- how to spend time (sleep, be active, watch TV, etc.) &
- what to eat (fruit or candy bar, white or whole wheat bread, etc.).
Although each decision matters, being healthy & losing or maintaining weight fortunately doesn't require perfection. We can occasionally veer off-course & still meet our goal.
Why have goals? Well thought-out goals give us direction & a plan. Goal setting allows a confusing or overwhelming concept to be broken down into manageable pieces.
What goals should be celebrated? You don't have to wait for a huge milestone to celebrate. Setting short-term goals give us something to look forward to & help keep us motivated. However, if treats are enjoyed too often, they may lose some bargaining power.
So, what should you do when you meet a goal?
Some people splurge with food. Unfortunately, we tend to underestimate both the number of calories consumed & how long it will take to burn it off. So, a safer reward is a non-food treat. Items can range from the simple & virtually free (bubble bath, relaxing walk, etc.) to complex &/or expensive (new outfit, spa day, vacation, etc.). For maximum results, treats should be meaningful to you & commensurate with the goal (i.e., small goal reached = small treat).
For more info on how to set goals & ideas for non-food treats, check out:
- Good Housekeeping's Spoil Yourself With Small Treats
- Centers for Disease Control's Getting Started Losing Weight
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