SMART Weight Loss
Many people talk about weight loss but very few people are really focused on it. When asked what they want to do they make statements like “I need to lose some weight” or “I am too fat” but they aren’t specific.
Not being specific allows them to not have to be accountable for the results. I am not saying that they are not serious about their feelings, it is just that stating things in this way gives their subconscious a way out. It also does not give their mind something solid to work on. How do you know when you have lost enough weight? How do you know when too fat becomes fat enough?
You have to be very precise when setting your goals. If you do that it is much easier to stay on track and your subconscious can help you stay on course. There are many ways to do this but one guideline that I like for setting goals uses the word SMART. Of course, each letter stands for something:
S – Specific
Your goal has to be specific. OK, so losing weight is a specific goal (not very specific, but it is better than “I want to look better”). That brings us to:
M – Measurable
Your goal has to be measurable. Now we’re getting somewhere. I want to lose weight is not really measurable. How do you know when you have made it? Technically if you lose one ounce of weight, you have achieved that goal. I want to lose 15 pounds is specific and measurable.
A – Agreed Upon
Your goal has to be agreed upon. If you set a goal of losing 200 pounds on the surface it looks great. But if deep down inside your mind is saying “You could never do that” you are defeated from the start. A better goal might be to lose 15 pounds and then once you have reached that set a goal to lose 30 pounds. By taking them in small chunks your goals will seem more attainable and you will be able to build on your successes one step at a time.
R – Realistic
Your goal should be realistic. If you were 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighed 300 pounds a goal to lose 200 pounds would probably not be realistic or achievable for all practical purposes but a goal to lose 100 would be. This is somewhat related to the agreed upon criteria in that if you want to lose 100 pounds and have been trying for some time the 100 pound goal might not be a realistic one either.
T – Time-bound
Your goals should be time-bound. That is, it needs to have a deadline. Having a goal to lose 15 pounds is a great start, but it doesn’t go far enough. Having a goal to lose 15 pounds in three months or by December 1st is far better and gives you something to work against and measure your progress.
Be SMART in setting your weight loss goals. If you give yourself some specific parameters, you will be able to stay on track and know how you are doing.