Is September really the new January? It seems easier somehow to take stock, clean house, and set new goals amid the crisp, clear air of this month. And the timing is perfect: We’re a bit more likely to loosen the reins over the summer, so now is the ideal moment to assess yourself and how you’re doing with your plan. If you want to become your own WW “Success Story,” looking back over the way you’ve come can help you clear the way to triumph ahead. Some questions to ask yourself: How did I do on my goal? Any non-scale victories to celebrate? What did I discover about myself? Were there moments I’ll learn from? Your Weekly walks you through that look-back, look-forward process so you can set those S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time-bound) goals for the new season. Once you're underway, the Weight Watchers mobile app is a great tool for tracking, checking your progress, and staying motivated—all of which can help you get to that goal!
Here's a deeper dive into goal-setting, to help you find your own magic combination of mindset, motivation, and method:
Set meaningful, realistic goals
A goal that you can break down into smaller steps can be easier to achieve. Remember that slow and steady wins the race—up to two pounds a week is a safe rate of weight loss (you might lose more in your first few weeks). It might not sound like much, but those pounds add up: One pound per week equals 52 pounds in a year.
And consider goals that go beyond the scale—maybe you want to drop a clothing size, or be able to climb two flights of stairs without getting winded, or even lower your cholesterol or blood pressure.
Adopt a mantra
“I’ve come too far to take orders from a cookie.”
“Don’t give up what you want the most for what you want right now.”
“I can’t change yesterday, but I can change today.”
Jot it down and tuck it in your wallet or make it your cellphone home screen so it’s always close at hand to work its magic.
Harness the power of positive thinking
We all know that mindfulness and a hopeful attitude can help you reach your goals. In fact, people who tried optimism exercises reported feeling more engaged in life and less prone to unhelpful or distorted thinking—even people who started out in a pessimistic frame of mind*. Looking at the good in situations, even when you’ve had a bad day, is the essence of optimism. Pair it with a realistic frame of mind, and you're at the sweet spot of success.
Celebrate you!
You’ll miss plenty of triumphs if you’re looking only at the numbers. Whether the victory is on or off the scale, patting yourself on the back along the way will help fuel your confidence and spur you on to even more success.
And remember, anywhere you are on your weight-loss journey, whether you’re a newbie or have been a Lifetime member for years, your fellow members can be a great source of support, words of wisdom, and even a kick in the pants when you need it.
*www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24417602