Plan Properly, Lose Weight by Healthy by DesignSample

Next in S.M.A.R.T. goal-setting is A for Attainable.

When setting your goal, it’s important that you get real about what is and is not possible. Despite knowing that we will never achieve this goal, part of us wants to aspire to have our high school body. Or worse yet, if we never had a body that we liked in high school, we set out to achieve it, knowing that it is not attainable.

The truth is, there are certain things about yourself that you may not ever be able to change no matter how hard you try. If your mother, aunts, grandmother, great-grandmother all had wide hips, chances are you will never look like a tall, slender model no matter how hard you try. Here is where aligning your goals with the Word of God will really come into play. 

God will show you what is possible for you. Have you ever thought about asking Him to show you how much you should weigh? Go ahead, ask Him by writing this question in a journal, and then listen for an answer during your quiet time with Him. He may or may not tell you a specific number, but He will lead you to a better understanding of what an attainable goal should be for you. 

Some women have told me that He has given them an exact number and some women just remember a time when they felt healthiest and happiest and go with that number. 

When thinking about what is attainable for you, consider the following: 

Your body type

Certain body types are predisposed to: (1) carry more weight; (2) carry weight in certain parts of their body. It’s important to understand your body type when deciding a goal weight. 

Your commitment level

Let’s face it. There are no short-cuts or quick fixes to achieving your healthy weight. You’ve got to commit for the long haul. It might take you six months, but for most women, it’s taken 1-3 years to achieve their goal. Are you willing to commit for that period of time? Before you get frustrated, ask yourself how long it took you to put on the weight. Your success will be directly correlated to your level of commitment. 

Your past history with weight loss

If you have a history of gaining and losing weight, then there’s something significant that you don’t know. It will take a lot of unlearning and relearning, which takes time. Habits are easy to change, it’s the mind that needs convincing.

Next, if you’ve been dieting on and off for most of your life, then your metabolism might be shot—meaning it’s not functioning optimally, so your goal may not be attainable until you get your metabolism functioning optimally. 

Your trust in God

At the end of the day, your obedience, which is determined by your level of trust, will be a big determining factor in whether you achieve your goal or not. Despite knowing God is real, and His promises are ‘yes’ and ‘amen’ (2 Cor. 1:20), we still struggle with believing Him at his word. 

Action Steps

Review your goal(s) and make sure that it is attainable.

Reflect

1. Think about your weight releasing goal for this year. Is it the same goal that you’ve set year after year yet never achieved? If so, what will be different this time?

2. What changes do you need to make for your goal(s) attainable?

Prayer

“Dear Lord, it seems crazy that I keep setting the same goals year after year even though I know deep down inside that I will probably never attain them. As I start this year, help me set goals that are in line with your best for me. Help me set goals that I can actually achieve instead of constantly setting myself up for disappointment. I declare that this cycle is broken in Jesus’ name. I will achieve a healthy weight this year, and I will achieve all you’ve called me to achieve. In your name, I pray. Amen!”