5 Goals to Success!

You have to know where you are to understand and figure out where you are going. Sure, you can wing it, but you will have to back track at some point to figure out where you went wrong. To avoid that, you should set some goals for yourself to make it easier and give you a greater sense of direction. 

Here are a few goals you can set and some motivative ways to get started and lose weight:

1. If you have a lot of weight to lose, it could be overwhelming to look at the whole picture. Instead, take your weight loss 5 pounds at a time. When I started, I was 295. My first goal was to break the 290 mark, then it was the 285, 280 etc... to lose the weight. This gives you small goals to shoot for so when you finally add it all up, you have a bigger picture and a smaller you!

2. Go shopping and buy an article of "goal clothing". I had mentioned this in a previous blog post, but it is worth mentioning again. Shop for a new shirt or a pair of new pants. They must be new as to help you with your goal. I figure you will want something to look forward to, not go back to old clothing, so put some cash towards your goal and purchase one article of clothing you really want that is one size smaller than you are now. Again, we are not looking at the big picture if you have a lot to lose. Think about a mountain climber. They don't start with Everest or Fuji as their first endeavor, they start with small mountains and hills then work their way up to where they can climb the big boys. So we must do the same or else we will end in disaster.

I was a 2XL and bought a nice XL button up shirt from one of the stores I really liked. Once I was able to fit into that comfortably without buttons on the verge of explosion, I went out and purchased another goal shirt. It may be a waste of money and it seems silly to buy something you will not wear again after you surpass your goals. Let me tell you, it is worth the $30 here and there to give you motivation to becoming a healthier person. 

3. Keep a diary or free writing journal for yourself. Free writing is very stress reliving and is a great way for you to vent about life. You don't have to commit to writing every day, but it is good to exercise your brain and write out how you feel and what works for you and doesn't work for you. You'll be surprised what you may find out about yourself once you start doing this. 

4. Have your cake, and eat it too. Enjoy your food! Eat cake and cookies and pizza, you will not die. Though, you shouldn't go buy a sheet cake and start forking it to death. Everything in moderation. Nothing screams failure more than depriving ones self of foods they love. People HATE to be told what they can and can not have, and those who are submissive to that tend to be depressed and feel terrible because they feel like they are trapped and can't have what they crave. Give yourself one day during the week that you allow yourself to have a piece of cake, or have an extra slice of pizza, or drink alcohol. This gives you something to look forward to during the week and you will be helping yourself to keep going. I usually make this the same day that I weigh myself, which is Friday. 

5. There is no BAD food... eliminate "bad food" from your vocabulary. There are foods that are not healthy for your body, but if you categorize food as "bad" and "good", you will set yourself up for depriving yourself and feeling guilty if you have said "bad food". For example, I have friends that claim  pizza is BAD for you. Next time I eat pizza, that little voice in my head will be screaming, "This is bad! Don't eat it! You'll die! You'll gain 300 pounds!"... so far from reality. Pizza is bread, cheese and tomato sauce. Nothing unhealthy about that! It becomes unhealthy when you consume 10 servings. One slice of pizza out of a week will NOT making you gain a damn thing. Again, everything in moderation. 

Enjoy the process and look forward to each day of this journey. Be happy in your journey and don't give up! There is always tomorrow.