Are Your Weight Loss Goals Realistic?
You need to have goals in all areas of your life. If you’re wanting to lose weight and get in shape, this is especially true for this endeavor. Setting unrealistic goals may seem like a good idea and may even motivate you to start out on this journey. But if your goals are unrealistic, it can set you up for a big failure. Set realistic goals instead. Make them small at first. Once you reach one goal, set another. Build confidence as you go.
Here are some common unrealistic goals. And, then some tips for setting goals that are more realistic and attainable.
Unrealistic Weight Loss goal #1: I want to look like I did in high school.
This can be a great goal, however if you’ve gained quite a bit of weight and it’s been 25 years since high school, this goal can be unrealistic. You’ve changed physically and getting weight off is harder as you age. I’m not saying you can never reach that weight again, but it could take more time than you realize and if you weighed 110 in high school, is that a good weight for you now? Would weighing 120 or 125 be more realistic? Would that be a healthy weight for you?
Even if you’ve only gained 20 or 30 pounds since high school, it gets harder to get them off as you age. The body seems very adament about keeping that extra padding and quick fixes that worked in the past rarely ever work in your older years.
A more realistic goal is to do a lifestyle change so your body gets the nutrition and exercise it needs. This is not a quick fix but it will get weight off and keep it from coming back.
Unrealistic Weight Loss goal #2: I want to lose 100 pounds in six months.
This goal is unrealistic because it would take a major overhaul of your lifestyle, eating habits and a massive exercise program. If you’re young, it may be possible, but the truth is for most people, this is just unrealistic. If you need to lose that much weight due to health problems, then you need to seek the advice of a doctor who can monitor a program designed for you. However, most doctors do not recommend these types of programs except in extreme cases.
Losing 100 pounds in six months averages about a 4 pound per week weight loss. That can be doable, but it really is unrealistic. You should aim for only a 2 or 3 pound loss each week and expect to hit several plateaus during that time. The first few pounds may come off very quickly. After those initial pounds it will probably slow down and even stop for awhile. You need to expect this and be prepared for it.
A more realistic goal is to plan on losing 100 in 12 months. This is very doable, manageable and a healthy rate of weight loss. Plus, by planning a 12 month program you won’t be so discouraged when those slumps and plateaus hit.
Unrealistic Weight Loss goal #3: I want to look like a bodybuilder.
If you’re young and already in decent shape, this goal is very doable. For those who are more than slightly overweight, older and never been in shape, this goal is just unrealistic. It takes years of training for several hours each day to reach a goal like this. If you have a job and family you just don’t have the time to devote to this kind of goal.
A more realistic goal is to just lose some weight and do some strength training exercises to tone your muscles. A nicely toned body is actually more appealing and doable than looking like a buff bodybuilder. You want to look good, that’s understandable, but you can look great without going to extremes.
You need to have goals. They will help you attain success in your weight loss endeavors, but they need to be attainable and they need to be realistic for you. Do not reach for pipe dreams. You want manageable goals that you can live with and be happy with. You can always set them higher when you get there.