I want to lose weight, but my appetite is out of control, and I have no motivation to exercise. How do I start?
First, don't think too big. In fact, the smaller and more specific your goals are, the better your chances are of reaching them. We promise. It's like a to-do list: If you have 20 things on it, three get done. But if you have only five to start, all of them get done. This is the same thing.
And instead of saying, "I want to get skinny this year!" or "I want to weigh what I did in college!", replace those broad, general ideas with a narrowed-down goal.
We call them SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and on a timetable) goals, and they sound like this: "I will lose five pounds within three months by replacing my afternoon latte and muffin with a coffee with skim milk and a banana, and by doing physical activity at least two days a week for at least 30 minutes."
Why does it work? It's specific and measurable (losing five pounds), realistic and attainable (healthy snacking and moderate exercise), and on a timetable (in three months). By tweaking your mindset and making these small adjustments (tackling two things: one food switch and a little more exercise), you can kick butt on the larger goal, and you don't have to starve yourself or go on an insane workout schedule to do it. Enlist your spouse to be your fitness buddy or at least to offer support and hugs (vacation ideas work well as motivators too) while you're doing your best to feel your best.
[Nestpert] Jessica Smith, a personal trainer and creator of the exercise DVD Women’s Health: Train Your Body Type
by Grace Jidoun
6/24/08
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