Planning to lose weight is a great thing—so long as you have a realistic,
attainable plan to enact. One of the most popular New Year’s Resolutions
is losing weight. Whether that entails going to the gym more, running
the trails, or picking up a new active hobby, most people seem to fall
through on completing these goals. Why? They aren’t as realistic
or specific as they needed. We’ve provided some short tips on setting
realistic weight loss goals below! Read for yourself and start implementing
these tips into your own goals.
1. Create Specific Goals
Don’t let broad weight loss goals get in your way. Instead of simply
saying “I want to be skinny” or “I want to look like
that one person,” create goals that are as specific to yourself
as possible. Consider making a goal of losing a certain amount of weight,
such as 10 to 25 pound depending on your health and overall desire for
improvement. Saying you just want to lose weight can be very vague and
allow room for justification. Ask yourself why you want to lose weight
and make a plan for
how you will lose the weight. The more specific you are with your goals, the better!
2. Make Measurable Steps
Along with making your goals more specific, give yourself measurable goals
with steps to achieve along the way. Have a midway point or even more
mini goals to hit, such as losing two pounds a week or five pounds every
few weeks. You can also include goals like going to the gym four times
a week and cutting out certain foods. The more measurable and attainable
the goals are, the more progress you can make on your larger mission and
weight loss goal. Track your progress over time to see visible improvement
or lack of movement. This can help keep you motivated and give you a kick
in the pants if you are falling behind.
3. Have Accountability
When you’re aiming to lose weight or even just maintain your current
weight loss, accountability can be one of your greatest secret weapons.
Willpower often isn’t enough to keep you going strong with your
goals, which is why having something or
something to hold you accountable can be great. For example, become well acquainted
with your scale—those that weigh themselves weekly or daily can
help maintain weight loss better. Another great way to maintain accountability
is keeping a food diary. When you actually have to write down everything
you eat, it’s easier to hold yourself accountable in the long run.
You can also partner with a friend who is on a diet or maybe went on a
weight loss plan in the past and understands how to help you stay on track.
Don’t have anyone in mind? There is an app for that! There are actually
apps available that can help you set goals, keep you accountable, and
track your workouts for you.
Whether you have a friend who can help you stay on top of your weight loss
goals or simply need to download an app to keep yourself organized, there
are plenty of ways to set more realistic and effective weight loss goals.
The first step should always be talking to your doctor about your health
and dietary plan.
This article contains general information about medical conditions and
treatments. The information is not advice and should not be treated as
such. The information is not intended to replace the advice or diagnosis
of a physician. If you have any specific questions about any medical matter
you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider.