Whether you want to increase flexibility, lose a few pounds or strengthen your core, there are realistic fitness goals that can get you there. As you start to think about health and fitness goals for 2025, it’s important to keep those goals SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound.
Specific means identifying exactly what it is that you want to accomplish. For example, “I want to lose some weight next year” is incredibly vague, but “ I want to lose 15 pounds” is more specific. Measurable means you can literally track or measure your goal. Attainable means determining if your goal is something that you can attain or achieve.
With regard to attainability, a 15-pound weight loss may be attainable for someone with 35 percent body fat, but there might not be a healthy way for someone with 16 percent body fat to get there. Realistic goals are attainable, and more importantly, can help you achieve other longer-term goals. For example, imagine you are working to reduce your blood pressure at 5 foot 7 and 184 pounds with 35 percent body fat. In this case, 15 pounds is not only attainable, but it will likely have a positive impact on your chronically high blood pressure as well.
Finally, a time-bound goal is something you can put a reasonable deadline on. A solid recommendation for this would be to commit to your overall plan for a minimum of three months in which each four-week period has you recognizing small milestones and reassessing adjustments that you can make to further your progress. Expecting quick results is the killer of well thought out plans. Stay focused on a positive outcome and reward yourself for every small victory along the way within a reasonable timeline for success.
Personal trainers and group fitness instructors are often seen as leaders and motivators of the fitness world. We inspire our clients to push harder, stay consistent, and achieve their goals while maintaining our high standards of physical fitness. But what if I told you that, despite all of our knowledge and experience, there’s a unique advantage to having a personal trainer for ourselves as well?
As both a personal trainer and a group fitness instructor, I know firsthand the demands of leading others in their fitness journeys. However, working with my dear friend and personal training colleague Dave Callari, for the last several years has helped freshen my perspective and provided a deeper understanding of how to provide the best experience for my clients. Being a fitness professional and a client at the same time has numerous benefits.
As fitness professionals, we are constantly tasked with staying on top of the latest trends, techniques, and scientific advancements. However, the fitness world is vast, and even as experts, there’s always more to learn. Working with Dave allows me to be on the receiving end of instruction, and this experience broadens my knowledge base. When I started training with Dave, I remember telling him I like to surround myself with people who know more than me so I can grow. In my opinion, he was the best person to train with and help broaden my training knowledge base.
Every training session I undergo with Dave brings new insights—whether it’s discovering a better way to target specific muscle groups, learning new recovery techniques, or realizing ways to improve my own program design. Our trainer-client dynamic forces me to approach fitness with a beginner’s mindset, which in turn helps me become a better coach for my clients.
Aside from the professional growth, training with Dave just makes my life so much easier when it comes to managing my fitness routine. It’s easy to preach about consistency to clients, but it’s not always easy to practice it ourselves. Life as a fitness professional is hectic—there’s often the pressure of managing multiple clients, teaching group fitness classes, and keeping up with your own physical fitness. Training with Dave helps keep me consistent and pushes me beyond my comfort zone when I am just feeling consumed by work.
Being a fitness professional is a deeply fulfilling profession that allows me to help others transform their lives. But having a personal trainer for myself has enhanced every aspect of my career and personal life. From boosting my motivation and accountability to refining my skills as a coach. By investing in my fitness and well-being, I’m better equipped to help my clients achieve their goals and live healthier, happier lives. After all, we can only give so much to others before we need to fill our own cup. Having a personal trainer while being a fitness professional is the best way to ensure we’re at our best, both as professionals and as individuals.
“I joined THE GYM in October 2023. As soon as I walked in, I knew I wanted to join and signed up for a year & just resigned. In the past I would join a gym and fizzle out after a few months, no incentive. However this place is totally different, this is a place that offers so much and keeps you engaged. It’s the first time I’ve ever stayed consistent. The reason I’ve been able to stay consistent is the staff, classes offered and equipment. I have been in classes and instructed by Curtis, who takes the time to teach form & technique. He moves around, reaches out to all, and most of all does the class with us. Some just bark out orders, but he participates. So many classes offered, with such variety, it is so complete. I also participate in a boxing class taught by a real boxer who methodically puts his class together, it’s not an afterthought.
Another key aspect for me is that THE GYM is CLEAN, there’s always someone wiping down equipment and locker rooms. The steam and sauna are a major plus also. For me, 2 classes in particular have done what no other gym could do, keep me consistently engaged. The results speak for themselves, I’ve lost weight, gained muscle and strength. I’ve made new friends & for the first time, I’ve looked forward to going to the gym.
Bottom line: Facility, Staff, Classes, Equipment, Cleanliness – it’s all here, and at a great value.”
Mike Tattoli, Member
Conveniently located just behind THE GYM’s locker rooms, The Plunge Room brings you the revitalizing power of hot and cold plunge therapy—a game-changer for recovery, wellness, and pain relief. Whether you’re recovering from a tough workout, managing lingering aches and pains, or simply looking to recharge, our contrast therapy delivers results you can feel.
By alternating between hot and cold immersions, this proven method boosts circulation, reduces inflammation, and accelerates muscle recovery. Water transfers heat up to 25 times faster than air, creating immediate and powerful temperature shifts that leave you refreshed, recharged, and ready to perform at your best. In our private plunge space, you can enjoy a tranquil, uninterrupted session to reset both body and mind.
Effective recovery steps away from your workout. For a limited time, THE GYM members can receive a Complimentary Guided 30 Min Plunge Session and unlock exclusive Founding Member Rates by visiting our website and creating a free account.
Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the power of plunge therapy firsthand.
