Setting “SMART” Weight Loss Goals

Many people will think about them, few people will write them down, fewer will accomplish them and only a minute portion will successfully integrate goal setting into their subliminal minds this new year, thus controlling the processes, protocols and practices of their daily lives which are what yield the actualization of dreams.

Goal setting isn’t just something you do once per year, it’s a way of life, a manner of thinking, an operating protocol used to bring your dreams to reality. Your goals aren’t just a list you make that magically come true, it’s your life on paper!

Your goals should be as personal as your journal and as precious as your financial information. You are the amalgam of your goals. Your goals are the manifestation of your ambition and the most distinct indicator of where you will end up in 10 years.

Ambition without clearly written goals is impotence. Im·po·tent (adjective)-unable to take effective action; helpless or powerless. Here’s a visual example that will burn how important goals are into your brain. Written goals are the magnifying glass that channeled the sunlight that burned the leaves in 5th grade science class.” Remember that experiment?

Have you ever wondered why some people are so successful? I submit that it is no accident and these “special” people arrive at their desired destination time and time again. Successful people have a program that they use to manufacture their goals. They think S.M.A.R.T

S.M.A.R.T stands for Specific (clearly written), Measurable, Ardent (passionate) Realistic and Time sensitive. SMART goals also anticipate the obstacles that could prevent actualization, as well as the action steps around these potential obstacles.

You may, or may not know this about me, but what led me into this business of health and fitness and creating a healthy food products was the desire to cure an over-eating problem that I had battled since childhood. In order to overcome my problems I set a S.M.A.R.T goal. Here’s my example…

To maintain my normal body weight of 195-200 pounds from Nov 24th- Jan 1st so I don’t become affected by the sugar blues that cause me to get lethargic and depressed.

Obstacles:

the desire to overeat on sweets during the holiday season
Action Steps to prepare me to overcome my obstacles

1. To drink 1 gallon of water each day

2. To fill my stomach with Guiltless or other real food full of fiber, fat and protein prior to any seasonal sweets that will keep me from my goal.

3. To eat yeast-free, gluten-free, grain-free Guiltless Cookies instead of other sweets.

4. To floss and brush as soon as I am finished with my last meal so that I don’t get tempted by late night snacking.

I didn’t just say. “I don’t want to get fat.” (That would be a terrible goal, actually that’s not a goal at all, it’s just a desire.) I used the S.M.A.R.T technique and finished with potential obstacles and the action steps around those obstacles.

Specific: I specifically gave myself an exact range of what I wanted to weigh. Measurable:I can step on a scale and see if I am accomplishing my goal, or not.

Ardent: These words strike a chord in my soul and get me fired up.

Realistic: 195-200 lbs is a reasonable range. Losing 15 lbs over the holiday season would be improbable, so I set myself up for success by creating a realistic goal.
Time Sensitive: I know that Thanksgiving to Christmas is when I have historically had trouble, so I wrote down the specific dates and give my subliminal mind a time table.

The results: Jan 1, 2016 I weigh 201 lbs. That’s .5% over my goal, and 17 pounds under what I weighed on Jan 1, 2012 when I had no written goals.

…I call that a success.