Weight loss goals need to include a few important qualities in order for them to be successful. It would be great to set a goal to “lose 20 pounds,” but that is often not enough to motivate some of us. Instead, follow the three tips below for setting successful weight loss goals for yourself:

- Specific

“Losing 20 pounds” may be your ultimate goal, but obviously you aren’t going to lose it all at once. It may be easier for you to set smaller goals that will be attained before that big goal. For example, you could set a goal to lose one pound per week, or two pounds per week, depending on how much you need to lose overall. (If you have a lot of weight to lose, it will be easier to lose more weight per week than someone who only has 10 or 20 pounds to lose before reaching their goal weight.)

Once you have decided on your specific weight loss goals, then be sure to write them down and keep them in a prominent location where you will see them several times a day. If you don’t want to leave them out where others can see them, write them in a small notebook and re-read them several times a day.

- Realistic

It’s best to be realistic with your goals and lean more toward modest goals than those that are extremely difficult, simply because you’ll be much more likely to give up if you start to feel overwhelmed or discouraged. If you doubt your ability to lose one pound per week, aim a little lower, like one pound every other week (or just half a pound per week, or 2 pounds per month, etc.). Remember that you can always do more than your goal specifies, and you’ll feel really good about exceeding that.

- Commitment

Each and every day, re-state your unwavering commitment to your weight loss goals. This is vital because it’s very easy to SET a goal; but not so easy to keep moving toward it day after day. This is especially true with weight loss goals, where you can easily have a week or two with no progress at all. No progress or slow progress is a big temptation to give up, and you will be less likely to give up if you keep affirming that you are committed to seeing it through no matter what.

Also remember that your goals may change as time goes on, so allow a little room for flexibility. Three weeks into your current goals, if you decide you’d rather aim for something else or change up your daily routine, that’s okay – just be clear about what you really want and why you want it, then choose the best approach for success.