Setting And Keeping Your Weight Loss Goals

     If you've tried to lose weight in the past by vaguely saying "I need to lose 15 lbs" or something along those lines, chances are you need to learn how to set better goals for yourself. Once you learn how to set goals, you will realize that the hard part comes from actually achieving them. It is not impossible, but with the following strategies you can learn how.

First, you need to create a plan. If you have been starting your diet every week or you are always telling yourself that you'll start tomorrow or next week or next month then you need to stop it now, procrastination will get you nowhere. And if you have that attitude then tomorrow will never come. You need to know exactly where you want to be, and what direction to go to get there. Figure out how you can get to your goal with your current resources and always have a backup plan for when life thoughts you a curve ball.

Secondly, you need focus. If you are trying to accomplish too many goals at one time you will remain unfocused and your goals will be that much harder to accomplish. Whatever you goal is, write a list of actions that will get you there. If you want to lose weight, you might write "stop drinking soda" "exercise" "keep a food journal". Get detailed about your actions and find ways to incorporate these actions in your daily life for the next couple of weeks.

Third, give yourself a deadline. If weight loss is your goal, your deadline needs to be reasonable. In a dream world we would all like to be at our goal weight in a month or two, but it's just not humanly possible for all of us. Especially if you have a lot of weight to lose, setting a deadline can turn your dreams into your very reachable goals. Write down what you want to accomplish and when you want to accomplish it by. Get your calendar out and circle that date and actually visualize where you want to be and how you will feel when you get there.

Write it all down! From your deadline date, work backwards and find out what actions you need to finish between now and then getting there. Don't be afraid to ask for guidance or advice along the way. Having a support system is key to your success. Find ways to remind yourself visually of your goal and how your life will be different once you reach it. When you believe in something happening it's much more likely to actually happen. It's very important to believe in what you are doing.

Fourth, be as specific as you possibly can about your weight loss goals. Instead of saying "I will drink some more water" say to yourself "I will drink more water" or exercise, or whatever. Leave room for a little bit of failure and don't expect that you will be perfect every single day. The key to anyone's success is that they keep trying even when something happens.

Consistency and persistence are the keys to your success, it takes everyone several tries before their new goals and habits become an easy part of their new lifestyle. Each week take an inventory of all of your hard work and your progress towards your goals. It's a good idea to take photos of yourself, make charts and share these accomplishments with other people. Keep a checklist of everything that you complete and check in with your goals on a regular basis. Find small ways to reward yourself at the end of every week for your hard work. And remember to always stay positive and have a sense of humor about what you are trying to do. Life is negative enough already without us adding additional negativity to it. Be positive and have a good attitude about yourself and the work you're doing. If someone compliments you, take it and never shortchange your progress. Focus on what you're doing right and fix the rest.

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