My first online article!

I was recently asked to write monthly articles on fitness, nutrition and motivation for an online dating site called Single Parents Love Life. Here is my first article:


You set goals for your kids.
Now set a goal for your body.
By Greg D'Cruz, Single Dad and SPLL Member


The start of a new year brings the hope that this year will be better than the last one. And we know we have the power to make that happen! As someone who works in the fitness industry can attest to, this time of year the gyms are flooded with new members. Most, however, will be gone in a few months.

The reason is they neglected to write down or envision their goals. They had a desire but not a goal and there is a difference. A desire is the "want to" but a goal is a "plan." This plan usually has a time line attached to it;



For example, as a single parent you may want to improve your health (or stamina!!!) but what does that mean? A goal takes this one step further by defining itself. With Valentine's Day and even summer fast approaching, your goal could be to lose five pounds by a certain date. Now you have defined the goal!

Once a goal is defined, you need a plan to make this goal a reality. The plan needs to be realistic and something that fits into your current single parent lifestyle.

As a single Dad who shares custody of my two (amazing) boys, it seems that my life is broken into two separate entities; the time I'm alone and the time that I spend with my children. Single parents struggle with trying to be good role models for our children. Our kids learn by watching us and if they see we're committed to staying fit and in shape, they too will likely carry that lesson for the rest of their lives. Put another way, the best way to have healthy and fit children is for you to be healthy and fit.

When you make goals for yourself, envision what that goal will look like years down the road. Goals need to be important to you and something that you see yourself improving on from day to day, month to month or year to year. It could be improving on an existing activity or developing a new one but once you make a commitment to your goal and schedule it into your life, try your best not to deviate from that plan.

I believe in the importance of writing down daily goals. At the end of the day, take ten minutes to reflect on how the day went for you. Give yourself positive encouragement for what you accomplished, however small you may think it was. Then look forward to the next day and write down what you want to accomplish. At the end of each day you will be amazed at what you did and this will keep you motivated to keep improving.

Incorporate goal planning into everything you do in life and you will be amazed at what doors will open for you as a result!