I think that either type of goal can be effective; what matters is that you acknowledge to yourself how you want your life to change and you choose the authentic goal that moves you in that direction.
For example, if what you really want (your authentic goal) is to lose weight, then the "results" goal of losing x pounds is the way to go. You could set a proxy "action" goal (say, exercising 20 times per month, for example), and achieve that goal without achieving your authentic goal (losing x pounds). I've proved that to myself over and over again.
While you will have achieved a goal you set, your pride and satisfaction in the accomplishment are likely to be diminished because you didn't achieve your (unstated) authentic goal. So, it's possible that the failure to set an authentic goal up front will doom a later accomplishment fall a little flat.
If, by contrast, what you really want is to become a regular exerciser, then the "action" goal of exercising 20 times per month is the authentic goal. When you achieve the goal in this instance (whether or not you have lost x pounds), your pride and satisfaction should be full, because you have achieved what you actually set out to.
Good luck!