MyWeightLossForLife.com

Set small goals and succeed

I sometimes read and participate in weight loss forums. I think it can be helpful to get feedback and support when trying to lose weight. Goodness knows, sticking with it can be tough.

Surprisingly, I also think that those same forums can be the very thing to trip you up and cause you to lose motivation.

Why is that?

People tend to get carried away on forums and set bigger and bigger goals. Setting unrealistic goals sets you up for disappointment and failure.

On one forum, the goal is to set exercise time limits per day and meet those. You get “points” for each ten minutes of exercise. Instead of setting something reasonable, it’s not uncommon to see people setting goals for an hour, even an hour and a half, of exercise per day.

Does that sound reasonable for most people? Can you find the time to do that? Would you stick with it long term? For every person who can stick with that type of grueling schedule, there are several who can’t.

Weight loss goals are even worse. We don’t like to admit it, but we really have no control over how much or how quickly we lose weight. You’ve probably had the same types of experiences I have; I do everything “right” and don’t lose anything. After a weekend of splurging, I hop on the scale, and I’ve dropped a pound.

Setting specific weight loss goals like losing a pound or two a week sets you up for disappointment. You’ll hit the inevitable plateau and become frustrated when your weight loss stalls despite your continuing to work hard at it.

Save yourself the hassle and heartache.

• Set small goals. Aim to lose two or three pounds, not ten or twenty.
• Begin with goals that you know you can meet. That may mean exercising for ten minutes a day to begin with, but sticking with ten minutes a day is better than failing to do an hour a day.
• Avoid time limits. Even saying that you’ll lose a pound a week sets you up for disappointment if it doesn’t happen. Set a goal to lose a few pounds, and leave the time limit off.
• Reward yourself. When you lose the few pounds you wanted, do something nice for yourself. Spend equal time exercising and doing something else you enjoy. Be creative and “bribe” yourself if you have to.

I set small weight loss goals, five pounds or less. If I’m stuck on a plateau, then I set a goal of only one or two pounds. Staying positive is a great first step to staying on track with your weight loss.