Setting goals for yourself is an important part of achieving health and weight loss. Whether it’s losing 100 lbs, or just being able to walk up a flight of stairs without wheezing, goals give us something to reach for when the going gets tough. Another important aspect of working towards a goal is to reward yourself for reaching said objective. One reward I have my eye on is a set of Le Crueset cookware. Yes, it’s kind of pricy, but I’m worth it. And knowing I have this to look forward to, once I achieve my mission, helps me stay motivated.
The biggest problem with goal setting is we tend to overwhelm ourselves. We have to be realistic and realize our limitations. I don’t mean telling yourself you can’t do something, but reminding yourself that you are human and sometimes you have to tweak your plans. Sure I’d love to look like a supermodel, but even if I could get down to 105 pounds, I just don’t have the build for it. Quite honestly I’d look ridiculous at that weight anyway. Instead of working to attain a goal that isn’t reasonable, I’m working to improve my health while setting an approximate size/weight target that I know is doable.
When looking at the big picture, keep in mind that it’s likely to take some time and patience. You didn’t wake up one morning to suddenly discover you were 50 pounds overweight. Those annoying cuddle bundles attached themselves to you one pound at a time, and that’s the way they have to come off as well. One way to stay encouraged is to set mini-goals. To borrow the phrase from the popular movie What About Bob?, “Baby stepping to the goal”. Chopping your big plans into smaller, more manageable plans, will help you avoid putting the cart before the horse. I’m a big believer in rewarding yourself for reaching each of those smaller goals as well. Just be sure the rewards you choose aren’t food related. It’s hard enough to battle the issue of emotional eating, or using food for comfort, as it is. You’ll just add to that skewed thinking if you use food as a reward as well. As an example, once I’d lost that first 20 pounds, I celebrated by purchasing a quilt I’d had my eye on for months. But you don’t have to spend money to celebrate your victories. Promise yourself a night off relaxing in a bubble bath, or with your favorite book. Get out of the house and spend time with a friend. Do something that you enjoy and can look forward to as you near you mini-goal.
The whole point of losing weight is to take care of yourself, right? Beating yourself up over the small stuff isn’t productive and will often lead to giving up. Instead, celebrate those little victories. Even the non-scale victories are a big deal. Avoiding that birthday cake can take a lot of determination. Instead of getting upset over the one bite you took, rejoice in the fact that you didn’t eat the whole slice, or if you were like I once was, refraining from eating the whole dang cake.
So to recap:
- Set smaller goals that will help you eventually achieve your main objective.
- Be realistic.
- Reward yourself for the little things, instead of berating yourself for them.
- Use non-food rewards to encourage a healthy relationship with food.
Last, but certainly not least, don’t compare your success, or perceived lack thereof, to anyone else. We all will get there at our own rates. Some may get there faster than you, but it’s not a race. Achieving good health is a lifetime pursuit and should be a natural part of your daily routine, instead of a task you just want to finish. If you’re experiencing a slower pace, remind yourself to stop and smell the roses along the way.
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