Setting and Reaching Your Goals

Lize11e

"The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don't define them, learn about them, or even seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them." ~ Denis Waitley

I have been realizing more and more that I don't really have any goals other than getting to a specific number on the scale. I have never set "mini-goals". I couldn't begin to tell you what I "plan to do along the way".

I still have 85 pounds to go and I want to get in better and better physical condition. Anybody care to suggest mini-goals or tell me about theirs?

arenkel

-run a 5k
-do 10 real pushups --> then progress up to 50!
-learn to lift heavy weights
-do a chin-up
-learn to play tennis

ETA: I'm not trying to lose, so these are actually my "main" goals! I'd love to see what everyone else is shooting for

NikkiSixGuns

I think your goals will be oriented around your lifestyle and current choices. If fast food is your weakness, you could set a mini-goal to reduce the number of fast food outings to one a week. If you don't know many light & healthy recipes, you could set a goal to learn four or five new recipes each month.

Just remember that your goals need to be measurable, have a timeframe associated with them, and be attainable. If your goal is to lose 85 pounds, that's great! It's measurable. Whether or not it's attainable would be dependent on the timeframe you set. A pound or two a week is very reasonable, so a timeframe of 10 to 18 months is attainable. Now you've got all three elements in place.

The things you "plan to do along the way" are just the steps you're going to take to get there. What are you going to change? Are you going to exercise more? Start cooking more and eating out less?

I like the ideas arenkel suggested. Some others that might help you along:

- Learn what my daily calorie intake for maintenance and/or weight loss should be;
- Plan a healthy menu for the next week;
- Work out X minutes this week;
- Keep a food and exercise log

Good luck! You've got the right attitude. The first steps are the toughest. Just keep exploring and you'll get there!

specialkyc

I think without even considering your goals, you have definitely reached one by being able to jog. You'll be able to build up to longer jogs eventually. Maybe you can make a 5k one of your goals.

Another goal that you may have not thought about but you actually reached is losing 100 pounds. AWESOMENESS!!

What about fitting into a certain size jeans?

I have mini goals set on my page. My next mini goal is to be under 250, which I'm only about 2 pounds away from. Woohoo

BlueJean4114

I think the main reason i don't reach goals, is when i do not believe i actually CAN reach the goals.
It's NOT that i do not "set a goal":laugh:
for me,
it's that i set TOO LARGE or TOO FAR OFF of a goal.

I have to BELIEVE i can reach a goal, to keep going towards it.

so for *me*,
i do NOT look at the mountain.
I am new at this,
and for now,
i am watching my feet,
watching my feet take one step,
then one more step.

one step at a time.
one day at a time.
I'll get there.

I feel hope building in me,
and i am fanning that bit of hope with everything i find that feeds that hope. I have to have HOPE to press on, to keep going. For me, it's hope, and BELIEVING i can do it.

I am going for very small goals,
"JUST FOR TODAY i will stay under my calorie limit. JUST FOR TODAY i will move more than i did yesterday."

I focus on TODAY, right now,
and celebrate i lost 5 more ounces,:bigsmile:
instead of thinking "aw geez, i have to lose 28 more pounds!!??":sad: cuz for me, right now, THAT is too much, too overwhelming for me to focus on.

but, when i mince it up in smaller steps,
i can do most anything for a day.
I can do a small step.

and i am imagining my life as a healthier, more fit, more active person,
IF I CAN PICTURE IT,
REEEEEALLY PICTURE IT
I CAN ACHIEVE IT.

(true, there's some caveats to that remark,) but, i have to BELIEVE i can do it or it won't work for *me*


also, for *me*, MUSIC helps. I play music that i love,
that makes me feel great,
and that helps me. I play music in my headphones, and i protect my inner attitude as much as i can, and stay positive.

GOOD LUCK!! WHATEVER works for you, if setting a very large goal is what works for you, then do that.

Lize11e

These are ALL great answers. I love the input and I thank you all!!

specialkyc

I think the main reason i don't reach goals, is when i do not believe i actually CAN reach the goals.
It's NOT that i do not "set a goal":laugh:
for me,
it's that i set TOO LARGE or TOO FAR OFF of a goal.

I have to BELIEVE i can reach a goal, to keep going towards it.

so for *me*,
i do NOT look at the mountain.
I am new at this,
and for now,
i am watching my feet,
watching my feet take one step,
then one more step.

one step at a time.
one day at a time.
I'll get there.

I feel hope building in me,
and i am fanning that bit of hope with everything i find that feeds that hope. I have to have HOPE to press on, to keep going. For me, it's hope, and BELIEVING i can do it.

I am going for very small goals,
"JUST FOR TODAY i will stay under my calorie limit. JUST FOR TODAY i will move more than i did yesterday."

I focus on TODAY, right now,
and celebrate i lost 5 more ounces,:bigsmile:
instead of thinking "aw geez, i have to lose 28 more pounds!!??":sad: cuz for me, right now, THAT is too much, too overwhelming for me to focus on.

but, when i mince it up in smaller steps,
i can do most anything for a day.
I can do a small step.

and i am imagining my life as a healthier, more fit, more active person,
IF I CAN PICTURE IT,
REEEEEALLY PICTURE IT
I CAN ACHIEVE IT.

(true, there's some caveats to that remark,) but, i have to BELIEVE i can do it or it won't work for *me*


also, for *me*, MUSIC helps. I play music that i love,
that makes me feel great,
and that helps me. I play music in my headphones, and i protect my inner attitude as much as i can, and stay positive.

GOOD LUCK!! WHATEVER works for you, if setting a very large goal is what works for you, then do that.

this.

TXHunny84

I think the main reason i don't reach goals, is when i do not believe i actually CAN reach the goals.
It's NOT that i do not "set a goal":laugh:
for me,
it's that i set TOO LARGE or TOO FAR OFF of a goal.

I have to BELIEVE i can reach a goal, to keep going towards it.

so for *me*,
i do NOT look at the mountain.
I am new at this,
and for now,
i am watching my feet,
watching my feet take one step,
then one more step.

one step at a time.
one day at a time.
I'll get there.

I feel hope building in me,
and i am fanning that bit of hope with everything i find that feeds that hope. I have to have HOPE to press on, to keep going. For me, it's hope, and BELIEVING i can do it.

I am going for very small goals,
"JUST FOR TODAY i will stay under my calorie limit. JUST FOR TODAY i will move more than i did yesterday."

I focus on TODAY, right now,
and celebrate i lost 5 more ounces,:bigsmile:
instead of thinking "aw geez, i have to lose 28 more pounds!!??":sad: cuz for me, right now, THAT is too much, too overwhelming for me to focus on.

but, when i mince it up in smaller steps,
i can do most anything for a day.
I can do a small step.

and i am imagining my life as a healthier, more fit, more active person,
IF I CAN PICTURE IT,
REEEEEALLY PICTURE IT
I CAN ACHIEVE IT.

(true, there's some caveats to that remark,) but, i have to BELIEVE i can do it or it won't work for *me*


also, for *me*, MUSIC helps. I play music that i love,
that makes me feel great,
and that helps me. I play music in my headphones, and i protect my inner attitude as much as i can, and stay positive.

GOOD LUCK!! WHATEVER works for you, if setting a very large goal is what works for you, then do that.

Love this!!!!! It's every step closer every day and not how long it's going to take to finish.

WendyTerry420

I am horrible at setting goals. I have already changed my goal weight twice. And mini-goals..........forget it. I hate it. It is definitely something for me to work on.

weird_me2

I've been setting goals of losing 5% of my current weight. I recalculate the 5% when I meet the goal. This way, as my weight goes down, the amount I have to lose to reach the goal also goes down. I'm almost to my 3rd 5%, and I want to lose 5% at least 5 more times, maybe even up to 9 more times. Technically, to be at a healthy weight for my height, I would need to do it 9 more times, but I have also decided that my ultimate goal is going to be a body fat % goal. Right now, I'm aiming for 25% and I will go from there after I see what weight that puts me at and how I look.

I also have fitness goals. I make it a goal to burn about 2500-3000 calories a week through exercise, which is about 4-5 hours of moderate exercise for me. Two weeks ago I also started the 100pushups challenge. I've switched from doing that to doing the beginner body weight workout from the nerdfitness site, because I really want to start working on my strength.

Having fitness goals gives me motivation at times when the scale isn't going where I would like it to go. It's also giving me much more noticeable results. I actually have some shape to my rear now and even a little bit of definition in my arms! Very exciting, especially when I get depressed about the 70-90 lbs I still have left to lose.

litatura

When I set out on my weight loss journey, last July, I had an ultimate weight loss goal of 75lbs and in one year. to put me in the healthy BMI range. What kept me on track was setting monthly goals, both scale (ie. lose 4%) and non-scale goals (ie. decrease 5km time by 1 minute). I'm super competitive, even with myself, so I busted my *kitten* to make sure that I reached my goal each and every month. I've now surpassed my original goal weight and I've decided to re-evaluate my ultimate...ultimate goal in 5 lbs. increments.

ClassicPearl

When I set out on my weight loss journey, last July, I had an ultimate weight loss goal of 75lbs and in one year. to put me in the healthy BMI range. What kept me on track was setting monthly goals, both scale (ie. lose 4%) and non-scale goals (ie. decrease 5km time by 1 minute). I'm super competitive, even with myself, so I busted my *kitten* to make sure that I reached my goal each and every month.

^ Me too!

Last month's goals were:

- To get in a size 12 (done)
- Run a mile in 13 minutes (done)

This month's goals are:

- Start Couch-to-5k app (done)
- Finish reading book "Eat to Live" (almost)
- Start reading book "New Rules for Lifting..." (done)

Next month's goals are:

- Get down to 170 pounds
- Do 15 perfect push-ups

Just to give you an idea.

Here's more things you can do:

- Push yourself to run a mile UPHILL instead of at 0 decline. Start by timing yourself and see if you can beat it next week.
- See how good you can do on the stairmaster.
- See how good you can do on the elliptical.
- Push yourself to do a pull up.
- Push yourself to burn 500 calories 5 days a week.
- Push yourself to limit sodium intake.
- Push yourself to start or finish a fitness book.
- Push yourself to lift 20 pounds.

Those are great little goals! Those goals are what helped me stay on top of things. I got to losing 50 pounds, a big goal, and that week I lost, I got stuck. I needed more goals and so I created more. It's not all about losing weight, it's also about -- how far can I go?