Long Term Goals
After a trip to my doctor, I knew it was time for a change. Since having children, I had put on 50 extra pounds and didn’t know quite where to start in reversing this cycle. I had read about so many different fad diets but knew there was no medical reason for me to start following one. Also, I knew that if I was going to take on the challenge of meeting my weight loss goal, I had to do something that would carry over into long term habits, versus short term change.
As funny as it may sound, I had to find a way to lose weight while not having to “say no” to chocolate or cookies. If I had to completely give up sugar in order to do this, it just wouldn’t give me long term success, as instead I would grudgingly grow to view food as the enemy and resent any healthy endeavors.
Now, I don’t pretend to offer medical advice in any way, but I met my weight loss goal within a year, and have been successful in keeping it off for an additional year now, and it had me thinking of what worked for meeting this goal.
One was that I didn’t change everything about what I was already doing, I actually started with what I already had. I didn’t go and buy a bunch of specialized diet food, but instead took a look at what I was already eating and started cutting down my portion size based on what I actually needed instead of going by my cravings. This, along with buying a kitchen food scale to help me measure portions, made me come to terms with what my body would use in relation to how much exercise I was getting, and the nutrients that were right for me for each day.
By making these choices a little at a time, and letting them become my new normal throughout each day, I saw the change happen, little by little, in a way that was both healthy and lasting.
Maybe the habit you’re hoping to form isn’t food related, but either way, I think the steps to accomplishing your goal can look similar to how I tackled mine. First, start with what you already have or are already doing. Don’t try to do a complete overhaul right away and hope it will stick. Start small and keep your steps realistic. Next, make it a priority to stick with your goal until it becomes a habit. Start with doing something for a whole week and slowly increase your time frame. Keeping your goals short term in the beginning helps them serve you while you adjust and makes it easier to stick with for the long term. Lastly, don’t be afraid to make adjustments with your goal as you track your progress. Be willing to be honest with what is working for you and what is not and find ways to continue paving the path towards success.
Challenges/Points:
Long term success starts with realistic short term goals.
Start with what you are already doing, and change one thing about it, instead of tackling all your obstacles at once.
Don’t give up after a couple of days, make it your goal to see it through a week, then a month, and so on. Finding success in small ways, will propel your motivation to continue.
Questions:
What is an area of your life that you are hoping to see change?
What is a simple step you can take today to start down that path?
Why do you think the smallest changes can result in huge ripple effects?
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