Creating Practical Weightloss Goals
Outcome Goals/Long Term Goals
Before continuing, I would like you to distinguish between two important kinds of goals: outcome goals and performance goals. Outcome goals are the end products of achievement, such as reaching a certain body weight, improving a few strokes on your golf game, or being able to compete in endurance training events such as 10K’s, marathons, etc.
Performance Goals/Short Term Goals
Performance goals, on the other hand, have to do with specific behaviors you need to master in order to achieve your outcome goals. Setting short-term goals will enable you to reach your long-term goals. Examples of performance goals are choosing to go to the gym instead of sitting in front of the couch snacking on potato chips or ordering a tall vanilla latte instead of the venti white chocolate mocha with extra whipped cream. Performance goals are the stepping-stones to achieving outcome goals. They are the nuts and bolts of what you need to do in order to achieve the outcome you want.
Write your goals down on paper and refer to them often, daily if necessary. Make sure that not all of them are outcome goals. Outcome goals are fine because they motivate and guide you; however, if you want to increase your chances of attaining your goals, you need to concentrate on what specifically you have to do today, tomorrow and so on to achieve your outcome goals. In other words, you must focus on your performance goals. Now, order your goals from the most important to least important and prioritize by picking the top goal, the one you think you should work on first. Develop a specific action plan for improvement - measuring your improvement with the forms provided for you.
Be Realistic
While some people have a tendency to be small-minded, others get caught up in setting their goals too high, or unattainable. It is important to set goals that are reachable. Goals can be adjusted and changed at any time. Your goals should push you to new heights. As you meet each goal you should feel a sense of accomplishment but at the same time you need to know that you have not arrived yet. Never be satisfied with just being good, anyone can become good. Strive for excellence!
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