One of the biggest challenges we have when we try to lose weight is to set the right goals. You have to know where you’re going if you’re ever going to get there. This isn’t just true of geography and travel but also of weight loss.
The reason is that no diet plan has ever succeeded without the right motivation and commitment and it’s often difficult to maintain a high level of motivation if you don’t have clear goals to achieve.
The question is, how to set weight loss goals in the right way to serve you well and not destroy your motivation. Here are some quick tips:
1. Each goal needs to have a deadline. You can’t just say I want to lose 5 pounds. You have to determine when this is going to happen. If you don’t then this is too abstract to serve as any motivational boost for you.
2. Set 1 big goal and write it down. This is your ultimate target, where you want to be in the end. If you want to lose 50 pounds in total, this is what you need to do. Writing your goals down makes them stronger in your mind. It’s a psychological trick which you can make great use of.
3. Set mini-goals to achieve the 1 big goal. Since your big goal may take a year or even more to achieve, you have to set mini weight loss goals. For instanct, if you want to lose 50 pounds and you’re giving yourself 10 months to do it, you can set 10 mini-goals of 5 pounds a month each. Mini-goals are much better for your motivation since they’re easier to achieve and you can chalk them off in a shorter time than your ultimate objective.
4. Write each goal down.
5. If you achieve a mini-goal allow yourself to celebrate. You’ve done exceptionally well.
6. If you miss out on a goal, don’t be too hard on yourself. Now is the time to work extra hard to make up for lost time and work on the next mini-goal.
7. Allow yourself to be flexible with your deadlines to a point. If your friend is getting married you may not be able to workout on that same day. It’s okay to change your deadlines. If the superbowl is coming up soon and you want to drink 5 cans of beer during the game, it’s not alright to change your deadlines. It’s just an excuse to drink.
Only you can determine your goals. Make them realistic and be patient with your deadlines. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you.