The Secret to Setting Weight Loss Goals and How to Achieve Them

One of the secrets to successful weight loss is goal setting. To be successful at anything in life, losing weight included, you need to have an aim and a plan to get you there. The reason that too many people fail to meet their weight loss goals, and become frustrated and miserable, is because they don’ take the time to make their plans achievable.

Here are some simple steps you can follow to set an achievable weight loss goal and get the body you want.

Step 1. Be Specific

Successful goal planning starts with specifics. Saying that you want to lose weight is not enough. You need to know how much weight you want to lose. For example you might decide you want to lose 30 pounds. Or maybe you want to lose 4 inches from your waist line. Whatever your goal is, be specific, and write it down.

Step 2. Can You Measure It?

Make sure your goal is measurable, and make plans to measure your progress. It is really simple to set measurable goals in weight loss, you are either losing pounds or inches. Buy your self a nice journal, something you will want to write in. On day one write down your current weight, or inch measurements, and your goals. Once a week take time to update the journal. This might seem a painful exercise in the beginning but over time you can look through the journal and see how well you are doing.

Step 3. Make Sure It’s Achievable

Your goals need to be achievable or you will lose motivation and become frustrated. Is losing 30 pounds an achievable goal? Could you change your lifestyle to reach that two pound reduction each week? Perhaps it would be better to choose a smaller target, say 10 pounds. When you reach that goal you will be motivated to continue and soon you’ll see another 10 pounds drop off.

Step 4. Set a Time Frame

Now you have a specific goal to aim for you need to set a realistic time frame. Just as you would not expect to be able to drive from Orlando to Los Angeles in two hours you should not expect to lose 30 pounds in six weeks. Do some research. Either look on the Internet or pick up a book or magazine and find out how long it actually takes to lose 30 pounds. If your weight loss is likely to be at a rate of two pounds per week then it could take four months.

If you are really determined to lose weight then follow these four simple steps and you will achieve your goals.