{"id":83846,"date":"2019-10-02t08:41:02","date_gmt":"2019-10-02t12:41:02","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/www.digitopmedia.com\/?p=83846"},"modified":"2023-01-19t16:35:22","modified_gmt":"2023-01-19t21:35:22","slug":"smart-goals-weight-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.digitopmedia.com\/smart-goals-weight-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"are you setting smart weight loss goals or setting yourself up for failure?"},"content":{"rendered":"
the average dieter in the united states starts and fails a weight-loss program about four or five times a year. why? are they setting smart goals? are they setting themselves up for success or failure?<\/p>\n
hold the phones – what is the smart acronym?<\/p>\n
the smart acronym is specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely.<\/p>\n
often the abandonment of the program results in weight gain. being smart can help you or someone you know to find success in the next diet or weight-loss program they decide to pursue.<\/p>\n
being smart isn’t a measurement of your intelligence; it’s an acronym that is commonly used for lifestyle or behavioral modification. it gives a generalized statement, like wanting to lose weight, a clearer meaning and compelling direction.<\/p>\n
it can be used for broad goals like trying to quit smoking, or it can be used for more direct goals like wanting to run a sub-24-minute 5k.<\/p>\n
“as a counselor, i work with clients to see the importance of taking care of yourself, taking the time to meal prep, taking the time to work out, and taking the time to enjoy life. positive lifestyle change is not an easy task; it will take time to regain the healthy behaviors and habits that you had before life happened. wellness is hard, change is hard, being unhealthy is hard, and having health issues is hard. you have to pick which hard you are willing to work through,” states jennifer reynolds, eds, lpc-s, therapist at talk space<\/a>.<\/p>\n in the case of this article, we are applying it to weight loss. so when you begin to think about your next goal and how to conquer it, remember to be smart about it.<\/p>\n sticking to healthy lifestyle changes is difficult for some people. that’s why apps like noom<\/strong><\/a><\/a>\u00a0work with human coaching and a robust and virtual community to help you stay with your plan.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n smart goals begin by taking a generalized statement or aim and beginning to set it up to become more precise and achievable.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n smart goal setting for weight loss can be done rapidly or gradually. for long-term weight loss taking a diet pill or an appetite suppressant alone won’t cut it (see article in women’s health<\/a>).<\/p>\n this is why so many americans fail at trying to lose weight.<\/p>\n “excuses also either go hand in hand with, or like to disguise themselves as, blame. ever heard someone say, ‘i can’t lose weight because of my genes,’ or ‘because of my thyroid,’ that’s someone blaming their circumstances and putting their body out of the realm of their control.<\/p>\n while, yes, medically, some things may be more difficult for one body to accomplish when compared to another, that doesn’t mean that it can’t be done,” states kimberly spencer, coach, writer and owner of crown yourself<\/a>.<\/p>\n there needs to be a full-lifestyle modification to help lose the weight and keep it off. there’s a whole variety of different methods and questions that can arise when seeking to lose weight.<\/p>\n “the “head-heart-hands” approach for building new habits is the key for success. take on lifestyle changes that appeal to the mind, emotions, and body. when you are starting new habits, make sure you exercise these three key areas,” states thai nguyen from the utopian life.<\/a><\/p>\n did you know muscle weighs more than fat, so the common question is, “how can you burn fat, build muscle and lose weight at the same time?”<\/p>\n that’s easy – the three processes occur independently of each other. you can cut calories and workout to lose fat and gain muscle. but, you can lose an average of one to two pounds a week, when dieting healthy, but it takes a month or longer for some to gain one pound of muscle.<\/p>\n one thing i preach to my clients when we begin the journey to a healthier lifestyle is understanding there will be a moment when you might gain weight, or hit a plateau, in the very beginning. and that can derail an individual to fall back to counterproductive habits.<\/p>\n this is why it’s important to set smart weight-loss goals. “goals & questions with neutral middle-of-the-road options create apathy, and are less likely to encourage behavior change,” states ioannis kareklas<\/a>, ph.d.<\/p>\n have you set smart goals or set yourself up for failure? noom<\/strong><\/a><\/a>\u00a0can help. each weight-loss plan is personalized to your needs \u2014 no generic plans with this program.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n “momentum is critical to winning the game of fitness. with that said, people often fall short of their goals because they lose perspective on their situation. for example, if someone wants to lose 20 pounds, they should set smaller benchmarks that are attainable in shorter periods. we all want to feel like winners, and when you set micro goals, you rig the game in your favor along with becoming more confident,” states julian hayes<\/a>, certified nutrition & sleep science coach.<\/p>\n so let’s take a client who’s looking to lose 40 pounds for a wedding in six months. she is 5’7″ and currently weighs 200 pounds. by the bmi chart<\/a>, she would be considered overweight. by losing 40 pounds, it would put her in the normal\/healthy bmi range.<\/p>\n so in this example of a smart goal, i’ll explain the specific path needed to follow to reach a specific goal:<\/p>\n lose 40 pounds in 6 months. first progress milestone is to lose 8 pounds in 5 weeks<\/p>\n the scale would be the most comfortable measurement of weight loss. but because we determined the client’s bmi at 5’7, she can also use body composition or circumference measurements to measure her progress too.<\/p>\n losing eight pounds in the first five weeks is attainable. it also considers the body’s general adaptation to added or adjusted physical activity exertion and intensity.<\/p>\n aiming for eight pounds in five weeks is practical and keeps the client on track to achieve her overall goal of 40 pounds in 6 months for the wedding.<\/p>\n five weeks is a reasonable timeframe to lose eight pounds because it’s not unusual to lose 1\/2 to two pounds per week.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n by setting up smaller milestones within smart goals can help the person see if the changes they are making are working.<\/p>\n say this client in the first five weeks only loses five pounds. as she begins to self-analyze her goals, she may realize she hasn’t added any physical activity to her weekly routine. she then needs to set smarter goals.<\/p>\n the loss of five pounds is not a failure. it is progress, but it can always be better. she reevaluates and redirects her smart weight loss goals for the next 5-week milestone by incorporating 30-60 minutes of physical activity three to five times a week. by doing this, it might help her push toward the weight loss she is striving for.<\/p>\n if you look at the american heart association, the aha recommends 75 minutes per week of vigorous exercise. or it can be a combination of moderate and vigorous exercise for a recommended 150 minutes, which parallels the department of health and human services.<\/p>\n so, as this individual begins adding exercise to her weekly plan, she begins to improve her overall health and sets herself up to successfully lose the weight, and of course, keep it off.<\/p>\n with noom<\/strong><\/a><\/a>, you can learn how to set smart goals with a personalized touch and human coaching. you’re never alone on your journey.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0what are smart goals?<\/h2>\n
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smart goal setting for weight loss<\/h2>\n
examples of smart goals<\/h2>\n
specific<\/h3>\n
measurable<\/h3>\n
attainable<\/h3>\n
realistic<\/h3>\n
timely<\/h3>\n
individual smart(er) goals<\/h2>\n