David Grisaffi's Fit Zone | Personal Fitness Trainer | Fitness training Resources | Online Fitness Trainer
www.fit-zone.com Home | Fit Zone Blog | Login To Online Coaching | Contact David
Weight Loss Information

Setting Objectives For Weight Loss


I am sure that when I mention setting objectives for weight loss, the majority of people will be thinking in terms of how many pounds in weight that they, or someone else, should lose. That is similar, in a way, to those who consider setting financial objectives, and then state money as an objective.

Really, if they think about it more closely, money is not an objective; the real objective is what you are going to do with that money. If it is to buy a new house, then the objective is that new house; if it is to retire to Mexico by the sea, then the objective is that new home in a new location, Mexico; if it is to help poor children in Africa, then the objective is helping children in Africa. The objective in those cases is not the money itself; money is worthless if it sits there doing nothing. It just happens to be that many objectives require money to achieve them.

In a way, there is a similarity with weight loss; should weight loss be classed as an objective in itself? Perhaps not, but that does not really matter; what matters is finding the best way for you to lose weight. If you think about it, your decision to lose weight is as a result of other factors. Weight loss is not something you have suddenly considered in isolation; a number of other things have probably caused you to think of weight loss as being necessary. It is those "other things" that should be the subject of your objective setting.

Why You Need To Broaden Your Weight Loss Objectives

Weight loss is a very narrow objective. You may think, "why not, what else is there to say?" Losing weight is not an easy task. That extra weight has probably been the result of many years of bad eating and exercise habits. So, you decide to lose weight. Well, you won't lose weight, and keep it off, without the full co-operation of your subconscious. For years, your subconscious has been your chief assistant in making you fat. Now you are suddenly going to say that the new name of the game is weight loss.

With that narrow objective of weight loss, you have done nothing to convince your subconscious this is a good idea. You have given no reason or reasons, so why should your subconscious co-operate with this meaningless weight loss exercise?

In your attempts to have a narrow body, you need to have a broader mind and set of objectives. Carefully chosen objectives will broaden your argument with your inner self, and are likely to be far more motivational. You will be choosing a sensible diet and exercise regimes to assist in reaching those objectives; weight loss will be incidental, just as money was in those earlier examples.

How To Set Weight Loss Objectives

You need to sit down quietly, and try to think as clearly as possible of the reasons why you have decided you want to lose weight. The true reasons, that is, not something like "cos I'm too fat."

Once you have isolated the reasons, whether there's one, two or many, then write them down. Those are the reasons you have suddenly decided to lose weight. Those should be the subjects of your objectives. I will give a few examples to help you to understand the concept:

1. Reason to consider weight loss: You're embarrassed going into a boutique and trying on size 18 dresses.

Objective: To be able to go into boutiques and try on size 12 dresses?..successfully.

2. Reason to consider weight loss: You've read a lot about the association of being overweight and hypertension, and your blood pressure is high at 150/90.

Objective: To achieve a stable blood pressure of 120/70. (NB such blood pressure targets need to be discussed with your doctor, and will vary according to age and other factors. This is purely for example purposes.)

3. Reason to consider weight loss: You're sick of being introduced to women, and sensing them looking you up and down with disgust.

Objective: To have women look at you admiringly again.

Those are just three examples; you may have more or less, but you could find it an interesting exercise analyzing yourself to see why you really want to lose weight.

How To Achieve Weight Loss Objectives

Consider those three example objectives above, and you will see that none mention losing weight. However, all are based on convincing reasons, that are more likely to get full co-operation from your subconscious. With those three objectives, losing weight can play an important part in achieving them, without being the main objective itself. So what you have done is to bring a broader front (if you'll pardon the expression) to your weight loss objective setting.

There's no reason to stop going to Weight Watchers or other weight loss group; there's no reason not to have a target weight. After all, they are now in harmony with the three objectives you have already used to seduce your subconscious into co-operation.

How, then, can you set about achieving those objectives? A combination of meditation and visualization each day should help you convince your subconscious you are serious about these objectives. Here are a few tips:

1. Write the objectives down and keep them handy.

2. Read the objectives and repeat them, orally if possible, morning, lunch time and evening.

3. Morning and evening, in a quiet time lying down, relax your body, and focus on your breathing. Gradually dismiss all distraction around you, and then start to focus on each objective in turn. Repeat the objective in your mind, and visualize your successful achievement of it. See yourself proudly trying on that size 12 dress in front of admiring assistants; or walking into a party of strangers and the women looking admiringly at your new physique.

Give no dates for your objectives, let that come naturally. Repeat the process as long as necessary; weeks, months, years. Each time you visualize the achievement of your weight related objectives, your subconscious becomes more in tune with what you, consciously, want. Together, you will become a powerful team in the weight loss game.

This setting weight loss objectives article is by Roy Thomsitt, owner and part author of routes-to-self-improvement.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Houston Weight Loss Surgeons Discuss How to Choose the Right Bariatric Practice
San Francisco Chronicle (press release)
Drs. Yu and Scarborough discuss key aspects to look for in a practice before undergoing a weight loss procedure such as gastric plication to help improve results and get patients back on track towards leading a healthier life.

and more »


USA TODAY

Weight loss: Clinics halt Lap-Band surgeries amid controversy | MassDevice.com ...
Mass Device
MASSDEVICE ON CALL — A pair of outpatient clinics in Los Angeles stopped offering weight-loss surgeries using the Lap-Band gastrointestinal device amid ongoing controversy over a marketing campaign. The FDA late last year issued warning letters to 8 ...
Clinics halt Lap-Band surgeriesLos Angeles Times
Lap-Band surgeries halted at 2 LA clinicsmsnbc.com
Allergan stops selling Lap-Band to 1-800-GET-THIN doctorsInjuryBoard.com
California Healthline -French Tribune
all 55 news articles »


Dallas Weight Loss Surgeon Adds Bariatrician
Sacramento Bee
As a Board Certified Bariatrician, Dr. Obi will head up the Bariatric Solutions AfterCare program as well as assisting patients during their pre surgery diet requirement for the weight loss surgeries performed at Bariatric Solutions: Lap Band, ...

and more »


Study Warns Low Protein Diets May Cause More Than Just Weight Loss
Daily Glow
He found that while this type of diet is an effective weight loss tool, it comes at the cost of lean body mass, according to a report by The New York Times. Lean body mass, simply put, is everything in your body that is not fat.
Lee McCaskill offers 'belly bustin' tipsTCPalm
My scale won't budge! Why am I not losing weight?The Voice of Mini Cassia (blog)

all 2 news articles »


Weight-loss couple urge others to take up challenge
This is Plymouth
A COUPLE from Devonport embracing the loveLIFE campaign have lost five of their 15 stone weight loss target. Chris Searle, aged 30, and Charlotte Telling, aged 25, who are both unemployed, signed up to The Herald's loveLIFE campaign to help improve the ...

and more »


eMaxHealth

The 'fit but fat' debate: Weight loss should still be the goal, experts say
Chicago Tribune
WEIGHT LOSS STILL THE GOAL Though these findings appear to support the idea that you can be fit but fat, scientists note that the rate of MNBO is very rare within the obese population, and the risk for mortality is still high among the obese, ...
The No-Gimmick Secret to Losing Weight for FreeeMaxHealth

all 2 news articles »


PR Web (press release)

MonavVie Launches 90-Day Weight Loss "RVLUTION" With Its RVL Weight Management ...
PR Web (press release)
Health and wellness leader MonaVie has launched the “90-day MonaVie RVLution,” a weight loss movement that uses its RVL Premier Weight Loss System in combination with Venice Nutrition Creator and NY Times Bestselling Author Mark Macdonald's “Body ...

and more »


Daily Mail

Dawn French discusses weight loss on This Morning in dress with bright and ...
Daily Mail
She spoke about her weight loss, kissing Michael Buble and working with Simon Cowell - which she said was still a mystery to her. No more weight loss talk, please! Dawn told hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield that she was bored with people ...
Dawn French on slim new figure: 'I refuse to dislike my other body!'hellomagazine.com
Dawn French has the blast laughThe Sun

all 9 news articles »


Politico

Weight Loss: Rick Warren's New Purpose
Huffington Post
By Lilly Fowler LAKE FOREST, Calif. (RNS) Megachurch pastor Rick Warren has become an outsized evangelical superstar: best-selling author of "The Purpose Driven Life" series, pastoral mentor and even political referee. Now Warren is finding a new ...
Rick Warren finds a new purpose: weight lossThe Christian Century
Rick Warren gets rid of excess weight using the Saddleback "Daniel Plan ...God Discussion

all 6 news articles »


PRunderground

In NYC Surgery By Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis Is The Hottest Technique In ...
PRunderground
Dr OZ has been talking about one of the hottest techniques in weight loss, Surgery By Virtual Gastric Band Hypnosis. This technique keeps Dr Ellyn Gamberg busy in her NYC and Danbury CT offices busy with much success. On his show today, Dr. Oz will be ...
Dr. Oz 2/8/2012: Hypnosis And Weight Loss “Can This Really Work?”CMR
Health: Hypnosis Lap Band, A Non-Invasive Way To Lose WeightCBS Local

all 5 news articles »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006