Posts Tagged ‘goals’

Renew Your Weight Loss Goals for 2013

January 21st, 2013 By Sarah Tannen, Dietetic Intern

Exercise Fitness Weight LossThe new year is an exciting time. As 2012 comes to the end, it is the perfect time to renew your commitment to the goals you want to achieve.  Set yourself up for success by following these tips for setting achievable goals.

Tip 1: Set SMART goals

SMART goals are:

Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Time-bound

Tip 2: Set a Lifetime Goal

The best goal you can set would be a lifetime goal. Why? Because it is a goal that you can always improve on, and it shapes the way all your other goals are attained. Set a goal that you want to achieve, not what others feel you should accomplish.

Tip 3: Set small goals

Setting smaller, achievable goals will help you reach your main goal by achieving  smaller milestones along the way. By setting smaller goals, you allow yourself to specialize and focus in one area at a time. It is easier to stay motivated when you are accomplishing many small goals rather than falling short on one large, unrealistic goal. Stay positive, smaller goals add up over time.

Tip 4: Reward Yourself

Once you complete a goal, take time to enjoy your accomplishments!  A reward should be something for yourself that you enjoy and deserve. It can be tangible or intangible such a buying a new shirt or going for a walk to clear your mind. These rewards will give you motivation to continue setting new attainable goals since you know there is something at the finish line.  Never reward yourself with food.

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How to Make a Successful New Year’s Resolution – Dos & Don’ts

December 31st, 2011 By Meagan Mohammadione, RD, LD

Do: Get a Head Start

Healthy New Year's Resolutions Dos & Don'ts

The first day of the New Year seems like the perfect day to start a new lifestyle, but why wait for a specific day to begin a healthier way of life?  Waiting may actually be doing more harm than good to your resolution.  The holiday temptations and the “I can indulge today/ this week/this month because I am going to lose weight in the New Year” mentality can actually set you back farther and make your resolution harder to achieve.  There’s no sense in putting off for later what you can start today.

Don’t: Go to the Extreme

The most common reason that New Year’s resolutions fail is because they are too unrealistic.  It’s great to be motivated to improve your health, but people often try to change too much at once.  For example, a sedentary person will fail in the long run if their goal is to go to the gym every single day.  Instead, it would be more doable for this person to resolve to walk around their neighborhood for 15 minutes, three days a week.  Once they are in the habit of doing this, then they can gradually increase the length and frequency of their workouts.

Do: Think About Your Goals

Simply saying that you are going to lose weight won’t make it happen without creating a plan.  To do this, think about where you are right now and what baby steps you can take to reach your larger goals.  Try these tips that will help you along the way: write your goals down, get a friend to help you, track your progress, and reward your accomplishments (but not with food!).

Don’t: Forget to Revisit Your Resolution

It’s OK to revise your goals.  In fact, it will actually help you achieve them.  Life happens and you can’t always control it.  Focus on the elements of your lifestyle that you can control and forget about what you can’t.  This will help you stay positive and focused.

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