One of the most important elements of a successful and long term weight loss process is setting healthy weight loss goals.
Without goals, you will have no way to determine how you’re really doing and whether the course you’re taking is working for you. However, setting the wrong goals can demolish your motivation in no time.
So, what are the keys to setting weight loss goals and sticking by them:
- Make sure your goals are reasonable ones. If you set out to lose 20 pounds in 5 days, you will fail. In your eyes this may seem devastating. However, it doesn’t mean your current weight loss process isn’t working. It just means that you wanted something which can’t be had and you’ve set yourself up for failure from the get-go
- Don’t make daily goals – You need to give yourself sufficient time between goals in order to really see a difference. If you weigh yourself every single day, you will have negative moments because you can’t expect the scale to show a difference on a daily basis. It just doesn’t work that way.
- Monitor your goals – This is important. I would use a journal to help me keep track of my achievements. This will help you to remain focused. The actual writing process also reinforces your commitment for a long term, sustainable weight loss.
- Don’t let your goals push you to extremes – Letting your goals push you to extremes is a bad idea. You need to realize that your health comes first and that short term weight loss, no matter how quickly it comes and how good it makes you look and feel now, may boomerang on you and leave you fatter in the long run.
- Don’t judge yourself by others – There will always be someone who loses weight faster than you. Don’t allow the results of other people influence your mood or change your goals. You are the only one that matters in this process.
Follow the above tips and set yourself healthy and reasonable weight loss goals.