How to Simplify Your Weight Loss Progress

Are you using this strategy?

One of the simplest ways to calculate whether you're making progress towards your goal is by taking note of your actions throughout the day.

Basically, there are only 3 outcomes of any action.

You can make it far more complicated than this, but I find simple is always best...

Also, this strategy doesn't just work with trying to transform your body or improve your health, but can be applied to any business or life goal.

So here are the 3 outcomes that are involved in each choice you make:

1. Forward Progress

When you make a choice that brings you closer to your goal this would simply be considered forward progress.

It means that whatever choice you made is a positive one that has you moving in the right direction towards your desired outcome.

For example, choosing the fish and vegetable dish over the pasta when you go out to eat is moving you toward your weight loss goal.

Obviously, the more of these choices you make the faster you will progress towards your goals.

2. Taking a Step Back

Unlike forward progress, when you make a choice that doesn't move you toward your goal you are choosing to take a step back.

Of course this may seem pretty obvious as well, but when you really examine the choices you make throughout the day using this strategy I think you'll begin to see why your current actions are leading to the results you've gotten thus far.

It's really all about becoming aware of and awake to the big and small choices we make everyday of our lives.

Sometimes it's not the huge glaring choices that move us further away from our goals, but the piling up of a lot of minor choices that add up to having a negative impact.

For example, eating a processed bowl of cereal every morning with a tall glass of juice seems harmless, but as you've seen in my previous article all that sugar adds up.

The same goes for using regular salad dressing instead of opting for a tablespoon of healthy oil or fresh squeezed lemon juice. It's a relatively minor choice, but compounded over time along
with other minor choices it makes a great deal of difference...

3. Neutral Choices

Remaining neutral is the 3rd and only other outcome of your actions.

It means that the choice you made neither brought you towards or away from your goal. Many people believe that this 3rd outcome doesn't even exist and that you're either moving forward or backward in life.

I have to say that I agree with that statement of there being no "neutral" choices when neutral actions become prolonged. This means that when you string together multiple neutral actions it actually takes you a step back.

An example of a neutral choice would be not working out for a day because you are tired.

This decision not to exercise won't necessarily hurt you that day, but if you continue to take days off even if you are eating well you will eventually slow your metabolism and slide backwards away from your goal.

As I said before, just becoming aware of the choices you make throughout the day will lead to much greater progress towards your goal. The reason I say this is that most people unconsciously sneak in extra calories and make other choices that prevent them from really having the body they want.

By stopping yourself for a second before you go to eat something and ask yourself, "Is this healthy for me and is it going to move me closer to my goal?" you will really begin to take personal responsibility for your actions.

(This goes for all decisions, not just eating!)

Remember, you're the only one who can get you to your goals. Myself or other coaches can help guide you, but you must make the decision to really go after it.

This is why I feel bad for people who email me saying that they can't work their legs or they can't eat chicken, or they can't...

You get the point.

If you can't work your legs, train your upper body.

If you can't eat chicken, then have some fish or a protein shake...

There's always a way and your goal should be to come up with more answers than critiques or excuses.

You know you have it in you and now that you've been armed with these simple strategies of assessing a situation into 3 possible outcomes I hope you're ready to tackle your goals - or create new ones!

Lastly, keep in mind that you're human and that not every choice you make is going to take you closer to your goal so don't be too hard on yourself. Aim for 80% or better (B average) and you'll always be progressing closer towards your goal rather than stepping back or just standing in place...