Reading Hope Clark’s article about setting goals  made me realize that I need to write about my weight loss goal to “make it real”.  I’m also hoping that writing about it will make me feel more accountability than I might feel if I try to do it on my own.  So, here it is…

My 25th HS Reunion is next summer (2010).  Before then, I need and want to lose at least 25 pounds.  As of May 1, 2009, I am starting  my 25 BY 25 campaign.  NOT because I need to make a good impression on people from HS but because I weigh too much; I’m not as healthy as I should be; and my clothes don’t fit!

I promise this blog won’t become a daily whine session accounting of every bite that goes in my mouth and how guilty I feel when I eat too much and exercise too little.  What it will be is a place to share my experiences and thoughts about this time in my life. 

Using Clark’s 7 Steps, here is what my “plan” looks like…

1.  Where do I want to be in 5 years?  I’d like to be within the healthy weight range for someone of my age (40 something) and height (5′2″).  If I remember correctly, that will be something between 112 – 130 pounds.

2.  Break it down into a yearly plan…Since my reunion is next summer (2010), I am arbitrarily choosing May 1, 2010 as a target for losing at least 25 pounds.  If I lose more than that, it will be great. 

3.  Set up quarterly goals…lose 6.5 pounds each quarter (May-July, 2009 — August-October, 2009 — November, 2009 – January, 2010 — February-April, 2010).

4.  Divide quarterly goals into 4 monthly sets of goals…Math is not my best subject but 25 divided by 12 is 2.1.  That means I need to lose at least 2.1 pounds every month (approximately .5 pound each week).

Stay tuned for the specifics of these last 3 steps.  They are the pieces of this puzzle that will be put together as I go along.

5.  Set weekly goals…

6.  Create a daily action plan…

7.  Take action…

If you have weight loss tales to tell, please share them with me.  I’d love to hear from other people that have already traveled this same road.