Set Weight Loss Goals That Focus on New You

Setting a target weight is a common first step in planning for a weight loss journey. Nonetheless, setting your sights on achieving short-term goals can help fuel your motivation. Specific goals can be helpful for weight loss as they focus on changing behaviors and habits that are necessary for achieving a desired outcome. Process goals include details of how you intend to reach your outcome goals for a successful resolution. It will always help if you have an idea of how much food your body requires to lose or maintain your existing weight. This will provide a good starting point for making healthy food choices every day. If you don’t have the time, resources, motivation, or determination to accomplish your goals, making a New Year’s resolution to lose weight is waste of time. Make sure the goals you set are relevant and attainable.

• Recruit Healthy Support - Setbacks will happen, but that is not a valid reason to scrap your resolution. Establishing a solid support network makes it easier to come up with a corrective strategy.
• Hold Yourself Accountable - Believing you can accomplish your goals is more than just maintain a positive mindset. It is your path to successful weight loss.
• Plan on Keeping Your Resolution - Life gets in the way sometimes. So, learn how to adjust your timelines, or even take a break, but always refuse to abandon your resolution.
• Set a Realistic Resolution - To lofty of a resolution can cause you to fail before you even get started. Achieving smaller goals early on can boost your motivation to keep you on track.
• Stay Persistent but Be Patient - Set goals that are doable and meaningful for you. Plus, be clear about your intentions and avoid setting resolutions that have a vague time interval.
• Track Your Progression - Tracking your progress helps establish a realistic timeline for achieving your resolution. Setting smaller intermediate goals can keep you on track as you progress.

Studies do suggest that people who engage in common New Year’s resolutions, like losing weight, exercising more, stopping smoking, are many times more likely to succeed over those deciding to make lifestyle changes at other times of the year. Most traditional religions have a day of atonement where you can vow to make improvements to your life. Setting a New Year’s resolution comes from ancient Romans who would promise their god Janus that they would be better in the coming year. Most people who make very unrealistic New Year’s resolutions never create a regimen to follow that will lead to success. Make sure your resolution is filled with realistic goals backed by real resolve. Never let a New Year’s resolution be the only time you consider losing weight. Just like stopping smoking or exercising more often, it may take several attempts to reach your goals.