Tracking your progress is an important part of achieving success in any weight loss diet. Take a minute to think about what you want to accomplish. You can use a notebook or you can opt for one of those fancy tracking books that you can purchase in a bookstore. Fill in your starting measurements, write down your short term goals.
The Importance of Setting Goals
People who have had the greatest success are invariably those people who have very strong and focused goals. Women about to get married, actors, actresses and models who need to look fabulous by a certain date, people going on a vacation, all have a firm vision and are excited about looking their best.
That is one of the reasons why so many Hollywood celebrities have such dramatic success with any diet program. They have a clear goal - often it's to reshape their bodes so they don't miss out on a job. And they know that if they do their program it will work for them...every time.
Making your body over is a journey. Your short term goals are the steps you take along the way that make sure you reach your destination...and on the timetable you desire.
"A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step." - Chinese proverb
This ancient Chinese proverb is the idea behind setting and keeping short term goals. You set them week by week. Sticking to anything for a week isn't very hard, if a week is too long for you, make your goal a single day. Then you don't have to think about doing your program for six weeks or six months, you concentrate on this week or this day. Take it a day or a week at a time, and it becomes easy. And, before you know it, you will have made over your entire body.
Seeing yourself achieve short term goals will keep you excited and feeling positive about yourself. Your short term goals will make sure you see the progress you are making and keep you from backsliding. A short term goal is anything that helps you stay focused on what you want to achieve.
- This week I will stick to my eating program 100%.
- This week I will lose 4 pounds.
- This week I will do all of my cardio and weight training exercises.
Your short term goal can be anything that you think is important to keep you going until next week.
Rewards
The other important part of making short term goals is creating rewards to go with them. If you achieve your goal for the week, give yourself a reward. It could be anything that you will look forward to: a facial, a massage, a night out, some extra sleep or relaxation on the weekend, shopping, a movie, play or concert. Reward yourself with something that will keep your enthusiasm high. Just don't make it food! Don't use your success as an excuse to binge. Don't let up because you have a perfect week. Use a perfect week as motivation for another perfect week.
These rewards are important and will keep you motivated but you'll soon find that the pounds and inches you are losing are an even better reward. Keep track of both your goals and what the rewards will be in your journal.
To keep track of the pounds and inches as they melt away, fill in your measurements. The measurements will be recorded for the first, second, fourth, and sixth weeks. Make sure you measure exactly in the same place every time.
Looking Ahead
Many of us have a long road ahead of us to reach our goals. Just take one week at a time or one day at a time to start and keep moving forward. If you think it's too much work (it does take a lot of effort) remember the rewards that will be forthcoming. Or you can go online to the various resources there and type in your progress. For example, see http://www.sparkpeople.com.
They have easy to fill out progress charts for nutrition (diet) and exercise journaling that you enter every day. Whether you use the computer or the diary method, keep track of your progress and success will be waiting right around the corner. ~Aunt Millie
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