Realistic Weight Loss Goals

Realistic Weight Loss Goals

weight-loss-goals

Realistic Weight Loss Goals: Setting them, Meeting them and Moving forward…..

Former Ohio politician and motivational speaker Les Brown once said “Your goals are the road maps that guide you and show you what is possible for your life.” Eight months ago I read those words just before I wrote my first article about my journey to become healthier. I had to set a weight loss goal. What would it be? Just how much did I believe I could lose? Knowing that I had tried and failed over and over again throughout the past twenty plus years I wasn’t sure I would be able to stick to it. After all what success did I have to show for the numerous attempts at weight loss before? If my past was any indication to what my future would hold it was obvious I was going to fail. I was at an all-time low. At 285 pounds I was ashamed, scared and out of control. A hostage in my own body being controlled by my food addiction I knew that if I didn’t make a change I would probably not live a long life. And so, on November 11, 2013 I took the first step to change my life and get healthy. I took the Advocare 24 day challenge. It wasn’t going to be an easy task but I knew I had to do it. And the goal I set scared me to death; 80 pounds. It should have been higher but anything higher seemed impossible; more impossible than the 80 I wasn’t sure I could reach.

The journey began. Enduring the cravings, constant thoughts of food and the desire to just give up and bury myself knee deep in the pantry among the chips, dips and donuts I began to focus on my inner self. A friend encouraged me to begin each day with scripture and meditation, something I had never really done before. He suggested that if I focused on my spirit, the weight would begin to fall off. Letting go of the anxiety and worry allowing my inner self to flourish would make the weight a bi-product of what was really needed in my life; inner peace. I had also started working out at the gym every day; my physical self was getting stronger as well. Before I knew it the first 24 days had passed and I had lost 15 pounds. As time passed I shared my journey with my readers and continued to cling to my support system of family and friends and my faith. It was during this time that that same friend noticed a change not just in my physical appearance but in my spirit and shared with me that I was becoming a new version of myself; Karla 2.0 was becoming a reality.

It’s been eight months since the journey began. Eight months of discipline. Eight months without sugar, soda or snacks. Eight months of making healthy food choices and working out every single day. Eight months of fighting the addiction and eight months of winning that fight. On July 11, exactly eight months into the journey I stepped on the scales to discover that I had reached my initial goal of 80 pounds. With tears running down my cheeks and for the first time in my life, I had reached a weight loss goal. Standing on the scales, staring at a number I had not seen in many years I realized that I am not finished. There is more work to be done. Elated with my success so far, I know that in order to become the best me I can be I must continue on the journey. As I consider what new goal will be I am reminded by the image in the mirror that whatever I choose I will be choosing for myself a pathway to health, fitness and wellbeing.

Goals are necessary in life. No matter what journey you are on, it’s important to set goals. Having something to work toward instead of aimlessly muddling through life I believe is essential in living a healthy, well-balanced, successful life. Whether your goals are for your personal life or your work life, it is important to have them. Goals help keep us accountable for what we are doing; they allow us to reach for the stars; work toward something specific and purposeful.
As I celebrate my victory, I encourage you to set goals for your own life. By doing so you will see that you are creating your own pathway toward achieving your goals.

Peace,
K2

Also check out Karla’s 24 Day Advocare Challenge updates and Wellness Wednesday posts for more weight loss food plan tips.

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