Setting Goals

GuillaineC

How do you set goals? Do you have a specific date? When you reach your goal, do you reward yourself? If so, what do you reward yourself with?

la_nanita

My current goal is to lose 34 lbs before I turn 34 in January. My ultimate goal is to be at my prebaby weight.

audram420

I try to set realistic goals...I put in MFP that I wanted to lose 1.5lbs a week and so I made a goal to lose 10lbs in about 6-7 weeks...of course, as I see the weight start coming off I usually work harder and will meet my goal sooner than that. I try to set my goals at 10lb increments and reward myself when i hit them. My Big Goal is to get to 150lbs!! I started at 175lbs and have lost 8, so I'm 2 away from my first 10lbs!!

Thats how I roll with the goal setting...small goals and rewards!

adventuring

Piercings! I'm getting my lip done when I get to 163 pounds, I'm thinking about a three-point spiral for my ear when I get to 135, and my bellybutton pierced and a pair of expensive jeans whenever I get to something I'm happy with. I'm not married to a number there. I'm not really putting time limits on anything, just mapping dates I'd like to see things by and trying to keep them realistic.

MsQt

When I started my goal was to lose 15lbs and rewarded myself with a snickers but then I wasn't happy yet. I then set a goal to lose 3more lbs and then I was rewarded with a shopping spree but then I felt like I had no shape. Then I got a trainer, showed him what I wanted to look like and i'm still working on that but when I make that goal, I'm going to have a photo shoot.

fiberartist219

I've read that a pound a week is a healthy rate of loss. Unless you're obese, then you might be able to squeeze in two, and if you're already close to your healthy weight, a half a pound a week is more reasonable.

My actual loss in July was 3 lbs. So, I'm shooting for 3lbs a month. I am currently at 162, and by the end of August, I'd like to be 159.

I eventually want to get to 130, but I don't have a specific date in mind other than it will probably be next summer sometime. I could say that I want to do it by my anniversary, or my 30th birthday, or some other milestone, but honestly, that date will come and go, and I need the motivation to maintain that weight after the event comes and goes. Therefore, I'm not tying my weight loss to any real event other than the fact that I would prefer not to have diabetes when I'm a senior citizen. (It runs in my family.)

The real point of goals is to do what motivates you. Choose something reasonable that you can accomplish, so that it gives you the incentive to keep up the good work.