Benchmarks help goals seem more attainable Weighing In

Lindsay Eichelman
Project & Promotions Manager

I’ve been informed I cannot continue to call my blog “Weighing In” if I don’t officially report my weigh-in results each week. Though our new media manager would really like me to post my actual weight on my blog, I made a bargain to start including my weight loss totals. Sorry, John, but asking a woman to reveal her weight in such a public forum is well — what would be the appropriate comparison — it’s just BAD.

So drum roll please…

Lindsay’s 2009 weight loss to date is…

19 pounds!

This simple admission brings me to my topic of the week: benchmarks. When I started my rededication to healthy living in 2009, my ultimate goal was to lose 50 pounds. But, man, does 50 pounds sound scary?! I was overwhelmed when I thought of the work I needed to do to get there! Not only did 50 pounds seem unattainable, it seemed so far away on the timeline I couldn’t even wrap my head around making it there.

To make my journey a little more manageable I decided to break down my overall goals into smaller benchmarks for both weight loss and fitness. For instance, for weight loss, instead of the 50 pound dark cloud I had hanging over my head now, I have two smaller more manageable rays of sunshine at 25 pounds a piece.

I’m a very goal-oriented person and firm believer that setting goals is the pathway to success in any area of your life. However, if your goals cause you more pain than gain, attempt to break them down into smaller benchmarks to get where you need to go. Benchmarks can be smaller doses of the larger goal, or they can be small things you want to accomplish each week. By building in success rest stops on your journey, you will ensure you make it to your ultimate goals and give you some positive encouragement and reasons to celebrate along the way.

What benchmarks will you set this week?