SMART goals are dumb and how to do fitness that matters.

The fitness industry has a nasty habit of trying to sell us on the idea that we should “get results”. And not just any result, physique and performance results, you gotta look good and do amazing things. I think it’s nasty because chasing those results are the cause of much of our suffering, mental, physical and spiritual. Also-they aren’t helping people live better.

To that end, some bozo stole the idea of “smart” goals from the middle managers of the world and tried to make it work for fitness. It’s a dumb idea and I don’t recommend anyone who wants sustainable fitness attach themselves to this theory.

Fitness that works is not flashy, doesn’t sell magazines and, it’s boring on a podcast. But it works, it keeps you happy, healthy, and able to meet life’s challenges for a very very long time.

Here is how I practiced sustainable fitness in 2023

1. I stayed very aware of my body, mind and purpose (soul). If your fitness routine doesn’t first ask: “how you doin’?” it’s going to hurt you.

2. I went outside A LOT with people I love A LOT. We hiked, biked, camped, watched the sky, the sea, the trees and each other.

3. I journaled and wrote poetry. I wrote about things I love. I wrote down my dreams. I wrote about what a shit-show of a year I had.

4. I tried new things. Watch my candid review of a local gym.

5. I didn’t shame my body’s changes.

6. I cooked from scratch with local ingredients. real food story time

7. I volunteered with my spiritual community.

None of these fitness actions are “smart” i.e. Specific, measurable, achievable (there is no end), realistic, or time-bound. My fitness actions feel quite the opposite but what I know from decades in the fitness industry, sustainable fitness is not comprised of the perfect workout or the newest fad diet. Perfection and Fads quickly fade away when life gets hard or “research proves” something else is better.

There are old fashioned, boring truths that when applied over a lifetime equal longevity and vitality. Maybe you even saw some of them in the Netflix Blue Zones series?

Robert Lustig distills them very well in what he calls, "The Four C's", for health and happiness.  

1)Connect; eye to eye, face to face.

2)Contribute; make your world a better place.

3)Cope; sleep, practice mindfulness, and exercise. 

4)Cook; prepare your own meals. 

"These four things help preserve our brains, our function, our families" -Robert Lustig

Let’s get fit together this year and forever.

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