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Setting and Hitting Goals Part 1 - Identifying Your Goals

Setting and Hitting Goals Part 1 - Identifying Your Goals

January 05, 20246 min read

By David Drinks

As we come into a new year, it is the right time to place some focus on setting and hitting your goals.

No matter what your experience has been with "New Year's resolutions," the fact is that most people are thinking about making some changes and hitting some goals to be a better version of themselves this year.

There is a natural reset that occurs after the busy holiday season and the dawn of a new year. Plus, with the long winter months ahead of us and fewer distractions, it is a great time to lock in on building the habits that will lead you to your goals.

But, there is one problem that I see with goal setting. The majority of people need to set better goals.

Most people fail to hit their goals. Looking at the New Year's resolutions stats, just about everyone fails. Why? It does not have as much to do with circumstances or willpower as with people setting themselves up for failure with poor goal setting.

Not setting goals properly leads to two outcomes:

You don't hit your goal.

You think goal setting does not work.

Goal setting absolutely does work, and you can hit your goals! But you do need to apply the correct process to get the desired outcome.

That is why I want to spend some time during the first part of this year helping you dial in your goal-setting so you can have the best chance at success!

Too many people have long since given up on setting goals. A missed goal happened one too many times, and so they determined that they were just happier not setting goals.

Or they are relatively comfortable with their life right now and do not feel the need to pursue anything else.

OR they already feel overwhelmed and cannot fathom taking on another commitment right now. (Perhaps your goal in this case is to take specific steps to get less overwhelmed!).

But here is the thing. Humans need hope. We need to feel traction and progress to live our best lives.

And if things are not exactly as you would like them to be in every category of your life (which is true of everyone), then you have a goal - even if you are not saying it out loud.

My goal today (no pun intended) is to help you identify these unspoken goals and raise them to the level of consciousness for you. This is the first step in making the progress you want for this year.

Also, I know this is a gym blog, but I will focus on more than fitness goals. Our mission at The Med Gym is to help you "Move Better, Feel Better, and Live Better." That encompasses a whole lot more than just fitness!

While we are best suited to help you achieve your health and physical fitness goals at The Med Gym, we also want to encourage you to pursue your best life in every category.

So, where might these unspoken goals be hiding?

Think about your:

Professional/work life: Are you exactly where you want to be, doing work that is meaningful to you?

Health and physical fitness: Is your body in the best health possible? Are you physically fit enough to do all the activities you need and want to do? Are you concerned about your long-term health?

Family & Relationships: Relationships are tricky because they require two people. We cannot control other people's thoughts and actions as much as we want. So, are you doing everything in your power to have the best possible relationships with your family, friends, co-workers, and others in your circle of influence?

Financial Health: Are you happy with where you are at in your finances? Are there changes you need to improve your income or reduce your expenses? Are there steps you need to take to improve your financial future?

Home/Physical Environment: Is your home precisely how you would like it, or is there something nagging at your attention to declutter, repair, or upgrade? What about your work environment? Is it conducive to focus and quality work, or does it need more organization or new tools to help you do your best work?

Intellectual/Spiritual/Emotional: This is a big one. Not only does it encompass many things, but it is also critical to your health and well-being. Humans are intellectual, spiritual, and emotional beings. We are complex. If you are not growing in these areas, you may have a goal to focus more on one of these aspects of your life.

Hobbies/Interests/Pursuits: Is there anything you have thought about pursuing in your life that was not previously an option but has come into the realm of possibility now?

Did any of these categories drum up something that you wish to be different or better than it is? That is a great candidate for your 2024 goals!

So, let's go back to why most people fail to stick with their New Year's resolutions or hit their goals. The first reason is that they need to take the time to identify genuine and meaningful goals.

Instead of identifying a goal that would genuinely make a difference in their life, most people say what they think they should say (like, "I want to lose some weight and feel better this year").

Not only are these types of goals vague, but they are also not motivating.

So, the first step to setting and hitting goals is that they have to be YOUR goals!

So, what are your goals? What do you wish to be different than it is right now in any category of your life? What is your vision for a better future?

Take some time to identify goals that are meaningful and motivating to you. Setting an intention to hit a goal that will really improve your life is the only way you will stick with it through the ups and downs.

I cannot tell you what your goal is or should be. However, I hope the prompts I gave today are enough to spur you to identify your goals right now.

From here, I'd like to walk with you as your "coach" to help you set and hit your goals this year. Let's put an end to vague goals that get lost by mid-February!

Instead, let's find the right goals for you and walk together down the path of planning and executing your path to your desired future!

Are you ready? If so, stay tuned for a new part in this series every Friday for the first 6 weeks of the year.

I'll be touching on each part of the goal-setting process to give you the method for successfully setting and hitting your goals.

Let's set a "resolution" to make this year different!

P.S. If you identify a health and fitness goal as one of your top priorities this year, we want to help!

One of our expert fitness coaches will sit down with you to walk you through our SMART goal-setting system, help you identify the path to success, and design your ideal exercise and nutrition plan.

Contact us here to schedule a free consultation!

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Exercise Specialist

Exercise Specialist

Exercise Specialist

Nutrition Coach

Exercise Specialist

Exercise Specialist

Nutrition Coach

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DAVID DRINKS

Exercise Specialist & Owner

David has worked as an Exercise Specialist at The Med Gym since its inception in 2014, and has helped people of all ages move better, feel better, live better, and perform better. His love for training in the gym began as a high school and college baseball player where he learned the value of training his own body for athletic performance. Since then, he has grown to love training others to become their healthiest, perform their best, and learn the value of a proper training program.

​​David earned his bachelor’s degree in Sport & Exercise Science from DeSales University in 2013. During that time, he helped design off-season and in-season training programs for the DeSales University baseball team, as well as interning with the strength & conditioning coaches at Lehigh University to work with varsity athletes at Lehigh. Since college David has spent time working in the Physical Therapy setting prior to his time as one of the Exercise Specialists at The Carlisle MedGym.​

In 2021, David partnered with Brian Cardin and Steve Miller (owners of Cardin & Miller Physical Therapy and The Med Gym) to become part-owner and the managing partner of The Med Gym.​

David is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He is also Level 2 Certified in the Functional Movement Screen, as well as certified in the Fundamental Capacity Screen through Functional Movement Systems.​

You can contact David at [email protected]

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Kade Adomanis

Exercise Specialist

Kade has worked at The Med Gym since May of 2022, and since then has continued his passion to train and build rapport with his clients. His goal is to help individuals move better, live better and feel better. His love for training began with his own training for sports, which culminated as a college soccer player at DeSales University.

Kade graduated in 2022 from DeSales University with a Bachelor's degree in Sport and Exercise Physiology and a minor in Psychology. Throughout his college education, he developed both his love for training in the gym and his passion for helping people improve their overall function. During college, he began working with adults with disabilities as a social worker at Kaleidoscope. Through that experience, he developed a greater appreciation for the importance of helping people live and function better.


In addition to his work with Kaleidoscope, Kade also gained experience working in an internship at Lehigh Valley Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation. There, he had the opportunity to assist individuals with their workout programs to improve their overall health. As part of that internship, he gained experience in cardiovascular and pulmonary health. He had the opportunity to read EKGs, take blood pressures, and set up clients with electrodes for monitoring.


Kade also has internship experience with an occupational therapy clinic specializing in hand therapy. There, he learned about different occupational therapy techniques for the hand.


Kade is a Certified Exercise Physiologist through the American Society of Exercise Physiologists (ASEP). He is also Level 1 Certified in the Functional Movement Screen.​

You can contact Kade at [email protected]

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Bill Bodisch
Exercise Specialist & Nutrition Coach

For the past thirty-plus years, Bill was a sales and marketing professional committed to a high level of customer satisfaction and delivering solutions to customer challenges. Now, as a certified personal trainer and a certified nutrition and health coach, he is committed to fostering a supportive environment that empowers clients to overcome their unique health challenges, advocate ownership of their health, and plan for change.

Fitness has always been a part of Bill's life. As a teenager, he began weight training to gain strength for sports. He still incorporates functional fitness programs into his everyday life to stay healthy and strong - mentally and physically. He has always liked everything about being in the gym, especially the challenge of new programs.

As part of The Med Gym community, Bill assists clients as a trainer, nutrition coach, and accountability partner. He helps people overcome specific health challenges and physical limitations while encouraging them to become the healthiest version of themselves.

Playing golf has always been a passion for Bill. He has attained Level 1 Certification with Titleist Performance Institute, which focuses on the body-swing connection for golfers. Additionally, Bill is a certified Golf Fitness Specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. The TPI screen is the foundation for golf fitness training. Bill focuses on balance, rotation, and power exercises to help all golfers train better, swing better, and play better.

Currently, Bill is:

​• Level 1 Certified in the Functional Movement Screen

• Level 1 Certified Titleist Performance Institute

• Certified Personal Trainer and Golf Fitness Specialist - National Academy of Sports Medicine

• Level 1 Certified Nutrition Coach through Precision Nutrition

• Certified Health Coach and Life Coach through the Health Coach Institute

You can contact Bill at [email protected]

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Caitlin Patane
Exercise Specialist

Caitlin Patane is a Carlisle native. She obtained an Associate of Arts degree from Harrisburg Area Community College in 2011. She then decided to take a break in her education before finishing her bachelor’s degree at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise Science with a concentration in Sport and Exercise Conditioning. Being active and feeling fit has always been an integral part of her life and she aspired to help others in a knowledgeable and safe way.

Caitlin worked as a manager of a gym in Stroudsburg for over 3 years; however, she was not feeling fulfilled in her career and felt she could be doing something more. A unique, challenging, and unrelated career opportunity presented itself in 2019, when she started working for C.F. Martin and Co., one of the oldest, most highly respected acoustic guitar manufacturers in the world. She truly enjoyed her time and experience there; however, she decided to get back to her roots and degree by moving back to her beloved hometown of Carlisle in 2022.

Caitlin has worked at the Med Gym for over a year now and has made some wonderful connections with her clients. She feels that she helped many people on their fitness journey move closer to their goals. She also became certified in the Functional Movement Screen, Level 1, which has helped her to better assess her clients and create effective and individualized programs for each one of them. While Caitlin enjoys her time at the Med Gym, she is taking a temporary leave of absence towards the end of May to have her first child - a baby girl! She is very excited about this new and exciting life event. However, she will be looking forward to getting back to training clients in the future. She hopes all of her clients stick with their training in her absence and continue to make progress toward their health and fitness goals!

You can contact Caitlin at [email protected]

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Calvin Nause
Exercise Specialist

Calvin Graduated from Shippensburg University in 2020 with a bachelor's degree in exercise science. His passion for sports from a young age initially got him into exercise and fitness. Calvin played sports throughout his high school career with soccer being his favorite. During his time at Shippensburg, he was a member of the exercise science club and did an internship with Shippensburg Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine.

Coming out of college he was initially unsure what route he would take as a career path. Starting in June of 2020, shortly after graduation, Calvin started working for Cardin & Miller Physical Therapy as a PT Aide. Over the 3 years that he worked there, he began to realize how much he truly enjoyed working with people to help them become stronger and live healthier lives. One of the most rewarding parts of working in the fitness industry is having an impact on someone's journey toward feeling the best they possibly can.

Calvin looks forward to challenging himself and others in a positive and uplifting way! He is super excited to be working in such a welcoming place like The Med Gym!

Calvin is Level 1 Certified in the Functional Movement Screen.

You can contact Calvin at [email protected]

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Erin Smeigh
Nutrition Coach

Food is medicine but just one part of the journey to wellness!

After reversing her own autoimmune disorder with food, movement, hydration, and supplements, Erin discovered her desire to support others in finding wellness through nutrition and identifying hidden stressors.

Her objective with nutrition coaching is to help individuals create a routine of eating more whole and unprocessed foods. Choosing to be mindful of what they eat and when they eat it.

Forget the days of being trapped in a chaotic cycle of restricting food, overeating, feeling guilty, and then restricting even more. Erin will help you, identify your stressors, and develop long-term, enjoyable habits around food so you can live a happier and healthier life.

By doing this you can create a sustainable plan for long-term health and body change.

Erin is a Level 1 Certified Nutrition Coach through Precision Nutrition.

As of July 2023, she has also obtained her certification as an FDNP-Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, Certified Health Coach.

You can contact Erin at [email protected]

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290 E Pomfret St. Carlisle, PA 17013

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 717-254-6751

OR Text: 717-347-0462

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