If You Fail to Plan...

If you Fail to Plan, then You're Planning to Fail.

You've heard this before, right?  So've I, so I'm going to take a blog post moment to plan out the why, the what and the how of my weight loss goals.

Even though I'm using Weight Watchers as my weight loss tool of choice, I know that losing weight is more than just eating less and exercising more.  I've read that 90% of weight loss is done above the shoulders, meaning that the challenge of losing weight is overwhelmingly mental.  And I can totally be overwhelmingly mental if I chose.

So first up:  THE WHY

I must complete my weight loss and fitness goals because if I don't...
1. I will always regret not becoming the fit and healthy person I have the potential of being.
2. I will significantly shorten my lifespan because of obesity-related diseases and disorders.
3. I will be a poor example of health for my children.
4. I won't be able to fit behind in a booth at a restaurant, a ride at an amusement park, or a seat at a baseball game.
5. I will continue to be ashamed of how I look.
6. I won't be successful in other aspects of my life...success begets success.  So does failure.
7. I won't be an inspiration to anyone, least of all myself.
8. I will continue to feel tired and lethargic, and won't have the energy to do all the cool things that I want to accomplish.
9. I will never be able to buy "regular" sized clothes from any old clothing store instead of the fat girl stores I currently have to shop at.
10. I will always wonder why I just didn't up and do it, once and for all.


Second:  THE WHAT, WHEN & HOW of my Goals


Weekly Goal
WHAT:  I will lose between .5 - 2 lbs per week (on average)
WHEN & HOW:  by tracking my Weight Watchers points daily online, being honest about every BLT, staying within my PointsPlus daily limit, and exercising 3-5 days per week to earn at least 14 Activity Points by the end of the week.

Short Term Goal
WHAT: I will lose 5 pounds
WHEN: within 30 days
HOW: See above.


Mid-Term Goals
WHAT: I will lose 5% of my body weight
WHEN: within 30-90 days
HOW: See above.  Duh.

WHAT:  I will drop 2 dress sizes
WHEN: within 60 - 120 days
HOW:  Ummm....yeah, look up.

Long-Term Goal
WHAT: I will weigh approx. 165lbs (or whatever a Dr. approves of as a healthy weight for me) and have a body fat ratio of less than 25%
WHEN:  within the next 2 years
HOW:  (eye roll)


Third:  THE WHY, CONTINUED


Because I will follow my weight loss and fitness plan, I will...
1.  Be proud of reaching my potential.
2.  Live my life to fullest that I physically can achieve.
3. Become a great role model for my children of how to be active and healthy.
4. Be able to go anywhere and do anything that I want, whether it's riding on a roller coaster, hang gliding, dancing, or just fitting behind a booth at a restaurant.
5.  Be proud of the way I look.
6.  Be successful in other areas of my life...success begets success.
7.  Be an inspiration to others.  But especially to myself.
8.  Have all the energy I need to do all the things I want o accomplish.
9.  Be able to wear the cute clothes I see in regular clothing stores, and look good in them.
10. Be so glad that I just finally up and did it, once and for all.


Fourth:  THE REALITY
I am not perfect.  I do not require perfection from others, so I do not require it from myself.  However, I do require discipline and consistency.  If I can follow my plan and work on my goals wholeheartedly 90% of the time, then I will be successful.




"It's never too late to become what you might have been."  - George Elliot