Goal Setting for Weight Loss

 If we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything, is ready, we shall never begin.
- Ivan Turgenev, novelist, poet, playwright

Sometimes it seems like we're always putting off our goals until some vague time in the future called "Once". "Once the New Year rolls around...", "Once I have my new job...", "Once I retire...", "Once the kids are in school...", "Once the kids are OUT of school..." Sound familiar? By waiting for Once to get here, we waste time and frustrate our desire to do what we really want. It's a fact of life that every time one potential distraction disappears, it's quickly replaced with a new one. There will always be something that can stand in your way - if you let it. Ask yourself: are these distractions real reasons, or just good excuses for putting something off? Goals cannot be started in the future. The laws of time and nature dictate that you can only act in the present. You are here, today. So are your goals. The only good time to start is right now.
 

Tips on Setting Daily Goals

Setting goals creates a map for how to achieve weight loss and optimum fitness. Goal setting helps dieters stay on track and bridge the distance between a vision of an ideal health and its reality, report consultants at Effective Time Management Strategies. Dieters and those looking to achieve a well-balanced daily diet plan can effectively use many of the techniques used by successful business people.

Get Specific

Specific goals are more effective than general fitness goals to get healthier or just to "lose weight." A specific daily goal may be to eat 1,200 calories and exercise for 30 minutes. Specific daily goals easily can then be translated into weekly and monthly goals. To be specific, you must be able to measure the goal to know if you have achieved it or not. Keep a food journal to track daily intake. Write down the specific exercise you'll do each day, such as walk for 30 minutes or use the elliptical machine for 15 minutes and walk for 15 minutes.

Be Realistic

Set realistic goals that are both healthy and achievable, advise doctors at the Mayo Clinic. By breaking down fitness goals into daily slices, you have the opportunity to make small changes each day. For example, if you've not exercised in years, make your daily goal to walk for 10 minutes a day for the first week and 15 minutes every day for the second week, until you reach 30 minutes a day. If you have been eating three large meals and fatty snacks every day, start by making your daily goal to eat one healthy snack, like carrot sticks. Repeat that daily goal for a week and then set a daily goal of eating a salad for lunch. Make small changes until you've reached a larger, healthier goal.

Make a Note

Write down your goals for the day. Include your specific eating and exercise goals in your day planner or other calendar you use for business and personal appointments. It's easier to fit food preparation and workouts into your schedule when you know what your schedule will be for each day. At the same time, when you pencil in a 30-minute walk on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7 a.m., you'll know not to book another appointment at that time when you go to your calendar. Use a calendar for meals and snacks and build in an occasional treat. By writing down your meal plans each day, you can make adjustments when you know you'll be eating out and when you'll have time to make big batches of soup or to cut up vegetables.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/83970-tips-setting-daily-diet-goals/#ixzz1JW9O1rvv