How To Set Weight Loss Goals And Stick To Them
When you first start out in your weight loss journey it’s helpful to make some goals for yourself so that you have something to aim towards and keep you on the right track.
Make SMART Goals
When you start thinking about setting yourself weight loss goals follow this tried and tested method.
Specific – Don’t be vague, make your goals definitive.
Measureable – Use numbers where you can, this could be the number of pounds you wish to lose.
Achievable – Create a goal that challenges you but is still possible.
Realistic – Be honest without self and be realistic of what you can achieve in the time frame.
Time bound – Give yourself a limited amount of time to achieve the goal.
Create long and short term goals
Your long term goal may be to drop 3 dress sizes by Christmas but, when you’re starting out, that big goal may seem a long way away so it helps to make some small goals along the way which you can tick off and celebrate. These could be goals such as ‘Try a new fitness class every month’, ‘Be able to do 10 press-ups’ or ‘Be able to fit into an old pair of jeans’. Whatever the big goal is, cut it down into bite-sized chunks and you’ll find it much easier to stay motivated.
Write your goals down and make yourself accountable
Write down your goals and display them somewhere where you will see them every day – the fridge or your work desk are good places! To make yourself accountable, tell someone you trust about your goals, such as a family member or close friend. This will make you feel much more accountable and likely to achieve them!
The scales don’t always tell the full story
Don’t beat yourself up if the scales don’t show as much progress as you feel they should. If you’re being consistent with a good diet and fitness programme, your body will be changing but not necessarily losing weight. Pictures show much more than traditional scales can, so make sure you take a picture of your full body before you embark on your weight loss journey and take regular progress pictures every month. It’s also important to remember that muscle weighs more than fat so if you have access to scales that measure body fat percentage this is a much better indicator of where you are at with your training.
Focus on things you love and the rest will follow
When you’re working towards your goals, you’ve got to enjoy the whole process otherwise you’ll find it especially hard to stick to them. If you choose recipes you love and types of exercise you enjoy, you’re much more likely to make long-term changes. It might be a case of trial and error at first, but stick at it and it will get much easier over time!