose steam 30 days later or, focus in on an area for change and get specific with the expectations. The second option, says Carl Hultgren with Pure Form Training, is the key to lasting changes. Coach Carl believes that setting and working toward the desired result first requires defining what is measurable and what is doable.
Define the "why"
Understanding the reasons behind a goal is the first step to moving forward. If your goal is to "get healthy" you need to define "healthy": is your intention to improve your cholesterol numbers on your blood lab workup? Or, play with your grandkids in the yard rather than watch from the porch? Maybe it's to recognize and instill appropriate relationship boundaries. Carl focuses on the "why" with his gym members to guide them in establishing what is driving the desire for change. He suggests starting with the question "why do you want to be different?".
Establish the "what"
Now that you have identified the driving force of your goal, get busy defining the practicality of the everyday. Coach Carl's advice is to create the habit of movement. For physical fitness, the first day can be one of the hardest due to the internal mantra many of us have; not feeling worthy of change or deserving of something better for ourselves. The act of getting started can be as basic as striving for 10,000 steps per day broken down into 10 minutes every hour. Add 20 squats or 20 wall push-ups and do that three times a week. That's a practical, measurable, doable plan.
Focusing on your mental health can look similar. At Pure Form Training, Carl encourages people to participate in a mindset coaching program that includes journaling and daily purposeful actions and goals specifically designed to improve one's self-awareness and self-worth and value. These practices along with physical exercise can alleviate stress and anxiety, boost your emotional mood through the release of "happy hormones", and improve sleep, to name a few. Certainly not all mental health situations can be resolved with a journal and strength training so Coach Carl is quick to stress the importance of seeking diagnostic assistance from a qualified medical professional, counselor, or therapist.
Moving on to the "how"
You won't find a cookie-cutter formula here. The how of moving forward in your goal process is more about doing your very best every day, states Carl. Maybe that's drinking a half gallon of water by noon and working up towards a full gallon by 3:00 PM. Or, learning to say "no" where appropriate and not succumbing to pressure to say "yes". He reminds us that physical, emotional, mental health and fitness are interwoven and the main idea of establishing and working towards personal goals is not perfection but is intentionality. Carl stresses we should intentionally focus on the future you, and not the temporary you. Focus on making "today your very last first day" and commit to moving forward.
An important part of "how" for Carl and his crew, is accountability. At Pure Form Training that is accomplished through an app that includes a daily task list and one-on-one messages with Carl on progress. The intentionality to connect encourages gym members to stay engaged. The accountability relationship for any goal helps clarify the desired result, consists of open communication, and involves mutual commitment. An accountability partner can be anyone in your circle of influence. The relationship must have the common tenets of integrity, healthy honesty, and respect.
Carl Hultgren would love for each of us to start our New Year's goals right inside his Pure Form Training gym. But even if we don't, his encouragement is to remember the best movement you can do is the one you will actually do. What's important is laying out a goal that is doable, measurable, and achievable.
Carl Hultgren - owner/trainer at Pure Form Training in Celina which opened in March 2022. Carl attributes the gym's record growth to focusing on the person as a whole - mind, body, & spirit. Carl says "God has given me a gift; I can yell at people during their workout and they actually respond and listen. This is my ministry".
695 N. Preston Road
PureFormTrainingCelina.com
469.907.5650
"The daily process is the focus not the end of the goal, not the result. Focus on the process every day and you will be a success every day. Your commitment to the process trumps motivation all day long. Motivation flies when the alarm rings at 4AM. Commitment is what makes you roll out of bed and get moving. Be willing to feel uncomfortable and be 'pure form' in everything."