Setting SMART Goals For The New Year

It’s the New Year! This means there are new goals being set. This is great and such a powerful thing to do as a bariatric patient, but you must make sure you are setting SMART goals. SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound. Setting SMART goals gives you a greater chance that you will achieve them. This is a perfect time to reset and establish SMART goals for the year. So, let’s walk through how to make sure your goals are SMART.

1. Specific. When setting a goal, you need to make sure you are specific. Don’t just say you want to lose weight. Be specific about it. How much weight do you want to lose? Or, perhaps your goal is that you want to fit into a new dress. 
2. Measurable. You must be able to measure your goal or you will not know if you have been successful. How will you measure it? If your goal is to lose 10 pounds, it is obvious the scale will be your measurement. However, if you are wanting to drop dress sizes, you will be watching your measurements. 
3. Achievable. This one is hard sometimes because we all want to be optimistic, but at the same time we must be realistic. By making sure your goals are achievable, you have a greater chance of being successful. 
4. Relevant. This is important. If you are trying to lose weight or drop dress sizes, you must keep all irrelevant things out of the picture. So, eating fast food should be no where near your goal. Instead, going to the gym or eating 3 small meals a day should be part of your goal.
5. Time bound. What is a goal if you do not have a deadline? Giving yourself a timeframe will help make sure you stay on track. 

It’s time to put it all together! Here is an example of a goal using the SMART method. 

I want to lose weight and get healthy, so I no longer have high cholesterol. I will do this by working out 3 days a week and by eating 3 small meals a day. I will watch my weight on the scale to ensure I am not gaining weight during this time. My goal is to lose 10 pounds in 30 days. 

As you can see, this goal is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound. By utilizing all of these components, you have a stronger goal and therefore will be more likely to achieve it. So, as you are thinking about the goals you have this year, make sure you are being SMART. Happy New Year!