Practical Goals for Your Weight Loss Workouts

Posted: Jun 26 in Weight Loss Blog by Staff

Your exercise routine is a bit like climbing a mountain. Right after weight loss surgery, you’re at the bottom, wondering how to get to the peak above. Without a plan and a few good landmarks, you’re going to have a hard time getting past the foothills, let alone making it to the snowy summit.

Just as every climber should know the best path before heading up a mountain, you should start defining the path that will lead you to a healthier body. Exercise goals can serve as milestones of your progress. Instead of pushing blindly through your workouts, you should know what every step is leading towards—this will keep you motivated, build your confidence and set you up for long-term success.

Your best bet is to create progressive, realistic goals that build on each other, gradually bringing you closer to peak physical fitness. This means starting small. Though you may hope to one day run a marathon, setting short-term goals will help you stay motivated as you work to reach this more difficult one.

Consider what you want to accomplish in your exercise routine and give your goals a reality check by asking yourself these questions:

• How long will I need? Ideally, we will have both long- and short-term goals, but you need to go one step at a time. Though it’s fine to have a point you hope to reach by three months from now, figure out the smaller goals that will help you get to that bigger accomplishment. Stay most focused on what you can achieve this week and next week.
• What will it take to get there? If your goal will require you to exercise for four hours this week, but you only have time for three hours, it’s too ambitious. Take a hard look at your schedule and think about how much work you will realistically be able to put in towards your goal. Remember that slow progress is the name of the game—fitness is something we all have to build gradually, so be patient with yourself.

Where do you want to be by the end of this week? Do you want to walk a mile in 30 minutes? Do you want to be able to do two more reps with your 10-pound barbell? Being practical and cautious about these first steps will keep you prepared for the harder challenges to come.