The reason is that no diet plan has ever succeeded [...]]]> 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.

If you haven’t, I think that you should do it right away. In fact, you need to. Knowing the real reason behind your weight loss efforts is a great motivation tool and will help you stick to your diet [...]]]> Did you ever stop and ask yourself this powerful question: why do you want to lose weight?

If you haven’t, I think that you should do it right away. In fact, you need to. Knowing the real reason behind your weight loss efforts is a great motivation tool and will help you stick to your diet or fitness plan.

When I began losing weight, I had a goal. I’m a little embarrassed to admit it, but I did it because of a girl I met years ago. She was thin, in shape, and beautiful. I was flabby, out of shape, and I fell instantly in love with her. I won’t write her name in case she ever reads it, but I was smitten.

I wanted to lose weight for her, so she would like me. And also because she was so hot that I felt like I needed to be too. So, I began to watch what I eat and exercise regularly. It was at that time that I developed my love for running. But the point is that I had a firm goal in mind. I knew what I was losing weight for.

Anyway, after a month or so, this girl dumped me. Hey, I was immature, needy, clingy, and I deserved it. At the time I hated her for breaking my heart. But she also gave me a true gift because even after she went out of my life, I still had this goal. I wanted to get thin, lean, and sexy (I’m not ashamed to say that) to be able to go out with beautiful girls and feel comfortable around them. I just kept on running.

Of course, you may have different weight loss goals and motivation. You may be worried about your long term health, want to have a higher level of energy and so on. You may have a much nobler motivation than I did. But the main thing is to have something to drive you on, just like I did.

I urge you to give this some thought and even to write it down so you can look at your ultimate goal whenever you feel down or worried that you won’t lose weight. This is important.

So, take a few minutes and figure out why you want to lose weight. You will find it much easier to succeed afterward.

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, [...]]]> 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.