Beginners Goals

**tony4100** · 28-10-2010 11:36 AM

Following on from some replies to recent threads and from what I have learnt in the short space of time that I have been training, I believe that there should be a golden rule when goal setting.
The goal should not be more than three words and must not contain the word "and".
For example "lose fat" or "build mass".

It should also be understood that to achieve a specific goal there will be a comprise in other areas of your training regime.

As a beginner myself I know how difficult it is to come to terms with this but it does come with gaining knowledge and experience.

**Maximi11ion** · 28-10-2010 12:04 PM

what about lose fat and get stronger?

**Tauren** · 28-10-2010 01:03 PM

Absolutely agree that goal setting is a vitally important exercise. The problem is that depending on where people are, they might be able to make progress on just one goal or two or three.

A guy with a years lifting experience who wants to do the classic "bulk up and lose the love handles" really needs to prioritise, and focus on just one goal. Its going to be really hard to do both. But, a 17-stone couch potato who doesn't exercise at all, could make progress on every goal imaginable (stronger, leaner, gain mass and gain aerobic fitness) for a time, just by lifting, losing some weight and doing some cardio.

I completely agree its a good idea for a beginner, or in fact most people, to be focussing on just one goal. The only problem is that absolute beginners can often make progress against lots of goals at once, which can lead to confusion, or the thought that everyone can achieve the same.

**tony4100** · 28-10-2010 01:17 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by Maximi11ion

what about lose fat and get stronger?

It depends on the primary goal I suppose. If you want to lose fat focus on that and strength gains will happen as well, however to lose fat you need to have a reduced calorie intake which sooner or later will hamper strength gains.

If your primary goal is to gain strength then you need to have an increased calorie intake and therefore will gain ( some depending on approach) some fat.