5 Elements of Successful Goals

5 Elements of Successful Goals

 

Personalize your weight loss goals. The goals you set should meet your specific needs, lifestyle and circumstances. Don't get carried away with the exaggerated ads for weight loss products

that claim to provide major results in a short period of time. For most people those programs are not healthy or realistic. Losing a maximum of 1-2 pounds per week through diet and exercise is considered reasonable. But, like many others, you may choose to set a more personalized goal. Researchers at the University of Washington found that people like to express individuality through goal setting. Many of the participants in their weight loss study felt that "established guidelines and assigned goals did not consider their individual abilities, objectives, and constraints."
Before you set your goal for successful weight loss, take the time to define your needs and lifestyle. Ask yourself key questions before defining the goal or choosing a weight loss plan. In the long run, making this extra investment will help you to stay on track and address weight loss barriers as they arise.

Collaborate with weight loss experts. Goals set with the help of an expert are more likely to be successful. A study at the University of California found that when patients were provided with help setting up and monitoring goals in the doctor's office they were more successful at attaining those goals. And similar studies have shown that other types of practitioners can help as well. In choosing an expert to work with, try to find someone who can be involved for the duration of the weight loss process. This way they can help to monitor your progress and provide feedback. For this reason, a physician may not always be the best source for collaboration. Consider other non-clinical providers. These may include a personal trainer, registered dietitian or weight loss coach.
If you don't have access to a professional expert, consider connecting with others Online. for example my blog is a great place to post your goals and let others hold you accountable and you can contact me and i will deal with your questions or your problems. You'll find resources to set up a journal, post

Make weight loss goals measurable. In their advice to new exercisers, the American Council on Exercise recommends that goals be measurable in order to be successful. When setting a goal, decide how you will measure your progress and include this as part of your goal statement. Weighing yourself on the scale is probably the easiest method of measuring weight loss progress. But remember that there are other ways to assess your weight. Both BMI and body fat measurements provide different ways of evaluating your body composition. BMI is easy to measure and provides a good indicator of how your weight affects your health.

Set both short and long term goals. In a published study about goal setting, researchers in Great Britain confirmed that successful goals need to be ambitious. On the other hand, the American Council on Exercise reminds new exercisers that successful weight loss goals should be attainable. So how do you satisfy both requirements?     The answer is to set both long-term ambitious goals as well as short-term mini goals. The short-term goals act as stepping-stones to the larger goal. In the Great Britain study, researchers emphasized the importance of using "incremental steps that lead to progressive achievement." By setting these multiple weight loss goals, you'll set yourself up for success.

Create deadlines for your weight loss goals. Goals are more successful when a clear deadline is attached. These deadlines should be attached to both the short term and long terms goals and can serve as reminders to measure your progress in the process of achieving your goal. For many people, a seven-day structure works well for short-term goals. This provides for a fresh start each week on Sunday or Monday. But remember to customize your goals and use a time frame that works for you.

Goal setting may seem like a trivial task but it can be a key factor in the success of your weight loss program. As you move through the weight loss process, a well-designed plan will help you to stay on track. And once you've lost the weight, good goal setting skills come in handy during the weight management process. At that stage, you'll find that continuing to set and reach goals will keep your confidence high.