Do you find yourself setting goals?
“This year I will eat better, I will run the Bolder Boulder, I will meditate every day.”
We’ve all learned ways to set goals, using specifics, making them action oriented, setting timelines and so forth.
The problem I find with our goal setting is that we are often a bit TOO ambitious and aggressive with our goal setting. Ok, I know what you’re thinking, “Hey Sarah, aren’t goals supposed to be a stretch? They shouldn’t be so easy, right?”
WRONG.
To effectively reach your weight loss goals (or any other goals for that matter), I’ve found much more success with a different strategy.
So here it is: set small, completely DO-ABLE, achievable goals around things you aren’t doing yet.
So, if you told me your goal for the week, and I asked you, “On a scale from 1-10, how do-able is that goal for you?”, your answer should be 9-10. If you can’t honestly say you are 9-10 confident, it’s the wrong goal. It’s too big. Don’t do it. Don’t set yourself up for failure.
Here’s the rationale:
How do you feel when you set a goal and you don’t achieve it?
Crummy, defeated, frustrated, discouraged….
How could you feel if you set a DO-ABLE goal for the week and you accomplish it?
Encouraged, motivated, proud….
So, if you can set goals that are much more do-able, you feel success and that propels you to keep going. Keep striving. Keep reaching. Make sense?
Here’s an example I’ve used on my last 2 annual spring vacations around exercise. I set the goal to do a minimum of 5 minutes of exercise (metabolic or strength training) each day on the trip (excluding travel days). FIVE MINUTES. It’s not a lot, right? But it is do-able right?
It worked! I exercised more on vacation than I do at home, and you know what? It felt great! On my tired days, I just did a little and on the days when I had tons more energy I did a lot.
Comment below and share your thoughts!
PS: one of our clients shared this book from Martha Beck called The Four Day Win, that focuses on small goals and weight loss. I haven’t read it yet, but you might like checking it out. http://www.amazon.com/Four-Day-Win-Achieve-Thinner-Peace/dp/1594868123/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366724714&sr=1-7&keywords=martha+beck
PPS: Is the weight continuing to pile on? Frustrated and unable to lose body fat? Click here to contact us for a FREE consultation, we can help!