Goal-setting and your body

Goal-setting is an efficient way to visualize and reach your targets. It seems to work in sales, academia, fundraising, test-taking and saving money.

It may however not work when it comes to your body. Or specifically, when it comes to reaching a body shape you desire.

Because the human body is far more complex than any of the examples above.

When you want to score well in a test, the equation is simple – set a goal of scoring so-and-so, study well, learn the concepts, practice taking the test, figure out where you might be going wrong and correct yourself.

In most cases, this will ensure you get the desired results. Sure, many other factors play a role – your health has to be good during prep and on test day, no major accidents on test day, need money for the test or buying supplies and study materials etc. But the other factors play a relatively minor role.

If you compare two test takers who have similar facilities available to them, the one that has a clear goal and studies better, scores better by and large.

But bodies, their health and fitness are affected by so many variables that it is impossible to account for all of them.

There’s a long long list of things that go into making a body healthy – amount and quality of food, exercise, mental health, financial health, social capital, genetics, how your body processes stress, your metabolism, family support, preexisting diseases, parental health and habits, your habits, childhood influences, your native culture (especially the position of food in that culture), your relationship to food and so on.

So when you set a goal of having a waist size so and so inches or having so many packs in your abs, there’s a ton of things you have to get right to reach that goal.

Sure, many people, reach their health goals. They probably do so because many of the above factors are already in their favor and they manage to get in control the few factors that aren’t with their goal setting.

On the other hand, I’m sure the numbers of those who don’t succeed is far far greater. Or we wouldn’t have billion dollar industries in nutritional supplements, fitness instruments, apps and programs, reality tv shows, and diet books.

So the take-away? Avoid setting body-shape and size related goals that are influenced by complex factors beyond your control.

Instead, set goals that are in your control, like waking up early or running a set distance every week or avoiding sugar for 21 days or lifting x amount of weight. Your body might respond the way you like or you may have to adjust your goals.