Because excess weight has so many negative effects on a person, it has become imperative for people with excess weight to plan ahead in order to avoid the health related risks associated with overweight and obesity. You have to set realistic, reasonable, sensible and viable short term and long term goals to be your guide in this life changing mission. Here is how you should go about setting weight loss goals.
Be Positive
This is your high time to be positive and to change your attitude completely. You need to be well motivated because for sure weight loss is not a journey for the faint hearted. Learn to evaluate your efforts and achievements objectively and fairly and if you fail to attain your weekly goal, just carry the goal to the next week. You really don’t need to have that perfect weight loss record.
Pay attention on practicality and not mere talk
Instead of saying that you will lose a pound a week, say the amount of exercise you will take that week. Be advised that your weight is not totally out of your control and powers, but your behavior towards weight loss is.
Set Right Objectives
It is futile to use a weight loss plan for the sake of vanity than to lose weight for the sake of improving health. You should have a weight loss plan that incorporates a balanced diet and good exercise regime to give you enough energy to burn excess calories.
Be realistic
Many people tend to be overambitious. For instance, you weigh 170 pounds and set a long term goal of weighing 100 pounds, even if you have never weighed 100 pounds since your teenage years, and now you are 45. This is simply an unrealistic goal. Determining your body mass index will help you know the amount of pounds you need to lose. Basically, the acceptable BMI is between 19 and 25, thus anything above that is thought to be overweight. Based on your height you will determine your BMI and then set a goal to achieve the optimum BMI. Try our BMI calculator to determine your body mass index
Take a step at a time
The same holds true, be practical and realistic. Say you have never exercised before, you should aim to start bit by bit and then build your workout and resistance level. The same with your diet, you shouldn’t simply cut down on all the ‘bad’ foods at once, instead, start by reducing the portions and amount and eventually get rid of the ‘bad’ foods completely.
Use quantifiable measures
While deciding that this coming week you will be more positive or you will be much serious is a good motivation, it is not a measurable goal hence should be a minor in your weight loss plan. This gives you another reason why exercise should be part of your weight loss plan where you ought to be able to count the exercise minutes to emerge successful in your weight loss plan.
When all is said and done, you shouldn’t make a weight loss plan that will remain as simply a plan; you should execute the plan by incorporating achievable goals that are sure to motivate you to success.
