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Weight loss goals
How do I set goals for weight loss?
(28 Jan 2008)
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Before setting weight loss goals, it is important to understand the causes of weight gain. A person can gain weight due to variety of reasons, the main ones being:
- Diet: This is primarily due to an increasing reliance on fast food products and also due to poor dietary choices like over eating.
- Sedentary lifestyle: Worldwide there has been a large shift towards less physically demanding work and currently, at least 60% of the world's population does not get sufficient exercise.
- Genetics: Genetics play an important role in how a body deals with fat in respect to the body's metabolism. The percentage of obesity that can be attributed to genetics varies from 6% to 85% depending on the population examined.
- Early malnutrition: Malnutrition in early life is believed to play a role in the rising rates of obesity in the developing world. Endocrine changes that occur during periods of malnutrition may promote the storage of fat once more calories become available.
The last two factors are of course beyond your control, but there is a lot that you can do about the first two. There are many methods available to help a person lose weight. Some only target a person's diet; however most also help burn excessive fats with different exercises. In order to lose weight, it is usually advisable to set yourself some goals so that you can gauge your progress and the effectiveness of your methods. These tips will help you set some realistic and effective goals.
- Personalize your goals: While setting individual goals, take into account your limitations and your personal fitness level. Do not attempt to push your body too hard and always create goals that are realistic.
- Think long term as well as short term: You should focus on both sets of goals. A short term goal may not be conducive for long term progress; hence goals should appeal to both the long term as well as the short term.
- Plan for setbacks: Setbacks cannot be avoided and hence should be accounted for beforehand. Do not let a small setback throw your morale off track.
- Track your progress: Tracking your progress at periodic intervals, like after every week, gives you a sense of purpose and confidence. Record your successes in a way that works for you, like online programs, notebooks, or a simple journal.
- Adjust your goals as needed: The good part about personal goals is that they can be tailored to suit your own personal requirements. You might need to change or adjust your goals for a variety of reasons including a change in lifestyle, or if you are ready to take on bigger challenges.
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answered by G M on 10 Dec 2009, 4:36:50
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Have Goals for Weight Loss
Dieting is hard work and losing weight can be a difficult process. If you have ever struggled with your weight, then you must know the roller coaster feelings of losing and gaining weight. One of the best ways you can lose weight is to make sure that you have set goals for yourself. Having goals will help you because you can reach larger goals by accomplishing smaller ones first. Here are some helpful tips for setting weight loss goals.
Determine how much you want to lose: The first thing you will want to do when you decide to lose weight is to decide how much you want to lose. Many people simply tell themselves that they want to lose weight, but really have no concrete idea of how much. This can work against you when you diet because you are not focused on an amount.
Break your weight loss down: After you have decided how much you want to lose, then you should break it down into smaller amounts. If you follow a good diet and exercise plan, you can expect to lose between 2-4 pounds a week. If you decide that you want to lose 20 pounds, then decide how much you can realistically lose per week. This will help you visualize your goals better and keep on top of your successes.
Put it in writing: Part of setting goals is to keep your goals on paper. Write down how much you weigh and then keep track of your weight on a weekly basis. This is a great idea because it will serve as a visual reminder of your weight loss goals.
It is possible to shed the excess weight and you can lose weight if you set goals. When you do so, you are taking a big step in your weight lose success.
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answered by A K on 28 Jan 2008, 3:42:58
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