1. Your brain sees written goals as more
real.
From a psychological perspective, seeing your goals in writing
makes them more real and forces you to form an emotional attachment
to them. They become a concrete thing instead of this vague hope
tucked away in the back of your mind.
Look Hot in Your Swimsuit by Summer with Glamour’s FREE Shape-Up Plan!
2. Written "instructions" give you
direction.
From a practical standpoint, many people get caught up in activity
traps--things that simply waste their time and energy--thereby
making them unproductive and increasingly discouraged. Think about
how many times you've meant to get to the gym but your to-do
list at home or at work just overrode it. Writing down your
goals--like, "To work out three times this week"--will
help bring a direction and focus to our day so you don't waste
your energy and spin your wheels. The trick is not to prioritize
your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.
3. Writing things down provides concrete
motivation.
Long-term goals like eating more fruits and vegetables, losing 25
pounds or making exercise a regular part of your life, can be
overwhelming and many people struggle with seeing the forest
through the trees. They become intimidated by the seemingly huge
task at hand and really almost give up before they even begin. But
you won't. And if you're using the
Body by Glamour shape-up plan, you can use the
food
and fitness
journals to log every bit of progress you make toward
these goals.
Are you convinced that you need to write your weight-loss goals down? Good! Now here's how to do it: Begin with the end in mind. Your ultimate body goal should be specific, measurable and achievable, such as "To get my body mass index to a healthy level in six months," or "To lose 15 pounds in 12 weeks," "To fit back into last year's slightly snug bikini in four weeks," or "To get a healthy waist measurement (under 35 inches for women) this year."
Reviewing your goals daily is a crucial part of your success. Keep copies of your written goals with you at all times-yes, all times! Post them in your office, on the fridge, on the bathroom mirror. Look at your goals throughout the day to bring focus and make sure that each day contributes in a meaningful way to your overall vision (and you can use the notes feature in your Body by Glamour food and fitness logs to make comments about how you're doing). Believe me, take this advice and you will succeed and get a healthier, better body than you ever dreamed--no matter what plan you use!
--Jillian Michaels is the author of the new book Master Your Metabolism and the motivation coach for the FREE Body by Glamour shape-up program. She's helped dozens of people get slim and healthy as a trainer on The Biggest Loser--and has helped thousands of others through her DVDs and books! Look for her unique brand of motivation advice every Thursday right here.
by Jillian MichaelsMORE FROM GLAMOUR:
