Have you decided to commit to losing weight and getting in shape? If so, you need to figure out how much weight you should aim to lose. It is important to set the right goal but that is not easy to do. If you don’t have the right weight loss goal, you will end up failing to lose weight. How do you know how much weight you should aim to lose? What are the right weight loss goals for you? If you want to set appropriate goals for weight loss, you have to know your current health, what your reasonable goal weight is, and you need to reward yourself along the way.

What’s Your Current Health?

Your current health is about more than your weight. You need a complete assessment of your overall health. Your doctor can do tests and let you know if you are in good enough health to put your body through the stress of weight loss. A lot of people start a weight loss program but end up having to quit it because they are not able to stand the strain it puts on their body. You need to know your true weight and your BMI (Body Mass Index). Measure your hip to waste ratio and figure out your percentage of body fat if you want to know where you are.

Where Do You Want to Be?

The goals that you set have to be reasonable if you want to succeed. You can’t expect to go from having a 40-inch to a 30-inch waist in a matter of days or even a few weeks because that won’t happen. You could set a goal of going from a 40-inch waist to a 35-inch waist, though. Setting a goal of losing 20 pounds can be realistic but not if you plan on losing all 20 pounds in just a few weeks. Make sure you come up with a goal you can actually reach. Set a date that you want to reach your goal by in order to motivate yourself. Make sure you don’t over reach with your goals and set one that is too ambitious. Set short-term goals that you can meet relatively quickly so you can see success as you go.

Are Your Rewarding Yourself Along The Way?

Create a reward plan where you do something special to celebrate you reaching your goal. This needs to be something that you will really love. That is not the only reward you need to set up, though. You need to set up a series of small rewards while you are losing weight so that when you reach a milestone, you can give yourself a special treat. You need to celebrate both big and small achievements when you are trying to lose weight. That way, you will be more likely to achieve your long-term goal.

Anyone who really wants to lose weight, has to have a realistic idea of what her current health situation is and what their goals are. Rewarding yourself for the smaller goals you reach will help you stay motivated.

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