2014

Top 3 Ways To Stay Committed To Your Weight Release Goals

Top 3 Ways To Stay Committed To Your Weight Release Goals
A lot of people jump into working out and nutrition the wrong way. If you're like me, you would make a commitment to yourself that would go something like, " starting Monday, I will start to eat healthier and go to the gym." This is great but a lot of us never follow through when Monday rolls around...

[caption id="attachment_13832" align="aligncenter" width="500"]Does this remind you of anything?Does this remind you of anything?[/caption]

There are two types of people in life: the ones who say they’re going to do things and the ones who actually do them.

Stating a goal is great but the problem many of us have is we’re not passionate or committed to that goal. Wanting something isn't enough - everyone wants something. But then, why do some people go through with their goals and others don’t ever truly get started? In this article, I would like to tell you the steps I made when it came to working out and eating healthier. They're easy steps and if you follow them, I can promise you that you’re much more likely to stay committed and ultimately succeed at your goals.

Top 3 Ways To Stay Committed To Your Weight "Release" Goals


1. Have a Plan of Action


I am a big believer that what makes a human happy is not change, but progress. Change is inevitable. You can sit on the couch all day and the world around you keeps changing, but progress is non-existent without action. Studies show people are more confident and happier when they make progression towards a goal. Progress gives people hope and makes them want to push further. That's where a plan of action comes in. It may not sound like a lot but there is something about having a plan written down, laid out in front of you and being able to visualize the end goal. All that's left after that is execution and achieving your goal.

believe

Short-Term Goals


You should start with short-term goals. Make a daily list and if you finish a task, cross it out. These can be as simple as eating a healthy meal, going for a small walk, getting 15 minutes of working out in, or cutting sugar out on the weekends. Whatever they may be, they must be progressing you towards the long-term goal. Think of short-term goals as linked chains attached to the result.

Long-Term Goals


The Long-term goal is what you actually want to meet overall. Long-term goals usually stem over a long period. They’re reached by continuous success of your short-term goals. A long-term goal may be “I will lose 45 pounds in 6 months.” Your job is to come up with a long-term goal then divide it in pieces small enough so you can do daily task to reach that goal. This has helped me over and over. A lot of people don’t reach their goals because they make them so big then realize it’s so far out of reach, will take too long, or think they cannot carry out something that great. Take small steps. Taking one step at a time will get you to where you need to be. It’s not the destination; it’s the journey you’re after.

Making a goal isn’t hard but studies have shown that the more measurable and detailed your goal is, the more likely you’re going to follow through. Here are some tips to set better goals:

Make your goal a measurable goal. It’s not enough to say, “I want to gain mass” or “I want to lose fat”. Instead, throw some numbers and dates in there: “I will lose 30 pounds of fat by June 10th.” This makes your goal more measurable so you can actually log your progress. People love to see progress so make it measurable.

make things happen


Say your goal in the positive. If you just say, “I want..” for you goals then you already have the wrong mindset when setting a goal. Instead say, “I will weigh XYZ by summer”. This gets you into the right mindset for moving forward in obtaining your goal. Saying things like “I want” is for people who wish to do something. Saying “I will” is a powerful statement that demands action.

Be descriptive. Don’t just state your goal, write out a paragraph on how you’re going to reach it. Say things such as, “I will weigh XYZ by June 10th by walking every morning, going to the gym 3 times a week, eating more vegetables….” The more descriptive you are, the more likely you’re going to succeed because you’re not leaving anything out. You’re subconsciously telling your brain what needs to be done to reach your goal so you’re more likely to do those task.

2. Weave Your Goals Into Other Goals


If your goal is to lose weight, try to weave other goals that will help you reach this one. For example, instead of trying to lose weight, make a small goal of eating healthy on certain days such as Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. This will take your mind off the idea of losing weight and focus it on eating healthy. Another example is goal of running as a workout. Instead of telling yourself you’re going to run every morning to lose weight, try challenging yourself by training for a marathon. This way, your mind isn’t stressed about your weight. It’s now focused on the achievement of finishing a race but at the same time, you’re training hard and losing weight because you’re always running. Subconsciously, your goals have more power and substance because they’re attached to other parts in your life than just your one singular goal. So now you’re less likely to let it slip.

A lot of us start to push away our goals because we dread the idea of having to always eat healthy, go to the gym, wake up early to run, and so on. It’s too much at one time. Keep your brain busy and off your main goals. By interweaving, you will keep things entertaining because you’re not getting bored from routine and your confidence will soar because you’re accomplishing other things while attacking your goal. You’re setting yourself up for success.

3. Stop Trying To Be Perfect


This is hard for a lot of people to swallow and in my opinion; you should accept this and make a promise to yourself that you’re not striving for perfection before you even start your goals and training. The reason this is bad is it causes a downward spiral. A lot of people don’t even realize they’re doing it. I had a friend who did amazing when she was executing her goals; she would workout hard with no breaks, eat extremely clean, go for a morning run every other day, and get a good eight hours of sleep.


here to stay

It was incredible what she was doing. the problem she had though was she strived to be perfect and wanted what I call the “Perfect Streak”. If she would miss a workout, she would drop everything for that week and say “I will start back up Monday. I am just off it this week.” It hurts me to see her this way but she couldn’t help it. She would do so well for months and then throw it all away by doing nothing for a week. While a break is good and even recommended, a lot of people take too many breaks or don’t bounce back at all. In my eyes, every minute that passes is another opportunity to change your life. If you must have that piece of cake then eat it. Just tell yourself, “Okay. I ate that cake and it was good. Now it’s time to jump back and start working out.” The one thing that separates people who reach their goals and people who don’t is consistency. It is simple as that. Not perfection. Over time your body will adapt to-day after day of discipline. Your consistency is something to be grateful for. Time is going to pass you by either way. You might as well do something with it.

I hoped I shed some light on how to reach your goals and stay committed. No matter what happens if your life, how far you feel from success, if you take things one step at a time and have fun doing them; you will reach your goals. Just stay consistent and bounce back.

[divider]

mathisheadshotLogan Mathis is the creator and writer of Flatstomach101, a fun-witty blog dedicated in helping people look and feel their best through motivation, tips, and biochemistry. Logan lives in Southern Illinois where he got his certificate in personal training and a Bachelor’s in English. Also connect with Logan on Twitter and Facebook.
Share by: