Use Weight Watcher’s guidelines to make them powerful and effective.

I know I am guilty of setting unrealistic goals for myself ALL THE TIME.  I get my mind in place that I want to get fit, healthy and lets be real skinny – then I want those things to happen overnight with little to no effort by me.  Because let’s face it – all of those things take a lot of work, dedication and time.  Lasting results don’t happen overnight.

Setting specific, attainable goals make it more likely for you to accomplish them and make the behaviors you want to adopt long-lasting.  Weight Watcher’s Weekly on this subject give you some suggestions on setting SMART goals!
So let’s take a look at what goes into a powerful goal.

1. It’s specific.  Describing what you want, be exact on what you want to accomplish.  Saying you are going to do yoga this week is less likely to happen than saying – I’ll go tot the 10am class on Monday and Wednesday after dropping the kids at school.
2. It’s reasonable.  Not a runner?  Don’t decide you’ll start running three miles a day!  The smaller the gap between where you are now and the goal set, the more likely you are to reach it.  It should also fit your lifestyle and your schedule.
3. It’s active.  Frame your goals as behaviors that you want to do, instead of ones you don’t want to do.  Such as figuring out what snacks you can fit in at night when you want to snack – rather than saying that you’re going to stop eating all together.
4. It’s short term.  Choose a goal you can reach in a short amount of time.  Assess your progress at least once a week or even once a day.  By reviewing your progress at short intervals, you can celebrate your accomplishments and troubleshoot any difficulties.

• What do you want to do?
• When are you going to do it and for how long?
• Where will you do it?
• Who will you do it with (if anyone)?