Weight-loss goals..?! And have you given yourself a "goal" date?

KT_3009

So I'm wanting to lose another 25-30lbs which for my 5'4 height and currently weighing 147lbs I think it's doable.. I want to lose the weight by mid February - early March and was wondering if having a set goal date is better with helping to get motivated and keeping on track?
Any advice is great

tara_means_star

I don't set dates anymore, largely because if the pounds start slowing down I start getting more upset thinking I won't reach my goal by xyz date. Or if I have calculated that I should be able to weight X by Y date and a few weeks I'm not losing fast enough to make that happen, I can completely overlook any progress I AM making because I'm not making it fast enough. This is just the way that I am and so I've chosen not to set dates for myself anymore. If all of this isn't a problem for you, it could be a great motivator to think of your self at your goal weight for some special occasion.

jkquinn13

I turn 50 in April of next year and I have a goal to be under 200 by then. It works out to be around 2 lbs per week which is what I average when Im practicing all my habits consistently

brower47

My goal date is before I die. I've lost over 50 but it's taken me 5 years. But we're all different . What worked for me might not work for you. I'd never be able to take that much weight off in such a short amount of time. It might make me sick and cause me to lose far more muscle that I'd be willing to part with leaving me lethargic and with a higher body fat percentage than what my personal goal is. I think I'd get really discouraged when I realized I wasn't going to get anywhere near my goal despite trying my very best.

But like I said, everyone is different and there are a lot of different paths to weight loss. Good luck finding the path that works for you!!

earlnabby

I did not set an ultimate goal but I have set tentative "it would be nice if . . ." dates for my mini goals. I didn't want anything absolute because there was a good chance I would lose motivation if I didn't do it. Having these has helped and being realistic and somewhat conservative when setting them also helped. I was slightly later than I had hoped when I reached Onederland and I was 2 weeks later than hoped for getting out of the obese and into the overweight BMI range but I have made all of the others so far.

I really depends on you, and you know yourself. Will setting a goal motivate you, or will you get derailed if it looks like you won't make it? Only you can really answer those questions. If you can set a goal and are willing to revise it as you go along, go for it.

ETA: Mini goals:

Lose 10% of my body weight (done 5/7/2014)
Lose 50 lb. (done 7/24/2014)
Lose 1/2 of the weight I need to (done 11/25/2014)
Lose 100 lb. (Done 4/10/2015)
Onederland (Done 6/13/2015)
BMI in overweight range (done 10/6/2015)
Final push:
190 by my birthday (made it 2 weeks late, but made it!)
180 by Christmas
170 by Easter
160 (goal) by Memorial Day

Lounmoun

I didn't set a goal date. I have felt stressed and negative in the past when I had a set date for weight loss.
I have in mind that I'll likely get to my goal weight in a year but it takes as long as it takes.

jemhh

I discourage goal dates for most people.

Firstly, most people set goals that are too aggressive.

Secondly, despite my belief in weight loss coming down to CICO, I also know that weight loss is not linear and that, even when people strongly adhere to their diets, weight doesn't always come off at a predictable rate. There are too many variables--water retention, hormones, etc.--that are out of our control.

Thirdly, failing to meet a weight loss time line is demoralizing to a lot of people and I think it's pointless to set oneself up for disappointment for the sake of a specific date.

MarcyKirkton

I didn't. Good that I didn't. This last 7 lbs is a bear!

AlciaMode

I have a goal date. I am not making it like a reach goal or die goal date but it helps put a little urgency in my mind.

firststepformefal

No goal date. I do not want to put pressure on myself to reach my goal by a certain date. I want to be happy with myself and my week if I stay the same or lose 2 pounds. I do not give myself mini goals either, for the same reason. I am doing 2 challenges. One is for weight loss and one is for exercise. For me, the exercise one is the more important as I need to do more to get fit, strengthen my abdominals and knees. Right now, I am doing really good, after realizing I sabotage myself. In a month, I may not do so well as I have clinical depression and I could be feeling bad about myself and life in general.

kissedbythesunshine

No set date for weight loss. I use to set dates and always ended up starting and stopping. I realize I was thinking of weight loss all wrong. It's not a race but a lifestyle change. Now I just stick to my calorie allotment, workout, and let my body do it's thing.

CoffeeNCardio

I have a goal date, but it's "sometime around April of next year if nothing changes and my rate stays the same it's been". So I wouldn't put too much into a single date, cause that could be really demotivating, but there's no medical reason or life-reason for me why, if I continue to work out and log accurately, I shouldn't be at my goal weight late next spring.

Ninkyou

jemhh wrote: »

I discourage goal dates for most people.

Firstly, most people set goals that are too aggressive.

Secondly, despite my belief in weight loss coming down to CICO, I also know that weight loss is not linear and that, even when people strongly adhere to their diets, weight doesn't always come off at a predictable rate. There are too many variables--water retention, hormones, etc.--that are out of our control.

Thirdly, failing to meet a weight loss time line is demoralizing to a lot of people and I think it's pointless to set oneself up for disappointment for the sake of a specific date.

1000% this.

No goal dates for me. It happens when it happens. As long as I keep my eye on the prize, I'll get there. When is just a small detail.

ettaterrell

I do more of a goal weekly loss. I say I'll loose 1.5 - 2 lbs a week and then mark my calendar with what my weight should be every week. Some weeks I loose less, some weeks more but if I find I'm falling behind I'll step it up to get back on track. I can't set an end goal because I don't know what I want my end weight to be yet

Working2BLean

My goal is to not quit

It is a lifelong plan.

I am reshaping my body now. A little fat away here and add a little muscle there. Add endurance or strength.

There are no dates set. Life happens and quite often changes my plans. I do my best and feel good with the results.

DavidVXR

I don't have a numerical goal but do have a rather nice timeless Hugo Boss suit hanging in my wardrobe.

tiffkittyw

KT_3009 wrote: »

So I'm wanting to lose another 25-30lbs which for my 5'4 height and currently weighing 147lbs I think it's doable.. I want to lose the weight by mid February - early March and was wondering if having a set goal date is better with helping to get motivated and keeping on track?
Any advice is great

I am also 5'4" 147 lbs. I don't set a goal date, but I do enjoy using the happy scales app which gives me an estimated date for when I reach my goal based on my rate of loss. Right now my goal is set to 120 lbs, but I will probably go down to 115 lbs since I feel best at that weight.

tracie_minus100

No date for me.

Merkavar

No goal date for me, I barely have a goal weight.

I picked the high end of my BMI when I started but it's not set in stone.

But I can't see anything wrong with a goal date.

If I remember correctly a timeframe is one of the key components of setting an effective goal.

Measurable and timeframe and I think a few others. So goal weight and goal date go together.

jemhh

Merkavar wrote: »

No goal date for me, I barely have a goal weight.

I picked the high end of my BMI when I started but it's not set in stone.

But I can't see anything wrong with a goal date.

If I remember correctly a timeframe is one of the key components of setting an effective goal.

Measurable and timeframe and I think a few others. So goal weight and goal date go together.

Timeframe is part of "SMART" goal setting but I think that most people who use it for weight loss don't do it intelligently. Instead, they use 1-2 pounds per week without any breaks or days off and no consideration of the fact that weight loss isn't linear. They just hear "losing 1-2 pounds per week is a safe rate" and assume that they can achieve that rate no problemo.

misterdale67

I set a goal weight and date that I knew was completely attainable if I was 100% dedicated and worked hard. It kept me focused and accountable. I reached both and feel great!

sinbadfxdl

One pound loss per week is set for me. I will achieve it by April 2016. However I'm losing more like 1.5 so that's a nice cushion for the plateaus.
I believe in goals. I like to achieve them, create new ones like fitness goals afterwards. I have old Levi jeans just waiting for me to wear them again as a reward. Figurative clothes are the best result for our efforts.

ettaterrell

jemhh wrote: »

Merkavar wrote: »

No goal date for me, I barely have a goal weight.

I picked the high end of my BMI when I started but it's not set in stone.

But I can't see anything wrong with a goal date.

If I remember correctly a timeframe is one of the key components of setting an effective goal.

Measurable and timeframe and I think a few others. So goal weight and goal date go together.

Timeframe is part of "SMART" goal setting but I think that most people who use it for weight loss don't do it intelligently. Instead, they use 1-2 pounds per week without any breaks or days off and no consideration of the fact that weight loss isn't linear. They just hear "losing 1-2 pounds per week is a safe rate" and assume that they can achieve that rate no problemo.

Yeah losing it therw vacation and birthdays wasn't a problem but true test will be up coming holidays, but some people can do it and some can't.

FunkyMonkey80

I don't have a goal date. I just want to feel and see the change and I'd like to see that change within the next few months. I don't have a lot to lose (5'4 and want to go from 135-122ish), but I can't wait to feel and look more like my previous healthier self. I just find it really hard to stay motivated beyond a week or so. Unfortunately I'm the type of person that once I do see change, I feel great about it, but I don't keep working. I give myself a break as a reward... then it's all downhill from there.

scorpcookie

I just wanted to meet my original goal before December which I did a few weeks ago. Now I'm working on my first stretch goal which I will try to reach by the 1st of December, though I won't mind if it takes me until mid-December to actually get to it.

lthames0810

I've done this in the past...set a time goal for weight loss. It actually became a problem for me. It made feel like I had to be very rigid with my eating, which makes me miserable. It caused me to be disappointed if I was behind the charted goal, even though I was actually losing weight. It caused me to try to make up time by way undereating to "catch up."

What worked best for me was planning to do athletic events and sending in my entry fees far in advance. I simply had to eat right and train hard or it would have been a waste of money...a real crime.

SingRunTing

No goal dates here! I find them unhelpful since I've always failed in the past. Now, as long as I'm making progress, I'm happy.

I do have a family wedding in June, so I'd like to lose a little more before then. But I don't have a specific number in mind.

Lozze

I have a goal of under 100kg by the time I go home for Xmas. That's about 2kg in a month.

I also want to be at a healthy weight by Xmas next year. That's about 30kg in a year. I also think that's doable. I do better when I have plans.

bri170lb

I have a date goal. I think i am in the minority here, but it works for me. I need to know where i am going i order to know how to get there, i guess.

I started really working on my weight loss in ernest on 1/7/15 and my goal is to lose 100 pounds by 1/7/16. (I will have lost a total of 130 pounds because I lost 30 pounds during 2014 also.)

I broke that big goal into lots of smaller goals and I even scheduled a 1 month vacation time where I maintained my weight during the summer.

I have had some better months and some difficult months because of health and work issues but so far I am pretty close to being exactly on track.

If I miss my date by a few days or weeks, I won't be unhappy. How can I be unhappy when I have come sooooo far!

After that goal, my next BIG goal will be to lose my last 20 pounds by May 30, 2016. I ran in my 1st 5k race on that day in 2015 and I plan to PARTY LIKE IT'S 1999!!! WHEN I REACH MY ULTIMATE GOAL.

I have had lots of goals of all kinds along the way. Like, I am entering 1 5k each month since last May. Also, just sticking to my calorie goals 1 meal at a time. Or making a really good choice for MYSELF each day.

I have kept track of everything on a calendar and have a regular journal, a 5k journal and a JOY journal where I write down all the places where I see joy in my life.

I hope this inspires some of you to keep moving forward and keep making good choices for yourself because you really are worth every ounce of effort!

arditarose

KT_3009 wrote: »

So I'm wanting to lose another 25-30lbs which for my 5'4 height and currently weighing 147lbs I think it's doable.. I want to lose the weight by mid February - early March and was wondering if having a set goal date is better with helping to get motivated and keeping on track?
Any advice is great

I'm 5'4" as well. I never set any goal dates. I ended up concentrating on my physique and body fat%, which is slow going when you are trying to lose fat and save muscle. The only time I set a goal date for myself was when I wanted to get to 125 by November so I could start a bulk (gaining fat and muscle)...I didn't quite make it but didn't get upset.

robertw486

I haven't set a goal date, as I've already changed my goal weight once, and weight alone isn't going to dictate my goals. Since I have the rest of my life to make those decisions, my only real current goal is to not slip in either weight or fitness level. As long as things keep improving, I'm heading the right direction.