Whether your goal is to lose fat mass, increase muscle mass, run a marathon, or compete in fitness, your ultimate goal may seem overwhelming at first. There is no need to feel discouraged even if you are far from reaching your main goal.

For example, let's say you want to be able to do 20 unassisted pull-ups. Give yourself a generous amount of time to reach your goal. Your main goal could be to do 20 unassisted pull-ups within a year. Depending on how many you are presently able to do, set small goals along the way, e.g. for every four months, until you reach your goal. A workout journal can be a helpful tool to track and plan your progress.

Equally important is planning what to do to reach the minor goals and finally your major goal. Work specifically towards what you want to achieve but remember to work on your general fitness and also target weaknesses that may be slowing your progress. In the pull-up example, you may want to work on your grip and arm strength in addition to your back strength (by doing more than just pull-ups) to be able to reach your goal.

If you don't succeed to reach minor or major goals, all hope is not lost. You will have gained knowledge about your abilities, strengths, and limitations. Use this experience to your advantage. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you are stuck. Tweak your goals and your plan on how to reach them. That's how success is created.