Any successful venture requires a plan that describes its mission and specifics on how to achieve it--without one, you have no idea where you're starting, where you're going, or how you'll get there, says Jenn Walters, a certified personal trainer and co-founder of Fit Bottomed Girls. Treat your goal as a business objective; If you were trying to accomplish something for a client, you probably wouldn't start out without a strategy. Once you've determined exactly what you want to achieve and your deadline, work backwards to create a monthly plan of action with realistic and specific goals (such as nixing that bedtime snack) and free of ineffective strategies like extreme cleanses or fasting.
