Description
a- Review your dietary intake (i.e., the foods and beverages in your Spreadsheet Report). What were two leading sources of saturated fat in your dietary pattern?
b- When you are ready to make a behavior change, set a goal to improve your likelihood of success! SMART goals include five important characteristics:
- Specific: Rather than trying to completely overhaul your lifestyle, focus on just one behavior at a time.
- Measurable: Include a definite way to track your progress.
- Achievable: To avoid discouragement, make sure the goal is realistic for you.
- Relevant: Choose a goal that is worthwhile and in alignment with what is going on in your life right now.
- Timed: Set a due date.
As a guide for format, here is a SMART goal related to saturated fat intake:
By November 15th, I will decrease my usual saturated fat intake to less than 10% of my total calories. I will do this by using oil and vinegar to top my salads instead of bleu cheese salad dressing and by limiting myself to 1 ounce of cheese per day. I will track my progress using NutritionCalc Plus.
You can see that this goal is specific (focuses on one behavior change), measurable (percent of calories from saturated fat), achievable (it would be simple to switch salad dressings and reduce portions of cheese), relevant (it would improve my blood lipid levels), and is timed (due date is November 15th).
After you have analyzed your dietary data, identify an area related to lipids that could use some improvement. For example, many college students discover that their intake of saturated fat is higher than recommended. Think of a SMART goal for yourself that would improve your intake of lipids. Make it relevant for you.
1. SPECIFIC: What is one specific behavior that you could change to improve your intake of lipids?
2. MEASURABLE: How could you measure this behavior
3. ACHIEVABLE: What practical strategies will you use to achieve this goal?
4. RELEVANT: Describe how this behavior change goal is worthwhile and in alignment with what is going on in your life right now.
5. TIMED: By what date would you like to achieve your behavior change?