First, Last, or Only: You Can Lose 5 Pounds in 30 Days

Do you have five pounds you’d like to lose? Whether it is your first five, last five, or only five, there is a way to lose five pounds in 30 days without turning your life upside down.

The Five in 30 sensible weight loss program has four basic components. These components are based on research that has proven that there are specific actions that, once put in place, lead to successful weight loss. They are:

Journaling – The first step is to purchase an inexpensive journal that you will use to record your weigh-ins and your track your goals. The Dollar Store has a variety of small journals for only $3.

Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals – Each week you will need to set at least one goal. That goal needs to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timely. For each goal that you set, use your journal to answer the following questions:

• What specifically will I achieve with this goal?
• How will I measure it?
• Is it achievable to me right now?
• Is it relevant to my larger goal?
• By what date will I achieve it?

For example, If you are a non-exerciser, setting a goal to get up at 5 a.m. every day to go to the gym for an hour to work out isn’t S.M.A.R.T.   A S.M.A.R.T. goal would look something like this:

This week I will go to the gym on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7 a.m. and will spend a half hour on the treadmill.

At the end of the week you will be able to measure how well you did with this goal. Did you complete the goal 100%? If so, what motivated you to get up go to the gym to get on the treadmill?  If not, what barriers kept you from getting there?  If you went four days instead of three, what inspiration or motivation did you draw from that helped you over-achieve on this goal?

Download a printable goal tracker here.

Weekly Weigh-Ins – Each week on the same day, at the same time, on the same scale you will weigh in and write your weight in your journal.  Weighing in and writing the weight down will help keep you accountable.

Follow PTCDN for Weekly Tips and Motivation – Each week I’ll provide a quick tip to help you stay on track with your goal to lose five pounds in 30 days.  Please feel free to request additional information in the comment box. You can subscribe to the web site by putting your e-mail in the subscribe box in the upper right hand corner of this page.