S.M.A.R.T. Goals

Like Yogi Berra once said "If you don't know where you are going, you
might wind up someplace else." Don't let this happen to you. Setting
specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time driven (SMART)
goals from the beginning of your Program is essential to your success.

S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Achievable
R = Realistic
T = Time driven


Specific

The more specific you can be the more it will help you focus on your
effort and clearly define what you are going to do. Instead of setting
a general goal to lose weight or be healthier, set a specific goal to
lose 2 lbs per week or take off 2 inches on your waistline or to walk 3
miles at a challenging pace.

Measurable

If you can't measure it, you won't be able to manage it. Choose a goal
with measurable progress, so you can see the change occur. Then pull
out the scale, tape measure or smaller pair of pants and see how your
goal measures up.

Achievable

If your goals are too far out of reach you probably won't be able to
make the commitment to accomplish them. Your goal should stretch you
slightly but just enough to feel like you can accomplish it with a real
commitment. Then when you do achieve that goal you will feel successful
and feelings of success, not failure are what keep you motivated.

Realistic

Realistic does not mean "easy." Realistic, in this case, means
"do-able." A goal of never again eating sweets, cakes, and chocolate
may not be realistic if you really enjoy these foods. It may be more
realistic to set a goal of eating a piece of fruit each day instead of
one sweet item. You can then choose to work towards reducing the amount
of sweets gradually and realistically.

Time Driven

Setting a timeline for reaching your goal (i.e. in a week or over 12
weeks) provides an end point and a clear target to work towards.
Without a timeline, you'll feel you can start at any time, and you'll
lose your sense of urgency. Telling others your timeline also helps
keep you on purpose. Ask them to check in with you at certain dates to
confirm you're on track.

I am down 66lbs and just over 40 inches using these techniques.

__________________
Inches Melt, Muscle Grows, Fat's Gone
http://www.lessofme.com

WAH_master wrote:
Like Yogi Berra once said "If you don't know where you are going, you
might wind up someplace else." Don't let this happen to you. Setting
specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time driven (SMART)
goals from the beginning of your Program is essential to your success.

S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Achievable
R = Realistic
T = Time driven


Specific

The more specific you can be the more it will help you focus on your
effort and clearly define what you are going to do. Instead of setting
a general goal to lose weight or be healthier, set a specific goal to
lose 2 lbs per week or take off 2 inches on your waistline or to walk 3
miles at a challenging pace.

Measurable

If you can't measure it, you won't be able to manage it. Choose a goal
with measurable progress, so you can see the change occur. Then pull
out the scale, tape measure or smaller pair of pants and see how your
goal measures up.

Achievable

If your goals are too far out of reach you probably won't be able to
make the commitment to accomplish them. Your goal should stretch you
slightly but just enough to feel like you can accomplish it with a real
commitment. Then when you do achieve that goal you will feel successful
and feelings of success, not failure are what keep you motivated.

Realistic

Realistic does not mean "easy." Realistic, in this case, means
"do-able." A goal of never again eating sweets, cakes, and chocolate
may not be realistic if you really enjoy these foods. It may be more
realistic to set a goal of eating a piece of fruit each day instead of
one sweet item. You can then choose to work towards reducing the amount
of sweets gradually and realistically.

Time Driven

Setting a timeline for reaching your goal (i.e. in a week or over 12
weeks) provides an end point and a clear target to work towards.
Without a timeline, you'll feel you can start at any time, and you'll
lose your sense of urgency. Telling others your timeline also helps
keep you on purpose. Ask them to check in with you at certain dates to
confirm you're on track.

I am down 66lbs and just over 40 inches using these techniques.

__________________
Inches Melt, Muscle Grows, Fat's Gone
http://www.lessofme.com

Also, if you don't set some kind of goal, you won't know when you get
there. For starters, I like this website for determining what you
should weigh:

http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm

Of course you can always adjust your goal, but if you undertake almost
anything with goals that are too flexible, you find ways to weasel out
of them. I like the idea of counting calories and just making your own
diet to fit your tastes. Nobody has convinced me that Atkins,
Southbeach, Pritkin, or any of them are any better than another,
including my own which is high carb, very low fat and moderate protein
on a vegetarian diet which includes nonfat milk and egg whites. dkw