Goal setting is the same no matter what the goal. Be it to make an extra $ 1,000.00 a month or to lose 15 pounds you go about the goal set in the same manner. Goals help us to see where we are and where we want to be. This is important to the dieter because it allows us to figure what we want from our program and how we are going to do it. The best model I have found to aid in setting goals is the SMART method. SMART is an acronym for the 5 steps to setting goals broken down they are as follows:
S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Attainable
R = Realistic
T = Timely
You need to set specific goals in order to know really when you have obtained them. Setting a specific goal may seem difficult but it really is not, it is as easy as what, why, and how. What is simply what you intend to do. By making it measurable you are able to see and measure your progress towards your goal. Attainable returns to the goal creating an unending desire for you to accomplish it. Realistic goals are not necessarily easy but they are achievable through perseverance and work. Timely is so that we know when we wish to gain our goal by. Our time frame must be its self-measurable, attainable, and realistic.
When it comes to writing a specific goal you must write in as much detail as possible. Simply writing “I want to lose weight” is not going to cut it here. Something better using our 5 previously mentioned steps would be.
I am going to reduce my percentage of body fat from 35% to 15% by 02/28/2010. Here we set our specific attainable goal (to lose body fat), the quantitative measurement (from 35% to 15%). It is very realistic in that we have 29 weeks to accomplish it and it is possible to lose one percent of body fat in a week. So we have our time listed in the goal, however, this is not enough. We still have not answered WHY? Why do we wish to reach this goal, what is our motivation to reach it? Why should You invest your time and energy into accomplishing this goal?
Why do we want to reduce our body fat? It could be practical like reducing body fat to increase health and longevity. Or it can be more selfish and biased like wanting to be seen as sexy in a skimpy bathing suit, so lifting our self-esteem. Or it can any other if the Infinite number of possibilities that can come to you. Or you can combine multiple reasons if they speak to motivate you. So our goal can be written to say “I am going to reduce my percentage of body fat from 35% to 15% by 02/28/2010 so that I can have a healthy life and look good in the string bikini I have when I go on Vacation in the Bahamas in March “. There you have it we have our goal with all of our criteria met that is very stimulating.
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