Setting Dietary Objectives

Setting goals is essential when dieting, as it is difficult to achieve a goal if it is not clearly defined. Having dieting goals gives you a yardstick against which to judge your progress, allowing you to know when to rejoice and when to kick yourself in the shins. It is important to set aggressive goals that are not impossible to achieve, as if they are out of reach, frustration will be your dieting partner until you give up completely. When it comes to weight loss, it is important to be specific in your objectives and set small rewards for meeting them. Aim for a specific goal, such as losing 10 pounds in one month, which can be extended to the following month until you reach your overall goal of 40 or 60 pounds.

Additionally, set personal goals rather than goals imposed on you by others, and teach yourself that achieving your goals can be accomplished through means other than food. This is essential for successful dieting.

Setting goals, as with most things in life, is critical when dieting. When you look at things honestly and objectively, you should notice that the majority of what you've accomplished in life was accomplished because you not only had a goal but also a well-planned and well-thought-out process for achieving that goal. Having said that, why is goal setting so important in dieting?

To begin with, it is difficult to achieve a goal if it is not clearly defined. There are times in life when it is nearly impossible to tell whether you are succeeding or failing because you are unsure of the desired outcome. Identifying your dieting objectives before you begin eliminates this possibility.

Second, having dieting goals gives you a yardstick against which to judge your progress. This is important so you know when your efforts are falling behind schedule and when they are ahead of schedule. In other words, you'll know when to rejoice and when to kick yourself in the shins.

Now that we know why we set weight loss goals, let's talk about how we should go about setting those vital goals for dieting success. You want to set aggressive goals that are not impossible to achieve. If you set goals that are out of your reach, you will find that frustration will be your dieting partner until you give up completely. To avoid this, you should take great care to ensure that your objectives are achievable.

When it comes to weight loss, be specific in your objectives. Rather than aiming for a total weight loss of 40 or 60 pounds, begin with a specific goal, such as losing 10 pounds in one month. The goal can then be extended to the following month until you've reached your overall goal of 40 or 60 pounds. Losing 10 pounds four times is much easier than losing 40 pounds all at once. It's a mental trick, but it works. Ten pounds seems simple and doable. Forty pounds appears to be an insurmountable challenge.

Another aspect of goals is that you want to hold yourself accountable, but you shouldn't abandon the plan if you only lose 9 pounds instead of 10. Instead, figure out where you went wrong for the last pound and set a 10-pound goal for the next month.

You should also take great care to work with your personal goals rather than goals imposed on you by others. The truth is that doing something personal to you will be far more rewarding than doing something for someone else. There are very few goals that will properly motivate you if your heart isn't in it.

Finally, set small (non-food) rewards for meeting your dieting objectives. Perhaps your prize will be a new accessory for your new (or new old) wardrobe, or a pedicure to complement your new look. Make your reward enjoyable and frivolous, and teach yourself that achieving your goals can be accomplished through means other than food. This is essential for successful dieting.