The trouble with most weight loss goals is that they are too ideal. People tend to set goals that are too difficult or even impossible to achieve, at least in the short term. This normally results in disappointment, which in turn can have adverse effects on ones weight loss progress.
Here are some ideas that might help you better choose and plan your weight loss goal. They're not the end all-be-all guidelines on how to set a goal but these should cover the more general methods of going about it.
Determine why you want to lose weight
The first step in weight loss goal setting is determining why you want to lose weight. Is it for health reasons? Are you trying to look good? Does it have anything to do with your self-esteem? Try to understand yourself first before you try to change your body.
This has to be the most fundamental reason for your desire because you'll be drawing motivation from it. During those moments when you feel like giving up, this one reason should be enough to push you to persevere. Assess how important this reason is to you and how much of your time and effort you are willing to sacrifice for it.
Find out what options are available to you
The next step is to determine what options are available to you. Is there a gym near your place? Is there a park you can jog in that's accessible? Can you only work out at home? Is it feasible for you to change your diet? Do you have health issues?
Knowing what you can do and can't do will help you pick out the activities that are most suitable to your lifestyle. It'll allow you to determine which ones aren't in conflict with your other responsibilities.
We don't all have the time to go to the gym everyday or run early in the morning. But if we're motivated enough it's always possible to squeeze in an exercise or two into our daily or weekly routines.
Break down your long-term goal into smaller ones
Losing weight and keeping it off requires a lifestyle change. It's a long-term goal and it is important that you set shorter ones that build up to it in order for you to feel yourself progress.
Set milestones that remind you how long you've gone and how closer you are to your target weight. You could set up a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly fitness checkup to determine how well you're progressing. Knowing that your workout regimen is working will motivate you a lot.
A reward system is also a great way to reinforce your motivation. You could try treating yourself to a massage or a spa every time you lose a certain number of pounds. You'll find yourself wanting to achieve those short-term goals quickly just to get your reward.
Commit to losing weight
Commitment is the most important goal setting aspect. All your plans will become useless if you can't follow through them. So keep yourself motivated and keep burning those calories.
Once you've determined how you plan to lose weight, commit to it. If you come up with a workout schedule that you feel will best help you achieve your goal then make sure that you follow it.
Losing weight is a mental battle with yourself. What makes weight loss difficult is not the intense physical activities that you have to go through. Your body can handle and adapt to all of those. It's your mind telling you to take a break, slow down or to stop. Don't listen to it. Persevere.
If you're interested in more information about weight loss you can check out my hubs: How to lose weight in a month and Why am I losing weight?.
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