Living The Lifestyle - - Tuesday, July 18, 2017

whathapnd

Everyone says it, but just how do you do it? How do you take the guidelines of the WW program and turn them into a lifestyle you can live every day...from now on? That is what we are here to explore. Each weekday, a new topic is offered up for discussion. Newbie? Join in! Veteran? Join in! Your thoughts may be just what someone else needs to hear.

Monday -- 88olds
Tuesday -- whathapnd (Emmie)
Wednesday --David Kuhns
Thursday -- Rachel0778
Friday -- misterhub

Today's topic: How true is your aim?

This question pertains to behavioral goals, not pounds lost.

When you set goals related to your health/weight loss, do you aim high, aim low or aim right where you need? Do you set stretch goals for the challenge of it? Set the bar a little lower to feel the thrill of victory? Know yourself well enough to aim right at your sweet spot? How does this mirror (or not) how you set goals in other aspects of your life?


Optional question: Rainier cherries. Love them and do a happy dance when they show up in the store? Dislike them? Indifferent/have no idea what they are?

88olds

I set my goal weight at the highest acceptable WW weight. When I weighed yesterday I was a comfy 7 lbs under. I think I weigh what I weighed when I graduated high school 49 years ago. Never would have believed it.

I want simplicity and the easy road at this point.

Jimb376mfp

I try to aim for realistic non weight goals.
A few I have set and met keep me looking for new challenges.

I began swimming laps two years ago by setting goal of 8 laps(1/4 mi). This year increased it to(1/2 mi). It takes me 30-40 minutes but I can do it! Very proud of myself because this is something I did all on my own initiative. I try to get them in before or after my 50 minute aqua aerobics class.

Going kayaking was a goal I set two years ago. (Personal Bucket List) I met it by taking first lesson in May. Next step is to actually rent one SOON.

Took Tai Chi lessons for eight weeks.
Going to kettle bell orientation Sat.

Trying to incorporate new exercise activity after four years of aqua aerobics.

Without goals I could lose focus, get lazy and fall OP.

Optional question
DW LOVES em. To mea cherry is meh.
Now if it a whole cherry pie I would do a happy dance!

Out_of_Bubblegum

I keep 2 goals at all times... a weekly goal, and a long term goal.

My weekly goals I try to keep as simple as possible:
Log every day.
Work out 5 days / week.
Lose 1 lb.
Improve workouts (This week: unassisted pullups)

I re-evaluate them often to make sure I am setting realistic ones that I can achieve. If I am consistently NOT achieving them, then I try to figure out WHY, and adjust accordingly.. either the realism of the goal, or my behavior for not reaching them:

My long term goals are lofty... and I adjust them seldom... they really are just the realization of many short term goals added together.
Goal weight: 150 lb (ideal BW for my body type)
Return to competition
Test for next Taekwondo belt (Summer 2018)

Rachel0778

I try to stay realistic in all goals in life. I like things that are obtainable without being overly stressful.

My goal weight is something I know I can maintain without cutting out my favorite foods. I'm okay being a slightly higher weight and having a daily treat. I don't need a 6 pack and the amount of work I'd have to put in to get one is obscene IMO.

My life goals are similar. I want to retire in a timely manner, own a small home with a few dogs, and get to take 1-2 vacations a year. Do I still have to work to achieve this? Yes. But I don't have to put in 50-60 hours at the office, have a stressful career, or work somewhere I don't like to do it.

podkey

Love Rainier cherries a local treat.
Almost always if I can visualize something I do achieve it. Sometimes exceed my aim. Never rode a century in my life (100 miles) and entered a dòuble century (200 miles) with some team mates. The three of us did great. Hard to visualize a stretch like that and it was something else.
Know myself and pretty realistic in general.
9 lb under my WW goal weight which I didn't set until I was within spitting distance.

minimyzeme

For the past few years, my goal setting with regard to weight loss has been realistic, both in terms of numbers and performance. On reflection, this might have been the key to my success thus far, going back to my doc suggesting I lose five pounds back in 2014. Obviously, that wasn't the ultimate goal but the important thing was that I start the work and don't dwell on the final outcome.

That, and GOAD, set the context for me on this leg of the path. My aim was to get back to a normal / healthy weight for my gender and height. Hidden just under the surface of that, but really much more important, was reducing the health issues associated with obesity and restoring energy and vitality to my life.

The initial five pound goal seemed different to me than any prior attempt to lose weight (and there had only really been one of those). However, my memory of life as a fat kid plagued me to some degree. I think starting with a goal that was certainly doable helped me mentally take on the challenge of really actually getting to where I needed to be, but doing it in incrementally doable chunks.

I think one of my assets is that I can be pretty good at time- and task-management when I put my mind to it. Working from home has helped me hone those skills. Ironically, I think I can be and am usually more productive now than I ever was when working in an office where I was constantly interrupted by people and circumstances. For weight loss, this means to keep the objective in-mind, make room for it in my life and not be overwhelmed by it on any particular day.

Though I reached my weight goal and have enjoyed the benefits that go with it, recently I've been carving out time to simply move more as my job has morphed into more office than field work. I recently broke my own 'resistance barrier' just to make sure I make the time to get out and walk a few miles most every day. I am our dog's new best friend!

Honestly, I think I could up the ante when it comes to weight loss goal-setting. However, this is working and that is so important to me that at this point, I'd rather do what works and maintain steadily than aim too high and 'fail'. I'm getting all the benefits of weight loss I originally set out to so I'm satisfied for the time being. I certainly allow for the possibility of (positive) change with respect to aiming higher in the future but not at the expense of slipping backwards.

As for the Rainer cherries, I used to live in the shadow of Rainer and the heart of cherry country. Minus the pesticides often used on them, they were one of the joys of my life back in the day. However, the Northeast's black cherries ain't too shabby either!

gadgetgirlIL

My current goals are nearly all activity related: 1) finish all the segments of the Ice Age Trail (~1,166 miles total) before I turn 70 (I've got around 160 miles done already and I'm 56), 2) ride my first 200K brevet bike ride (I've done many 100 mile rides, but this will be closer to 124-126 miles and the course isn't marked like invitational rides are), 3) Swim at least 1 time per week

I start with something easily attainable, then gradually stretch until I reach my goal. For example, with my bike riding, I had several bike rides in the 20-35 mile range this spring, then a 55 mile ride on Memorial Day, followed by 78 miles the next weekend. 2 weeks after that I did 86 miles, and then my first century of 2017 the week after.

As for Rainer cherries, I like cherries best when they are dried (its a texture thing for me). I'm trying to recall which variety my local store sells. They are tart which I prefer.

MurpleCat

Generally I'm a high-bar-setter. I don't get a thrill from checking off mundane things like drinking my water every day. But improving my tennis game to a solid 3.0 by playing twice a week, or a dedicated hitting session to practice serves -- that's a goal I want, with specific steps that will get me there over time. I'm not easily frustrated by set-backs, when its a goal I really want.

That's basically how I am in other areas of my life, too. When I wanted to learn how to knit, people suggested I start with a scarf or dishcloths because they are easy. But I knew I wouldn't stick with it if I found it boring (and I'll be damned if anyone is going to wash a dirty dish with something I spend that much time creating). So I did one scarf, then picked a cabled sweater that I loved. I just leapt into the deep end -- I wanted the sweater enough to keep working at it until I got good (fast, with low error rate). I'd have gotten bored with scarves and quit long ago.

I like Rainier cherries but not to the point of happy dance, LOL.

goldenfrisbee

I never set a goal in my life until I joined WW. Then the only goal I set was to climb a steep hill near my home on my bike without stopping.
Now my only goal is to make this lifestyle change consistent for the rest of my life. Being obese is so life altering and I'm enjoying the small changes as they come my way.