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Combining the Mind and Effective Goal-Setting
Goals are of vital importance in our lives. Many of us spend our lives without any definite purpose, simply drifting from place to place. Setting goals help us to focus our lives and to advance confidently in a definite direction. Without them, I...
Goal Setting: A Plan of Action or Get Off the Couch
Two monks were arguing about the temple flag. One said the flag
moved, the other said the wind moved. Master Eno overheard them
and said, "It is neither the wind nor the flag, but your mind
that moves." The monks were speechless.
--...
Goal Setting - The Importance of Stern Resolve!
"Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page...on the first of January let every may straighten himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past." -...
Goal Setting - What You And Bill Gates Should Have In Common
He was just a teenager, but he was already displaying the powerful habits that would one day make him a billionaire.
I had to dart down to Atlanta on Monday for a business meeting with a partner of mine and grabbed a new book to read...
Personal Goal Setting - 10 Tips
Does personal goal setting work? Many people want things, situations or accomplishments, call these goals, and then are disappointed when they don't get them. Call desires goals if you want, but just naming your desires sure isn't effective goal...
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Setting Realistic Goals for Weight Loss
There are many reasons for people who are overweight or obese to lose weight. To live longer. To look better. To have more energy. To feel better. No matter what the reason, successful weight loss and healthy, sustained weight management depend on sensible goals and realistic expectations. If you set achievable goals for yourself, chances are you'll be more likely to meet them and have a better chance of keeping the weight off. You shouldn't strive to lose 50 pounds in a month. In fact, losing even five to 10 percent of your weight, over a matter of time, is the kind of goal that can improve your health.
Most people who are successful at losing weight and keeping it off, have a "oh goodness" moment, when something clicks and they don't want to be this size any longer. Motivations vary. Some people worry about chronic diseases like diabetes or coronary problems. Others are preparing for a special event--a wedding, reunion, or special birthday, such as their 40th or 50th. Some people find in embarrassing to have difficulty fitting into theater seats or behind the steering wheel of their vehicle. Having to buy extra large clothing from special shops is a psychological motivation for others.
Whatever the reason, pick a plan. One diet does not fit all. And for obvious health concerns, overweight people should try to lose weight gradually. Try not to exceed two pounds per week. Fad diets which ignore the principles of the U.S. government Dietary Guidelines may result in short term weight loss, but may do so at the risk of your long-term health. And many of the fad diets--like the infamous Cabbage Soup Diet--can undermine your health and lead to psychological despair and disappointment when you regain the weight shortly after you lose it.
Doctors, dieticians and other health experts agree that the best way to lose weight is to eat fewer calories and increase physical activity so you burn more energy. There are no "super foods" that either cause you to gain weight or help you lose it. That's the reason to ignore products or programs that promise quick
Associated Websites
and easy results, or that promise permanent results without permanent changes in your lifestyle. Any ad that says you can lose weight without lowering calorie intake and/or increasing your physical activity is selling a fantasy dream, the "magic bullet" which simply does not exist.
Unless your health is seriously at risk due to complications from being overweight or obese, gradual weight loss should be your goal. Here's how you do it:
Check with your doctor. Make sure you are healthy enough to lower your caloric intake and increase your physical activity.
Follow a calorie-reduced, but balanced diet that provides for weight loss of one or two pounds per week. Be sure to include at least five servings a day of fruits and veggies, along with whole grains, lean meat and low fat dairy products. This regimen may not sell many books, but it will reduce your waistline.
Make time in your day for some form of physical activity. Start by parking a distance from your work or shopping center a walk! 200 steps is equal to one city block and experts recommend that people aim for 10,000 steps a day. Take the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator. Then gradually add some added physical activity you enjoy--walking, cycling, tennis, golf, evening mowing the lawn with a push mower is an excellent exercise.
For many people who are overweight or obese, long-term weight management generally requires sensible goals and a commitment to make realistic changes in their lifestyle (diet/exercise) to improve their health. A lifestyle based on proper, nutritional eating and regular physical activity can be a real lifesaver.
About the Author
Larry Denton is a retired history having taught 33 years at Hobson High in Hobson, MT. He is currently Vice President of Elfin Enterprises, Inc., a business providing information and resources on a variety of important topics. For an exercise room full of additional free weight loss information and hundreds or valuable resources visit http://www.WeightLossWill.com
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