Having clear-cut weight management goals can create a focused direction for you to follow. A solid, realistic plan will help you win the weight loss battle. So how do you form straightforward weight-loss goals that will help, not hamper, your hard fought efforts? These 10 simple suggestions can get you started quickly:
Strive for realistic weight management goals. Healthy weight loss occurs slowly and gradually, not overnight. Make it your goal to only lose from 1-2 pounds per week. This might not sound like much, but as the pounds come off, you will soon see that 10-20 pound have been shed. To lose a few pounds per week, you will need to burn 500 to 1,000 calories more than you consume every day through a low-calorie, small portion diet and regular daily exercise. Losing weight dramatically usually means losing water weight and muscle tissue, not fat.
Customize your weight loss goals. Set goals that are within your capacity, and take into account your body’s limitations. Don’t go out there and run a marathon everyday, when you are not physically capable of doing so. You will get burned out, discouraged, and maybe even sick. Make your daily fitness goals achievable, not ridiculous.
Enjoy the process. It is better to concentrate on the process of your achievements rather than the outcome. Tell yourself that you will walk briskly for a half and hour instead of telling yourself that you will lose 10 pounds in a week. This way, you can’t be disappointed because you have complete control over the actions you take, not necessarily the weight that you lose.
Think both short term and long term. Short-term goals keep you excited and engaged on a daily basis, but long-term goals motivate you over the long haul. Your short-term fitness goals (for example, biking 30 minutes every day) can become stepping-stones to reaching your long-term goals (biking in a 10K race).
Write down your weight loss goals. When mapping out your goals, write down everything and go through all of your details. When and where will you do carry out your goals? What equipment (if any) do you need to get started? How will your fitness goals fit into your schedule?
Start small. It is often beneficial to plan a series of smaller fitness goals that build on one another instead of one huge, all-encompassing goal. Keep in mind that you’re in this for the long haul. As mentioned earlier, any new fitness undertaking that you practice too intensely will almost immediately become too difficult and you’ll be more likely to give it up.
Pick a solid date. Chose a start date of your new weight loss regime. Stick with that date firmly. Take into account your circumstances before you do though. If you don’t chose a date and stick with it, you are more likely to keep saying, “I’ll start tomorrow”.
Plan for the inevitable setbacks. When you begin a weight loss routine, know that there are going to be birthdays with ice cream and family dinners at the local Italian place. Sometimes life does indeed get in the way, but get right back into your weight loss routine the next day. Don’t get discourage by the setbacks that are bound to happen.
Assess your progress. Take a clear assessment of your progress each week, while reviewing your goals. At the end of the week, sit down and ask your self if you reached your desired goal, and why did or didn’t you. Ask yourself what worked and what didn’t. Modify your plans accordingly.
Re-examine and adjust your goals as you see fit. When designing a weight loss plan for the long haul, be flexible. If things aren’t working, change them. As your weight loss increases, so must your goals. What it is key though, is not giving up. Persistence will win over anything.
