You set goals and make commitments every day. Commit to your family, school, and loved ones — to everyone but yourself. Well, it’s time to make the essential commitment to YOU. Let’s start this program by committing to our healthier selves. It may take you a few days to prepare by fine-tuning your goals. Clean the junk food out of your house. Get in the right mindset to achieve your goal of being a healthier and thinner you. You are worth it!
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS?
- Weight loss
- Increase energy
- Decrease body fat
- Eat healthier
- Improve your healthy habits
- Improve blood sugar management
- Not skipping meals
When setting goals, you should think long-term as well as short-term.
Break these up into intervals. Your short-term goals will keep you on track daily, and your long-term goals will help you stay motivated. Remember, no one else can set your goals for you — this is something you must do on your own.
The goals you set for your weight loss journey will set you up for nothing but success. Goals provide a plan for you as you transition to a healthier lifestyle. Your short-term goals are the stepping stones to your ultimate long-term goal.
As a mom, how often have you started a “diet” on a Monday morning by saying, “I am going to exercise every day, no matter what”? Or “I will never eat desserts again”? Dieters often set unrealistic goals and expectations, leading to frustration and disappointment.
Even though vowing to “never eat desserts again” may seem innocent, approaching goals this way can set you up for disappointment. Plans that use words that leave no room in your pursuit for error, such as always, never, ever, and “must,” can make you feel guilty by insisting on perfection. In addition, unrealistic and overly aggressive weight-loss goals — for example, losing 15 pounds a week —can set you up for frustration. It’s OK to dream big, and just be smart about it and use these tips to create weight loss goals that will help you achieve your dreams.
Creating SMART goals helps you focus your time and energy on the areas that count and set you up for success. The key to setting weight-loss goals is to remember they must be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Make sure your plans are detailed (e.g. I will journal my meals; I will exercise thrice weekly; I will fit into my size ten dress by the reunion in three months).
When planning your SMART goals, write down everything and review all the details. This way, you can track your progress and see if you’re meeting your goals.