Do you set short or long-term goals?

MythicalMe84

I have set mine at a short goal. My first step is to reach 230 then I will work on 200. I think this will keep me motivated more then having to see the big number.

vazq4501

Sounds like a great plan. Also, more realistic! You can do it!!

MythicalMe84

Thank you!

court_fritch26

I do both! I have a piece of paper with post-it's on it with my little goals...so when I reach 170, 160, 150, 140, 130, and then my goal I take off the post it, and there is a little treat under it, like a new dress, mani-pedi, etc...and I have a sheet where I cross off every lb I lose, so I can visually see where I started and how far I've come...it keeps me focused

ArkMom35

I also do both. I have my long-term goal weight and then I have mini goals every 10 lbs. It helps keep me motivated and feel successful because this is going to be a long journey.

CeddysMum

I've done both, the ultimate goal in my profile/ticker and I have listed short term goals on my profile page. I think short term goals do help staying motivated and will prevent you from getting overwhelmed by the long term ultimate goal.

bulbadoof

i bought a sailor jupiter costume that doesn't zip up.

there's a short-term goal.

Btbeam

I do both. One thing I recommend is to write your goals down. A goal written is much more likely to be achieved. More important than your scale goals is to trust your program. If you are doing the right things you will feel good about your journey. the scale can be so frustrating. I have weeks where I think I have nailed but don't lose much and I have weeks where I am concerned and I lose more. I have lost 110 lbs with 140 to go so anyone can feel free to add me! Good Luck

kommodevaran

I am in maitenance now, but it was the same when I was losing weight: My short term goal is to eat well and work out today. My long term goal is to have a healthy weight one year from now.

xmarye

I do both! I have them listed on my profile. Having the end goal in mind is important so you remember where you're head and why you're working hard IMO, and setting smaller goals along the way helps to keep you motivated. I just reached my 2nd goal this morning!

Height: 5'5''
SW: 182.8lbs 11.22.14
CW: 165.2lbs 02.08.15
GW: 130lbs

My goals ♥
[x] Lost 10lbs (172.8lbs) 01.02.15
[x] Reached 165.2lbs (17.6lbs lost) 02.08.15
[] Lose 20 lbs (162.8lbs)
[] Half-way to my goal, 155lbs (26lbs lost)
[] Reach 150lbs (32.8lbs lost)
[] Reach 140lbs (42.8lbs lost)
[] Lose 52.8lbs (130lbs)

I had suggested all my MFP friends to do the same thing on their profile, so that it is easy to see where somebody is at on their journey. You should too!

cwolfman13

both

joejward95

For me personally I just have my long term goal. Helps keep pressure on me to do more. If I start setting myself short term goals I worry I might settle instead of pushing onwards. If I see I have a long way to do, it keeps me motivated to keep going.

arditarose

I think I have always done short term goals. My first goal was 150, and I honestly thought that was going to be it. Now I'm almost 135. But after the first 10 pounds or so, I only had goals of 5 lbs.

NOW I have long term goals as far as fitness goes, bulking/cutting, getting stronger, etc.

TheVirgoddess

Both. This is what's in my profile, but I have other - non-weight goals going on in my brain, too.


Goals:
Lose 25 pounds (6/16/2014)
Get under 200 (7/17/2014)
Hit 174 (11/12/2014)
Get BMI under 30 (11/13/2014) (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Hit 160
Lose 75 pounds

Goal weight: 147 (for now). That's a total loss of 85.3 pounds.

Then: WORLD DOMINATION!

TheRoseRoss

It will be different for everyone. For me, I try to keep it to "Do well today." In the beginning, I was caught up on a number, but I couldn't tell you what made me think I had any idea what a good "goal number" would be. My personal experience has been to think less about "weight" and more about "body composition." Assume I weigh 300, with 50% body fat. Were I to focus on weight, my goal would be to get down to 150. That's great, but what if I achieve 150, but I'm still 50% body fat?

Compare that to me starting at 300, and getting down to 250. However, at 250 I'm 25% body fat, as opposed to weighing 150 with 50% body fat. It's something that has worked for me: not worrying about the number on the scale (too much), but instead measuring myself (arms, legs, chest etc) to track how my body has been changing.

I plan for tomorrow before going to bed (meals, exercise routine etc). When I wake up the next day my mentality is "you know what you have to do today. Do it." Who you are a year from now is nothing more than what you each day, multiplied by 365 days.

shans34

I know what my ultimate goal range is, however, I work towards shorter goals. I plan rewards for each goal I achieve.

cs2ymc

I like short term goals for my weight loss. I get less (if any) internal resistence when coming up with a plan & goal.

AntonioP23

I like short term goals. I find them easier to manage and reach.

Mycophilia

Short-term goal: Get skinny.
Long-term goal: Stay skinny.

I find that there's no need to complicate things lol.

Amanda4change

I have long and short term goals. I don't really have a final goal weight in mind (it's all about how I look and feel). The majority of my goals are fitness based (running a 12 K in May), after this run I'll be focusing on improving my run times.

RaspberryTickleChicken

BOTH!

Initially short term goals while losing.

Long term goals in maintaining.

hippygirl325

Both, for sure. I'll think about how many lbs I want to lose this week, this month, and try to project how long it will take to get to the end. But I think even my goals should be more non-scale, because you really can't control the scale and how fast it moves. Even if you do everything right, you may still be losing inches and not pounds. I think better goals are nutrition and fitness related because those are the things you can actually control.

JordisTSM

To be honest, I've done neither. Currently 347 pounds (down from 364 *squeeee*), I'm not setting any goals at this point, just going day-to-day.

Vex3521

Both. Even if it is a 1 day challenge to get me working on something. Short term goals help establish habits and I think make it easier to change. Helps remind me what I wanted to do and how far I have come when I am really in a bad mood.

999tigger

I do both. I spent a lot of time preparing my plan, focusing on it and continually monitoring and adjusting. Most of my effort just goes from day to day, but i review all the time to make sure I understand whats happening.

rosiorama

I have mini goals! I started at 185 and my go was to get under 180! I keep my mind on 5 pound increments because they arent as intimidating as a bigger number. I have a fuzzy goal if getting to 165 and I will see how I feel when I get there. 150 is in my head bit I haven't been that weight except in the last 20 years except during my divorce and when I was a manual laborer. I don't know if I can get there with the lifestyle I have now.

Use what motivates you most. If I concentrated only on the big number to start I think it could feel like I'll never get there.

amcook4

I do both. My overall goal is to be a healthy weight, but I set short term and mid term goals as well. At first it was just to get under 300 pounds, then every 25 pounds after that. I also have a midterm goal of getting under 230 by July, so I can skydive with a friend of mine.

JoseCastaneda

I keep in mind where I want to be, but also, set shorter, smaller goals. I'm some 10 pounds away from my ultimate weight goal, and I'm already working on my next goals (maintenance, muscle building, etc). The thing is to have always those goals in mind, and know this isn't just a 'weight loss journey'. It's a lifestyle change.

Angierae75

I look at my weight loss journey in 20 pound increments. I hit the first one today (199.8, I've lost 20.2 lbs), and now I'm aiming for the 2nd 20 pounds (at 1# per week, that will happen around 6/29) and then my 3rd 20 pound (and my overreaching "big goal") is scheduled for around 11/9. I'll reassess then and decide what I want to do.