New Year Resolution to Lose Weight
Set Realistic Goals and Be Specific About Your Weight Loss Goals
Dec 22, 2006
The New Year is a time for reflection, but also a time for goal setting. Year after year we make empty promises to lose the weight once and for all. We set lofty goals that are almost impossible to achieve. We simple want results and we want them fast. We want to look better, ditch our health problems and have more energy to get through all of the things we try to crap into our days.
This year is a good time to try refocusing your weight loss goals. Setting a goal to lose 100 pounds isn’t specific enough and it is probably biting off more than the average person can chew. Instead, narrow down your weight loss goal to more specific things like losing 10% of your body weight, not eating after 6 PM or scheduling exercise 5 days a week. These are attainable New Year resolutions that you can track and stick with. Once you achieve one or more of your goals, your self-esteem will increase and you can continue to plot your course to permanent weight loss in smaller chunks.
Tips for setting realistic weight loss resolutions:
- Set realistic goals. Make sure you have small, manageable goals that are achievable in less than a year’s time.
- Be specific about what actions you will take to reach your weight loss resolution. What type of exercise will you do and how often? What food plan will you follow and how will you track your calorie intake? Who will you use for support in your journey?
- Don’t just ditch your old habits. If you want to make your resolution to permanently lose the weight than you have to be willing to replace unhealthy behaviors with new healthier ones.
- Use a flexible diet plan that doesn’t require you to omit certain food groups. Too many restrictions will leave you feeling deprived and send you back to your old eating habits in no time.
- Practice patience. You didn’t gain the extra weight overnight so don’t expect it to miraculously melt off overnight either. Give your body time to adjust to the new lifestyle and expect plateaus along the way.
Set a Realistic Weight Loss Goal
