5 Tips to Reach Your Goal Weight

For many, the turn of the new year is the ideal time to work on their physical fitness as a New Year’s resolution. It’s a time of rebirth and restarting, and many set goals and milestones to achieve, such as weight loss, as they maneuver throughout the year. While many of these goals fall by the wayside as the holidays fade in the rearview mirror, there are many ways to make sure you stick to your new routine and reach your goals. 

A goal weight calculator is a great tool for holding yourself accountable and setting a tangible goal to work towards. Every year there are many apps and online programs that can help you achieve your milestones. But it’s not the only way to reach your goal weight. 

In this article, we’re going to detail five key tips for reaching your goal weight and improving your overall fitness levels. Some ways use innovative tools like the one we listed above, while others rely on age-old methods of fitness that have worked for decades. 

In the end, you’ll have to depend on methods that work for you. But sometimes, thinking outside the box about your fitness goals is the best way to change your perspective and improve your performance. According to Forbes, 55 percent of surveyed people said they kept their New Year’s resolutions for less than a year. In fact: 

• 11 percent lasted at least six months, 
• 14 percent lasted at least three months
• 19 percent lasted at least one month 
• 11 percent lasted less than a month

If you can reach your goal weight in that period of time, more power to you. But for the rest of us, it’s a tall task to achieve quickly and takes time and effort to get it done. Here are five tips to help you reach your goal weight. 

1. Take it one step at a time

It can be overwhelming to think of all the steps and time it will take you to reach your goal weight. But it’s important to control what you can control and take it one step at a time, especially if your goal weight is drastically different from where you’re at now. 

It’s difficult to remember this sometimes, but it’s about the journey, not the end goal. In a goal such as this, making progress is just as important as achieving your eventual goal. New Year’s Resolutions are about changing your mindset and routine. If you develop a new routine and stick to it, you’re well on your way to reaching your goals, even if it doesn’t feel like it. Don’t let the daunting number on the scale dissuade you from pushing forward.

2. Improve your at-home workout situation 

It can be easy to slack or not hold yourself accountable when you have to drive across town to get to the gym or leave your home to achieve your goals. Improving your workout situation at home will keep you motivated and keep your goals present in your mind. Even if this just means buying a simple yoga mat, you can follow videos online and get more done in the comfort of your own home. 

You don’t have to buy an elliptical or treadmill desk to improve your at-home fitness routine, but if you do you’ll surely see more benefits than not having this equipment. 

3. Make your workouts more fun 

Just because it’s fun doesn’t mean it’s not effective. Playing basketball, skateboarding, doing yoga classes, or running with friends is a great motivator and catalyst for working out. It’s also fun and communal to work out in a like-minded group setting, and you can hold each other accountable which brings stronger results. 

If you live in Colorado, for example, consider taking to the trails more often for a challenging but serene hike. If you live near the beach, take an extended walk on the boardwalk or along the water. If you can enjoy your workouts, you’ll experience faster and stronger results. You’ll also be more likely to workout again tomorrow. 

4. Keep a food journal 

You’ve likely heard this before, and it may seem cliche, but it’s true: what you put into your diet has a stronger impact on your fitness and weight loss goals than your level of physical activity. There are many ways to still enjoy the food you’ve been eating, but do so in a way that’s healthier for your body. Small tweaks in recipes can have big impacts. 

To keep up with what to eat, and what not to eat, rationing your meals or meal prepping, or even sharing recipes with others, consider a traditional or digital food journal. This could look like a recipe-sharing app, another organization app, or a classic pen and pencil. Whatever works for you to stay on top of it, go for it.  

5. Keep your goals healthy 

It’s important to make sure you’re attacking your goals in the right way. Don’t skip meals, overdo your workouts, or not get proper rest while you’re on your grind. Make you drink lots of water to keep yourself hydrated and keep your muscles and other parts of your body healthy and performing at their best. 

If you don’t take care of your body along your weight loss journey, you could injure yourself or suffer negative health effects that could sideline you from working out at all. This would certainly set you back and potentially lead you to give up on your goals altogether. Do something that works for you, but make sure you’re approaching it the correct way and maintaining positive habits throughout your weight loss journey. 

Conclusion

Losing weight is hard. Keeping it off is even harder. But changing your mentality is harder still. When you set out on a weight loss journey, either for a New Year’s resolution or in general, it can be difficult to stick to your new routine for an extended period of time. 

Make sure you set realistic goals, settle into a healthy routine, and don’t forget to reward yourself. Don’t rush your goals, or get dissuaded if they’re taking longer than you expected. Remember that the journey is just as important as the destination, and if you don’t meet your goals in time, give yourself a break and reset. 

A goal weight calculator, a food journal, or an organization app is a great way to get started, but find something that works for you and stick to it. You’ll be proud of yourself when you can say “I met my goals and did it my way.”