As with most things in life, setting goals is very important when dieting. When you look at things truthfully and objectively, then you should notice that most of the things you have achieved in life have been accomplished because you not only had a goal, but a goal to achieve that goal. There was also a clearly planned and well-thought-out process. That being said, why is goal setting so important when it comes to dieting?
First, if you don't have a clearly defined goal, it's hard to achieve the goal. There are times in life when it is almost impossible to tell whether you are succeeding or failing because you are not sure what the desired outcome should be.
Second, having a dieting goal gives you a measuring stick by which you can judge your process. This is important so that you know when your efforts are failing and when you are over or ahead of schedule. In other words, you'll know when to celebrate and when to give yourself a quick kick in the back.
Now that we know why we set weight loss goals, let's discuss how we should set those goals, which are very important for success on the diet. You want to set goals that are aggressive, not impossible to achieve. If you set goals that are out of your reach, you will find that frustration will be your dieting partner until you reach the point where you give up all at once. To avoid this, you must take great care to ensure that your goals are possible to achieve.
Be specific when setting your goals when it comes to weight loss. Instead of setting a total goal of 40 or 60 pounds, start with a specific goal, such as 10 pounds a month. You can then extend the goal to the next month until you reach the overall goal of 40 or 60 pounds. It is much easier to lose 10 pounds four times as much as it is to lose 40 pounds in one go. It's a trick of the mind, but it works. Ten pounds sound simple and attainable. Forty pounds seems like an insurmountable obstacle.
Another thing about goals is that you want to hold yourself accountable, but if you only lost 9 pounds instead of 10, you shouldn't put the whole thing off. Instead, find out where you dropped the ball for the final pound and do your 10-sets. Pound targets, for next month.
You should also be very careful that you are working with your personal goals and not the goals that someone else is pushing for you. The truth is that if it's personal to you, it will be much more beneficial than doing it for someone else. If your heart isn't in it, there are very few goals that are going to motivate you properly.
Finally, you should establish small (non-food) rewards for meeting your dieting goals. Perhaps your reward will be a new accessory for your new (or new old) wardrobe or a pedicure for your new look. Make your reward something fun and indulgent, and teach yourself that accomplishing your goals can be accomplished with something other than food. This is the key to dieting successfully.
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