Set Small Goals to Achieve Big Ones

I haven't posted a health & fitness tip in a while. And the picture has nothing to do with the story, I just want to post it because I like it so much, yet it doesn't go with any specific story. It was taken in northern Colorado.

Many people think that setting out on the journey to a healthier self is too monumental a task to undertake. Yet we’ve all seen or read about big successes in some people—people who were obese but are now a healthy weight thanks to a wholesome lifeplan including exercise and a balanced diet.

Starting to become more fit doesn’t require you to jump right on the exercise bandwagon or to incorporate the recommended nine or even five produce servings a day. Sure, for long term weight loss, you must exercise and eat right, but those are pretty big goals, and if you don’t reach them, you may just give up all together. Setting smaller healthy goals is key to lasting weight loss and health.

Achieving smaller goals will give you a sense of accomplishment and set you on your way to reaching bigger ones. Pick one or two of the following smaller, achievable goals—or come up with your own—and try to stick to them for a month.

If you succeed, then try tackling more of the minor suggestions or a major one—like exercising regularly or eating right. Those are the two biggies. Trying to accomplish both at once will seem overwhelming, and you’ll likely give up the effort, so make sure exercise is a habit before trying to stick to a strictly healthy diet, or vise versa.

Healthy Habits to Gain
Pack a healthy lunch twice a week or more.
Consume one serving of fruit with breakfast.
Use the next floor’s bathroom—and take the stairs to get there.
Buy and read a fitness magazine: Men’s Health, SHAPE, Fitness, Self, Health, Muscle & Fitness. Reading about being healthy is very motivating.
Eat at your kitchen or dining room table but nowhere else in your house.
Rise 10 minutes earlier, and before your shower, march in place while you watch the morning news.

Anti-Healthy Habits to Lose
Visits to the vending machine
Eating after 7:30 p.m.
Second servings
One hour-long TV show (exercise instead)
Whole milk
Your need to find the closest parking space
Smoking (OK, not a small goal, but you need to quit in order to be truly healthy.)

Try to re-form habits rather than making your small goals numbers-oriented like, “I will lose 30 pounds.” The numbers on the scale will fall as a natural result of your smaller, healthier decisions.

Copyright by Elizabeth Evans Fryer