Setting Weight Loss Goals: Create the Motivation!

- By James Stevenson -

Set Goals that seriously work and enjoy each milestone in your weight loss

Setting weight loss goals: I can think of no better technique for you to motivate yourself to reduce your weight. Read on and you'll be ready to move forward, ready to challenge yourself, break through long-standing habits, and gradually and healthily lose weight.

The most important thing is this. Setting a concrete goal. Deciding. Even if you don't immediately start toward it, it's fine. Take the time to plan the journey. Create the road-map. At least then you'll have it. A realistic and challenging step by step self-created goal journey.

"First I'll do this. Then this. By this date I will achieve this. Then by this date, I'll reach my half way point" - lay it all out. and explore as many possible actions as you can between now and your end point.

One approach I sometimes use with clients is to write all possible steps and mini-goals on to post it's... and then, using an A3 piece of paper (or two A4's stuck together) encourage then to stick all their steps, playing around with the order until a vision starts to materialise.

I find it truly amazing seeing the levels of motivation and action that can show up after just one session. And of course, you don't need a coach to do this. You can certainly do this yourself and will get a lot out of it!

Hopefully, once that first solid step of getting a weight loss goal has been established (your long term goal), you will be able to set some short term goals, i.e. clear action steps that will lead to your goal.

The cold hard facts are, without changing diet, without increasing exercise, weight won't change.

The beauty of goal setting is that, you WILL be able to change diet and exercise more when you set SMART goals that are right for you.

Not too brutal. Just right goals.

The real beauty lies when the momentum starts.

You set one goal, change one habit, set another goal, change another habit, get nearer to you weight loss goal, then real start enjoying yourself.

Classic mistakes

I made some classic mistakes that hopefully when I tell you about it now, you won't make. I think I've made this mistake quite a few times.

There have been times when I've been happily getting on with my life, then a close friend drops the bombshell. "Have you put on weight?". Somehow I didn't notice at that time, but certainly I had, a good 15kg. Double chin back with a vengeance.

I decide to do something about it (good). I set a goal (good). I kill myself achieving it (bad). Once my weight drops, the last thing I want to do in the world is set another goal (bad). I start putting on weight again (very bad). Vicious cycle. (very bad).

I learnt, eventually, that it is so important to be kind to myself when it comes to weight loss. It was so important to allow myself a bit of naughtiness rather than a lot of naughtiness.

To allow myself a bit of rest. Any goal related to health, I believe should be sustainable. Because health is something that will always be of concern.

James Stevenson is the owner of WiseGoals.com. Living in the UK, but also working internationally on-line, James is also a highly qualified, experienced, and accredited trauma-aware wellbeing coach at TraumaAwareCoaching.co.uk. He works with clients in a future focused and solution orientated way by exploring what the good life or a flourishing life might look like for them. Harnessing that motivation, obstacles that come with trauma like the toxic inner critic, self-blaming, self-judgement, fear and avoidance, anxiety, depression, and intense and confusing emotions are worked through. More about James here.

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