Plan Properly, Lose Weight by Healthy by DesignSýnishorn

Setting Specific Goals

You may be familiar with the 5 Principles of Goal-Setting: SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE, ATTAINABLE, REALISTIC AND RELEVANT, AND TIME SENSITIVE (aka The S.M.A.R.T. Principle).

To begin, let’s examine the first principle in planning your weight loss goal—to make your goal SPECIFIC.

There is much confusion about whether God wants us to set specific goals or not. Some of us believe that ‘if it’s God’s will,’ then we will do this or that, which can prevent us from taking personal responsibility for our actions by leaving it all up to God. On the other hand, some of us do the opposite and leave God out of our planning because we never thought about it or because we don’t think that He really cares about this part of our lives.

Neither of these approaches is correct. The Bible offers a very balanced approach to goal-setting. Luke 14:28 teaches us that we need to be specific about our plans and intentions but making sure that they are built on a solid foundation, which is in Christ.

When setting your goal, it’s not enough to say, ‘I just want to be healthy’ or ‘I just want to be able to touch my toes’ and expect to lose 20, 50, or 100 pounds. You’ve got to get specific.

Here are some examples of incorrect (non-specific) goals and correct (specific goals):

Not specific: I want to lose some weight.

Specific: I will release 50 pounds by December 31st by starting an exercise program, developing a healthy eating plan, and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide my food choices.

Not specific: I want to feel better.

Specific: I will participate in the Rock’ n Roll 5K Race on May 10, 2021. 

Not specific: I want to have more energy.

Specific: By December 1st, I will have enough energy to climb 20 flights of stairs. I will start with one flight and increase by one flight every week for the next 20 weeks. 

Action Steps

Write out how much you will weigh by December 31st. If you anticipate achieving your goal before the end of the year, share what month you will achieve your goal.

The simplest way to calculate your goal is to assume 1-2 pounds per week unless you plan to approach it more aggressively. 

Reflect

1. What is your specific goal for this year?

2. Imagine your life on December 31st; what will be different? Share in as much detail as you can what will be different (spiritually, mentally, and physically).

Prayer

“Lord, I thank you for giving me a vision. I’m so grateful that you are finally part of this process, and I’m no longer going to try to figure it out on my own. A year seems so far away, but when I think of all of the years that I’ve tried to lose weight on my own, a year is not a long time. I look forward to walking with you all year long. I look forward to everything that you’re going to teach me. I’m so glad that I will no longer be repeating cycles from the past. Today is a new day, and I’m walking in freedom with you as my strength. In your name, I pray. Amen!”