When embarking on a weight loss journey, the most common first step is to set a goal. This seems like a harmless step that will help you succeed. However, if not executed properly your goal could be your demise. If your goal is unrealistic or unclear, it can lead to you feeling discouraged and unfocused, and ultimately have you give up altogether.
So how do you prevent this misstep? How can you refine and design your own goals? You just have to smarten up!
Creating SMART goals is a tried and true practice that will have you passing milestones before you know it! SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
Specific: You need a clear goal to focus your efforts towards.
Measurable: Being able to track and record your progress is motivating and adds excitement around working toward your goal.
Attainable: Keeping your goals realistic, but also pushing past your current abilities is important here.
Relevant: Making sure your goal is important to you and lines up with the other goals in your life.
Time-bound: A great goal needs a deadline, to keep it a priority that won’t get lost in the tasks of every day.
Here is an example of how to put this into practice:
Before: “I want to lose weight”
After: “I want to lose 5% body fat over the next 90 days.”
Once you have created your main SMART goal you can also create more actionable goals to go along with it. For example: “I will lift weights for 30 minutes 3 times per week.” Or, “I will drink one gallon of water per day.”
Goal setting is a step that most of us look at as a no-brainer, but if our goals are not optimal then we may be wasting our efforts. So, reassess your goals to make sure you are working smarter- not harder!
Ultimately, getting a baseline resting metabolic rate, body composition, inflammation and hydration assessment that are included in assessments such as CERULEAN’s BODY 360 assessment, will help set data-driven goals with 100% confidence and will help quantify outcomes with complete objectivity, both from a weight (fat) loss and wellness/health gain perspectives.
