We all know that being overeight puts you at risk for many different health problems, so you may need to set some weight loss goals to avoid both long and short term health problems.



But what should you do to set your long-term goal? And what are the short-term goals that ensure you will get there? You have a much better chance of attaining your weight loss goals if you make sure that the diet plan that you pick is sensible and reasonable right from the start.

Here are expert given guidelines for choosing a diet plan that works.

1. You Must Be realistic. Most people's long-term weight loss plans are more ambitious than they have to be. Let's say you weigh 180 pounds and your long-term plan is to weigh 120, even if you have not weighed 120 since you were 18 and now you are 45, that is just not a realistic weight loss goal.

2. Your body mass index (BMI) is an indicator. The ideal BMI range, according to the national Institutes of Health, is between 19 and 24.9. A BMI of between 25 and 29.9 means you are considered overweight. Any BMI above 30 and you are considered obese. Use your BMI to select a sensible weight loss plan that will correspond to the required BMI. And remember, BMI is also a function of your height.

3. You objectives must be appropriate. Psychologically a diet plan designed for better health will be more effective than one just done for vanity's sake. You have made the right step forward if you have decided to start a diet plan that includes exercise and eating right so that you will feel better and have more energy to do something positive in your life.

4. Focus on doing, not losing. Rather than saying that you are going to lose 10 pounds this week, plan the correct meals and how much you are going to exercise. This would definitely make up of a sensible weight loss plan. Keep in mind that your weight within a span of a week is not completely in your control, but your behavior is.

5. Build bit by bit. Short-term weight loss plans should not be "pie-in-the-sky." This means you should build healthy eating habits and an exercise program in a step-by-step, methodical way. You can't plan your calorie intake and outgoing based on expending 2000 clories on exercise if you have never exercised before.

6. Keep up the self-motivation. An attitude of all-or-nothing will set you up for failure. Evaluation of your efforts, fairly and objectively, must be done. If you fail some goals, look ahead to next one and make sure you succeed. You do not need to have a completly perfect record but you do need to stay focused on your goals. Each day tell yourself that you will achieve some small goal, the go and achieve it and you will stay motivated.

7. Measurable Success. Just saying that you are going to be more positive this week is not a goal that you can measure and should not be a part of your weight loss plan. Make the bathroom scales, as painful as this may be at the start, part of your weekly plan. Additionaly, make sure you time how long you exercise - you should be increasing your levels on a weekly basis.

The bottom line is that you need to have a strong diet plan and achievable exercise plan that easily fits into your lifestyle. Slow and sure progress is the best recipe for long term success and will keep you motivated.