2022 is well underway. With all the feasting of Christmas done, I’m sure that many of us, me included, have decided to start a new year afresh. The right goals are the secret of weight loss. It’s great to have some targets in mind for the coming year. It will keep you focused and help you along the way. But, setting these targets are not easy!
Setting the right goals
Food and drink resolutions are some of the most popular. But, they can be the most difficult to maintain. Where most people fall down is they set too big a goal or the steps they aim for are unachievable or unsustainable. If your target is to lose 1 stone (14lbs) in the first month, that would mean that you need to lose 3-4lb per week. This is possible if you’ve never done it before and have a huge amount to lose. But, if you’ve not got a massive amount to lose you are setting yourself up to fail. Not only this, if you start losing in such a drastic fashion, chances are that you will put the weight back on. And more. This is an actual thing! Are you interested in this? I reviewed a book I read on exactly this (Here the link).
Slow and steady….
My philosophy on weight loss is slow and steady wins the race… I’m sorry if this isn’t what you are looking for, but it is the formula that I know works and I am proof of that. You need to start small and be realistic. Make sure that your goals are measurable 1-2lbs per week is sensible. If you have a big day that you want look your best for, work out how much you need to lose each week to get you there. The key is to be realistic. If you need to lose 10lbs in 2 weeks for a wedding, its not likely to happen without drastic measures!
Getting comfortable
Get comfortable with not achieving your target each week – this is the biggest secret of weight loss! It’s not always going to happen I’m afraid. Some weeks you will have stuck to the plan but the needle hardly budges, if at all. That’s ok. Dont forget, there are a lot of factors in the amount of weight you lose. It’s not just the calories that you eat. Stress, sleep and environment all have a part to play in the end goal. Sometimes you may be working away from home, be on some tight deadlines at work that are causing loads of stress. All these things add up and can stop your body from losing the weight. The body is a complex bit of biological machinery!
Be kind to yourself
Most important is not to be too hard on yourself. This can lead to disheartenment and it can be difficult to pick yourself back up and get back on track. You need to keep going and keep yourself in a mindset of consistency. Each day that you can chip away at it, helps you reach your target. It helps you to supercharge these new habits you are forming. These habits will need to stay with you for life if you are to maintain a healthy weight.
Good luck with your health goals for this year. I’d love to know what you are working towards and how you want to get there. You’ve got 100% support from me!