SMART health goals are necessary for optimum health. If you read the blog yesterday you learned that the smart way to set goals is to make them specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. Does that pertain to all health related goals? It can.

M is for measurable. If your health concern is for pain, then a measurable goal for your health is to experience less pain. If you health goal is to lose weight, then a measurable goal for weight loss is getting on the scale once a week to see the actual weight you have lost. You get the idea. The goal has to have some way to measure your success.

Notice that I say success. Health is so important and I believe success is the only end product. Even in terminal conditions, success is to be pain free, restore relationships, find closure etc.  So you see, health goals are important no matter what state of health you are currently in.

Health goals must be attainable. If you already weigh less than 100 pounds, an attainable goal would not be to lose 2 pounds of weight a week for 4 weeks. Rather your goal might be to gain 2 pounds a week for 4 weeks or to maintain your weight for 4 weeks. Making a health goal specific and measurable must also include making the goal attainable, something that is within the possibilities for your life.

How specific, measurable, and attainable are your health goals? Tomorrow we will take a look at making them realistic and timely.