Setting SMART goals (Part Two).

In my previous blog I began to look at the  important process of setting SMART goals. 

We start by getting a  "focus" or setting a specific target.  Secondly, we need to decide which measurements will best  monitor our progress.The third element of SMART goal setting is that every goal should  be “Adjustable.” By this I simply mean that the method we use  to reach our goal is not as important as the outcome. So. if we find that our first choice does not seem to be working then we need to find one that does. 

The “vehicle” that I have chosen to get me to my goal of significant weight-loss is a low-carbohydrate diet and I believe that it will help me achieve the desired result. If time proves me wrong and the method doesn’t work I will keep searching the scientific literature until I find something else that looks as if it will because I am committed to the specific goal: “LOSE THE WEIGHT” and  not, "PROVE THAT A PARTICULAR DIET WORKS BEST!" I have already discovered that number of well-meaning friends have offered me their ideas on how  diets work or don't work and I have to smile politely and ignore 99.9% of their advice. At the same time I try to listen carefully to those who have proven results.  I am not so “adaptable” that I am inclined to change my basic plan. “Adjustable” does not mean that we can slacken on our commitment to our core plan.

SMART goals should be Realistic. How does this relate to weight-loss? My goal weight is 95kg (209lbs). Now,  30kg is a lot of weight to lose (66lbs) so the question is, "Can this a  realistic expectation?" Medical experts say that 95kg is an appropriate weight for a large-bodied person like me. So, yes it is realistic. Does it matter if I don’t  achieve the exact weight and stop around 97kg?  I've tried and failed before, so what is one more 'failure'? (Joke :-) "Success is not permanent and failure is not final." Achieving success may involve many small failures along the way.  I have been told that even a 10% decrease in weight can have significant health benefits for me. That is not my goal, however and  30%  weight-loss is a "big call" so I have decided to break down my major goal into three smaller parts: first, lose 10kg, then 20kg, then 30kg. If a simple plan is a good plan, then this is a great one!. 

This brings me to the fifth and final element of SMART goal setting. Goals need to operate within a realistic Time-frame. So, when do I intend to achieve my desired outcome of a 30 kg (66lb) weight loss? To be honest, I do not know for sure but I have set an initial  time frame of 3-4 months.  I expect to travel to Europe sometime in May, 2012 and while I do not have to be at "goal weight" by then,  I do expect to be at stage two of my plan.  My Excel spreadsheet is definitely going to  help me monitor the time-frame but I will reveal more about this "super-weapon"  in my next blog. 

Next blog: How can we  measure progress?