Mental Strategies Part 3

Mini Goals

“A Journey of a thousand miles
must begin with a single step.”
- Lau-tzu

Some time at the beginning of your weight-loss journey, you decided how much weight you wanted to lose.  Maybe it was twenty, forty, or sixty pounds.  I’m sure you’ve made considerable progress and have shed a couple (or more) pounds.  Now is a good time to revisit your goal.  First, you must figure out how many pounds you have yet to lose.  Second, it’s time to talk about how you’re going to get there.

When you establish a long-term goal, there is one thing that will keep you on track to success - - mini goals.  Mini-goals help you focus on your big goal and also help to make your big goal seem manageable.  You don’t want to set yourself up for failure or try to accomplish something that’s not realistic.

Commitment to your process of gaining health is key.  After all, we’ve all been there.  The way to lose and keep it off is by developing mini-goals along your journey.  For example, drinking at least eight glasses of water each day is a realistic mini-goal that will improve your health.  Eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables is another mini-goal that can be measured and easily achieved.  The same applies to exercise and rest.  Whether your goal is to run a 5K race or compete in an Ironman Triathlon, list out mini-goals that will help you accomplish your ultimate goal.

When you look at the big picture of what you are trying to accomplish, it may seem like a daunting task.  Creating mini-goals is the perfect antidote to that overwhelming pressure.  On the website, www.coolrunning.com, there is a program called “Couch to 5K,” which is designed for beginning runners to create a plan to get them off their couches and onto the road…running.  Following this plan, step by step, takes a novice runner toward their dream of competing in races.

What about you?  Consider your goals for your health, family, work and any other area.  It’s time to design some mini-goals that will take you where you want to go!

Mini-Challenge of the Day

Look at your dream of getting fit and healthy.  Write down five mini-goals designed to help you reach your goal.  Look at where you’ve come in your weight-loss journey.  Have you met any mini-goals you have set for yourself previously?  Are there some of your previous goals you may need to tweak or improve?  Take some time and evaluate where you want to be and the steps you’re going to take to get there.

Tip of the Day

Sugar can hinder your weight loss and is found in so many things, so check the ingredient labels on the foods you are eating.  If you see words like high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, dextrose, or malto dextrose, that is sugar, so don’t eat it.

Until tomorrow, be blessed!

Remember to DREAM!