Sometimes we make these lofty goals when it comes to fitness and health.

We say, “I’m gonna work out 6 days a week!” Within 6 weeks, that 6 days has become 1 or 2.

We declare, “I’m going straight vegan!” Then the invite to a barbecue has us partaking of that meat life.

We post images of six packs and snatched waists. When ours doesn’t come in a month or so, we’re like, “This is taking too long. Never mind!”

Fitness and health is a lifestyle choice; not an overnight transformation. When making changes to what we eat or how we move, we have to set S.M.A.R.T. goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely. If you haven’t exercised in years, don’t go gangsta; you can’t go from sitting on the couch to running marathons! Or if you’re like me and sugar is your weakness, going cold turkey -- which I’ve done and failed -- isn’t the best strategy. While we must make the initial decision to implement changes that benefits our bodies, if our goals are too lofty we won’t attain them at all.

So let’s get some help.

Dawn Rattan, owner of EverFit Gym in Shawnee, gives us the tea on finding your fitness path. She shares with us how to set realistic goals, learning to “like” your workout, incorporating fitness after 40, rewarding our milestones and more. Plus, this bonus: Dawn even advises how to build a booty from scratch – no surgery necessary!