Small goals yield big achievements

ASK any fitness instructor and they will tell you the major cause of failure when it comes to losing weight is excessive expectation. When we set out on weight loss and fitness journeys very often our end goal is smoothed by thoughts of the journey’s end as opposed to its beginning. It’s important, however, not to confuse determination with expectation as the former is vital, while the latter is assessed, or gauged, according to progress made.

At the outset of any fitness plan it’s important to be realistic. If you take it in small stages you are far more likely to succeed than killing yourself over a short period. Preparation is everything and if you’re honest, you’ll know exactly what it takes to get to where you want to be.

Start with what you eat and drink. This topic has been built into an extremely overcomplicated area in recent times with no shortage of advice and stratagems being filtered through the public about ways to magically stop eating. But it’s much simpler than that. Firstly, you, and you alone, know what you’re eating and drinking that you shouldn’t be. So stop reading those ‘ catch all’ websites with never before heard of ways to lose weight. If you want to take off weight; ask yourself thoughtfully what it is that put it on in the first place.

Design an exercise plan that factors in your day to day routine and be realistic. If you’re the sort of person that can get up every morning before work and run five miles, well and good. Or perhaps you’re so disciplined that after work each day you rigidly commit to exercise. This may last a long time but it won’t last forever which is why you need to be realistic (there’s that word again!). Set yourself small, achievable goals; goals aimed at achieving incremental results. Don’t be consumed with notions of achieving short term success. Stay in it for the long-term and you’ll achieve all your fitness and weight loss goals in plenty time.