Goal Setting: The Key to Weight Loss?

You have probably heard all about SMART goals. Goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely. In other words set goals that you can clearly define is what is your desired result, in other words be specific. A good actionable goal is also measurable, it should be made in a way that you can tell if you have reached your goal or not in a glance. An achievable goal is obtainable, it may take a lot of work and effort, but it is reachable. A realistic goal is in the same vein as an achievable goal, it is a goal that is isn't too far fetched, but lines up with your talents, skills, etc. The time component of a SMART goal is one of the most important features of this mnemonic in my opinion. It is important to set a time line for any goal that you set to achieve.

Now you might ask your self how to I apply goal setting to weight loss? I think it is one of the cornerstones of successfully losing weight and keeping it off. The reason is this, without a specific end in mind you won't know if you arrive. If you start your weight loss journey with the vague goal of "I want to lose weight"and that is the extent of your goal setting, I think you will be sorely disappointing. How much is enough? How do you measure this goal? How do you know when you've actually reached your goal?

A much better way to set a weight loss goal is to use the SMART framework. Let's go through each piece of the SMART format for an example. Let's say Susie wants to lose her baby weight that she put on during pregnancy. She knows she gained 35 pounds during her pregnancy and she really wants to get back into her pre-pregnancy clothing. So starting with the S of SMART, Susie can set her specific goal of losing the pregnancy weight she gained because she wants to wear her old, smaller clothing again. In order for this goal to be measurable, she will need to determine and actual value that can be measured. In other words "some, a lot, and anything"are not helpful, nor or they measurable. It is important to set a real discrete number at this point. In Susie's case it is 35 pounds. A is for achievable, and that means no pie in the sky dreams. Achievable goals are obtainable with a reasonable amount of effort. Now is the time to think about how you will achieve this goal, what tools and resources do you have at your disposal. Susie should think about the time she will need for this goal, what equipment she has available and any obstacles standing in her way.

Susie should then think about if the goal is realistic. Since Susie weighed 35 pounds less before her pregnancy it is realistic that she could once again reach that weight. However, she needs to be realistic about the time frame, which is the last part of this framework. Susie did not gain 35 pounds overnight and she won't lose it in a week or two either. Susie does some research and finds out that healthy, sustainable weight loss is about 1-2 pounds per week. She decides she is super motivated and thinks with her available resources she can average 2 pounds per week. She sets the time portion of her goal at 18 weeks or about 4 ½ months to get to pre-baby weight. So putting her SMART goal together, Susie now has a real, measurable goal of "I want to lose 35 pounds in 18 weeks so that I can wear my pre-baby clothing."This goal has all of the elements of a SMART goal and Susie can track her progress and also know her motivation. Susie will be well on the way to achieving her weight loss by using this key to effective weight loss.

Rosa Crumpton, is a registered nurse, researcher, and overall helpful coach. She loves to help people succeed in their healthy life goals. Want to learn more about women's weight loss? Just download my free guide, how 10 Best Resources for Women's Weight Loss Report: http://rosacrumpton.com/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rosa_Crumpton

Posted in: Goal Setting The Key to Weight Loss, The Key to Weight Loss