Achievable Goals

I tend to be an all or nothing type of person. Either I’m all in or not at all. So when it comes to setting goals, especially short term goals, I have the tendency to be unrealistic. Having big aspirations isn’t bad, but if I’m not careful, I just set myself up for failure.

For example, an achievable goal for me is to be 1-2 pounds down at the end of a week. If I get excited about strictly following my eating plan, adding in extra workouts, and being super diligent, I might have the tendency to set my goal at 5 pounds.

5 pounds isn’t realistic. I didn’t say it wasn’t possible, I said it wasn’t realistic. Sure I could do a liquid fast for the week, work out extra, and add in an hour of cardio everyday, but even then if I did happen to drop those 5 pounds (which at my age is still highly unlikely) that’s not something I could do on a regular basis. A 5 pound loss in a week isn’t maintainable. The minute I start eating again, even if I’m eating the right things, I will put some of those pounds right back on. Leaving me to be discouraged because I failed to meet the goal.

I set my goal at 2 pounds of fat to be gone at the end of each week. In the back of my mind I also know that it might only be 1, and some weeks maybe none. But I also know I’m doing everything I’m supposed to do so I don’t let what the scale says, or what I still see in the mirror bother me. I just set a new goal for the next week.

Having a lofty long term goal isn’t bad, but the mini goals that you set to get to the big one need to be realistic, achievable and maintainable.

Take a look at the goals you set for yourself, if they are unrealistic, tweak them to be something you can actually achieve. Don’t set yourself up for failure and disappointment. Set yourself up to win! Week by week, day by day, keep working towards those achievable goals and in the end you will see results!