7 Easy Ways to Help You Stick to Your Weight-Loss Goals
7 Easy Ways to Help You Stick to Your Weight-Loss Goals
Resolutions and goals
Goals are a great way to motivate us to achieve our dreams, but they always go unfulfilled, leaving us disappointed (again) at the end of the year.
You can achieve your objectives or resolutions if you know how to set them up properly in the first place. I'll also give you a few pointers to get you started on the right foot...
1- Always start with the end in mind
What do you want to achieve as a final result? Do you want to slim down? Or do you want to go down a dress size?
2- Be precise and practical in your approach
It is insufficient to simply state, "I want to lose weight." What _exactly_ do you want to lose? When do you think it will be done?
Also, make sure your target is attainable. If you want to lose 27 pounds, it's unrealistic to expect to do so in the next seven days, not to mention unhealthy! Or, if you've been steadily gaining weight for the last ten years, it's unrealistic to expect to lose weight in a month and return to your previous weight.
3- Divide it into smaller, more manageable "baby moves"
Assume you want to shed 20 pounds. That might sound like an impossible challenge, but if you think of it as losing one pound every week over the next 20 weeks, it becomes more manageable. That's a lot more manageable! You just need to build a calorie deficit of around 500 calories per day to lose a pound a week by controlling your diet and increasing your exercise.
4- Now for the main "secret"
The missing piece of the puzzle to achieving your objectives: Write down the "Why," or why you're doing this. The majority of people miss this stage, which is one of the main reasons why they never seem to achieve their objectives. It's important that you write down the reasons why you want to accomplish and of your objectives.
If your target is to "lose 20 pounds in six months," for example, write down why you want to lose that weight. Here's another suggestion: Make it "emotional and intimate." The more "emotional" the cause, the more motivated you will be to achieve your goal. Let's pretend you're a parent with children. "I know being overweight is a leading cause of many health issues — I will lose the 20 pounds and get healthier so that I will not be a burden to my children and will be able to attend my daughter's wedding and be there to carry my grandchildren," is an example of a successful "reason why."Of course, I'm assuming that all of these things are important to you. :-) However, I'm sure you get the idea.
5- "Make a note of it and post it!"
It's rarely enough to simply think about your objectives in your mind. You should write down all of your concrete goals as well as the "whys," and then post it somewhere you'll see it every day. Don't scribble it down in a notebook and toss it in a drawer. Instead, stick it on your bathroom mirror or somewhere else where it can be seen. "Out of sight, out of mind!" as the saying goes.
6- Don't be overconfident
Aim for a weekly weight loss of 1-2 pounds at the most! Losing more than that is harmful to your health. And, rather than your unwanted excess body fat, it'll most likely be caused by a lack of water and/or muscle.
7- Be realistic and "go with the flow"
The pounds didn't appear immediately, so don't expect them to vanish in the blink of an eye. And weight loss doesn't always happen as quickly (or as much) as anticipated. But don't get too worked up, because stress can just make you gain weight. It's important that you don't think of weight loss as an "all or nothing" situation. Instead, consider it "slowly but steadily."
While your weight can fluctuate from time to time, if you stick to your plan, you'll be pleased with the end of the year!
Conclusion
Create a positive change in your life this year by following these basic steps.