Get SMART

If you don’t know what it is you want to accomplish, how will you know when you get there? The first thing you need to do is set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time able) goals. Sit down and really think about this one.

“I want to lose weight” is not enough. Specifically how much weight do you want to lose? How will you measure your results? Using a scale, a tape measure, or body composition are a few ways to get a before and after measurement, and determine your progress. Make sure you choose an attainable goal. If you plan on losing 25 pounds in two weeks, you’re only setting yourself up for failure. Set a time frame in which you plan to accomplish your goal. Skipping this step is a huge mistake. Without this step you’ll be telling yourself you want to get back to your playing weight for the rest of your life. Set a date and stick to it, just make sure it’s a realistic time frame. “I want to lose 15 pounds in ten weeks”, is a better goal because it is realistic to lose 15 pounds in 10 weeks and you can measure this goal.

Finally commit your goals to paper. People who write their goals have higher success rates than those who do not. So, make sure you write down your goals and post them somewhere visible, like the refrigerator or your bedside where you can read it every morning and every evening.