How To Set Sensible Weight-Loss Goals

By: Susanne Myers

The key to any successful weight-loss endeavor is to set some
sensible weight loss goals. Setting goals will let you track
your progress and gives you a definite target to aim for. You
don't want to aim too high and set yourself up for failure or
even worse, risk your health by losing too much too fast. At the
same time, you want to set a goal that is a little bit of a
challenge. Here are some guidelines on how to come up with a
sensible weight-loss goal.

Don't lose more than 1 to 2 pounds a week. You are aiming for
slow and steady weight-loss. To set your goal, decide when you
want to lose the weight by, and then expect to lose 1 or 2
pounds a week. So, if you figure a time period of 6 months, you
want your goal to be around 26 - 52 pounds.

Even small goals will make a difference. Don't feel like you
have to lose a lot of weight to make difference in your health.
You will see benefits by losing as little as 10% of your body
weight. If you weigh 150 pounds, losing 15 pounds may show an
improvement in your overall health and the way you feel.

Use the Body Mass Index. Feeling overweight, or thinking that
you should lose some weight can be very subjective. To get a
better feel for where you are at, you may want to calculate your
Body Mass. Visit http://www.
cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/calc-bmi.htm to find out what your
BMI is and what it means. Adjust your weight-loss goal so you
will eventually be in the "normal" category.

Speak to your physician. Schedule an appointment with your
general practitioner. He or she knows your medical history and
will be able to advise you on how much you should lose. It is
always a good idea to speak to your physician before you start
any diet or exercise program.

Set Mini Goals. Once you set your ultimate goal and have a
time-plan for reaching it, break it up into several mini goals
to reach along the way. Looking at a big goal can seem a little
intimidating. Breaking it up into smaller goals allows you to
focus on your first mini goal and gives you a feeling of
accomplishment when you reach that goal. Then just move on to
the next mini goal until you reach your big goal.

Now that you have your weight-loss goal and the mini goals in
place, start by tackling your first mini goal. I know you can
succeed by approaching weight-loss one step at a time. Your next
challenge is just to get started.

About the author:
By Susanne Myers. Think healthy cooking is hard? Or expensive?
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