Hey – It’s Coach Juliet from Block Fitness Oro Valley. I’m taking over the blog this week!
Why?
I’ve been thinking about goals lately (and I think this will help you with your journey).
In May, I had knee reconstruction surgery.
I set a goal for myself to be back in the gym in a week and be back to fully lifting and moving
within 6-8 weeks. That meant I had to work…hard work!
While my recovery from surgery was relatively painless, working my knee back to snuff wasn’t so painless. But I kept working because I mentally set that goal for myself. I also spoke it out loud to the coaches working with me to help keep me accountable. Despite being a coach (and a therapist), I still need accountability.
I can honestly say that at 8 weeks, I was squatting full depth and doing things I hadn’t been able to do prior to surgery.
But then I was at a loss. I needed a new goal.
Goals, for me, give me a purpose.
Goals provide me with direction AND motivation to stay focused; they give me something to strive for.
So I set a new goal: Enter a USPA powerlifting competition for my bench press. YIKES!
I spoke my goal out loud to my coaches, had programs written specifically for this goal, and started the work. I had two-and-a-half months to hit my goal, which really was just a personal best for me.
On October 25, 2026, I not only hit my goal, but I smashed the heck out of it! I set a new PR (personal record) for myself by 3 pounds AND I set a state bench press record for my age and weight class. Boom!!
What can we learn from this? Why am I sharing?
Setting new goals keeps us growing and constantly moving forward. I’ve said for years, if we don’t grow, we stagnate. Without a goal, it’s easy to feel adrift. Especially as we enter the holiday season; you know, the season that starts in October and doesn’t seem to end until end of January!! That’s a long time to go without setting any goals for yourself.
Without a clear purpose, it’s easy to lose momentum or motivation.
The gym isn’t just a place for physical growth or weight loss or (fill in the blank here), it’s also a space for reflection and gratitude at what our bodies can do, no matter your age, no matter your body size, no matter your ailments. Be grateful for what your body CAN do, accept what it can’t do, and set a goal that matches your season of life.
I had a rehab season.
Then I had a competition season.
Now I have new goal of building up my clean and jerk, because that feels exciting to me right now.
Your goal doesn’t have to be a state bench press record, but it does have to be YOUR goal. Choose something that feels exciting and achievable for you. Choose something that motivates you and reminds you to be grateful your body CAN do those things; because your body CAN totally do those things! Then, share your goal with your coaches to help your programming and your accountability.
Speak it out loud to your workout partners to help cheer you on in achieving your goals.
Most importantly, set a goal to be grateful to be HERE!
Thanks for reading!
– Coach Juliet
