"due dates"

gmove
gmove Posts: 81 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I think it's crazy when people set weight goals for specific dates, e.g. wedding day, birthday, etc. I get that they want to look and feel great on that special day, but wth, your whole life is special. Do the math. Set reasonable goals. Do the work.


I'm referring to people that set outrageous goals for the time frame.

Replies

  • uconnwinsnc
    uconnwinsnc Posts: 1,054 Member
    Proper success requires a game plan.
  • weewdy
    weewdy Posts: 39
    I have set a goal like you have mentioned above which has been very achievable, i dont plan on stopping when i get to that 'date' but it is giving me something to work towards, a reason to keep motivated. Whats the harm in it?
  • colortheworld
    colortheworld Posts: 374 Member
    I think OP is talking about the ones that are like... "I have 30 lbs to lose by my wedding in a month."
  • donniesaurous
    donniesaurous Posts: 176 Member
    I started with a 16 week plan, that happened to coincide with my mum's Birthday weekend.

    But my plan has worked better than expected and now it's a 13 week plan.

    I'm only aiming to lose 1lb a week, and for as long as I do I will stick to it, if it stops working I will change the plan.

    Some people don't need goals and gateposts, I've tried to work without them, and all I did was convince myself I was doing fine, where as actually I put on a stone.
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,252 Member
    I admit I tend to need a milestone, without one I tend to think "eh, I've got all the time in the world, another bad day/week won't matter".

    But I totally agree on things like "OMG, I'm a bridesmaid in a month and my dress is a 12 and I'm a 18, I must lose 20kg by then!!"
  • uconnwinsnc
    uconnwinsnc Posts: 1,054 Member
    I think OP is talking about the ones that are like... "I have 30 lbs to lose by my wedding in a month."

    There are rarely better motivators than a major life event.
  • Dewymorning
    Dewymorning Posts: 762 Member
    I do have a 'target date' but yeah, one has to have reasonable expectations. My date is nothing special, more just something to head towards.

    If I don't make it I will just set a new date and keep going.
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    When I first joined mfp I had a six month goal in regards to the progress I wanted to make with my fitness, but I only had five pounds to lose. It was for something I needed to do, but it was as much for my mental health and strength as for my physical health and strength. I agree that people generally need a correct time frame. A goal to work towards can be great, and people keep going after they reach their goal. I agree it isn't good when the stress of the goal seems to take over the joy of what they are working for. But, life can be like that sometimes. It's a learning experience I guess.
  • kellyskitties
    kellyskitties Posts: 475 Member
    Every time I make a strict plan or goal I veer off and fail. Every time I just make it about now/today/this choice I do better. Based on this - I ignore dates mostly. I have weight milestones set, but when I reach each one is irrelevant.

    I think it's related to my all or none thinking - so if I miss the date I set it's done right, goal met or not? Might work for some, but not for this one.
  • snazzyjazzy21
    snazzyjazzy21 Posts: 1,298 Member
    I think OP is talking about the ones that are like... "I have 30 lbs to lose by my wedding in a month."

    There are rarely better motivators than a major life event.

    But when it comes to weight loss, they tend to lead to unhealthy choices in order to reach your goal in time.
  • Emi1974
    Emi1974 Posts: 522 Member
    Not an exact date to reach my goal, but it should happen anytime in 2015 :bigsmile: I no longer set a specific date. I have learned that life tends to get in my way :grumble:
  • eldamiano
    eldamiano Posts: 2,667 Member
    My friend asked me how she should lose 10 pounds in 1 day, so I advised her to buy this celebrity workout DVD for £10.99.

    Complete waste of money - the easiest £10 she lost in her whole life.
  • Lives2Travel
    Lives2Travel Posts: 682 Member
    I think it depends on the individual. I completely agree that people who set unreasonable and unattainable goals are setting themselves up for disappointment. But, well planned and reasonable goals are key to me. My current "goal" is to be at 180 on 6/14/14. That date is my 1 year MFP anniversary. Since I'm at 192 currently, this seems pretty doable. If I miss by a few pounds, I'll be OK with it as long as I've stayed on course, which is what goals are really about for me.
  • DianaGabriela2013
    DianaGabriela2013 Posts: 108 Member
    Dates and goals are motivators for me.
  • KariOrtiz2014
    KariOrtiz2014 Posts: 343 Member
    I have set a goal like you have mentioned above which has been very achievable, i dont plan on stopping when i get to that 'date' but it is giving me something to work towards, a reason to keep motivated. Whats the harm in it?

    S- specific
    M- measurable
    A- achievable
    R- reasonable
    T- time

    Google it.. SMART goals
  • hiyomi
    hiyomi Posts: 906 Member
    Yea, I think goal dates are a little ridiculous as well, but I'm all for like goal month ranges :) like I wanna lose 10 pounds by April-May, but not I wanna lose 10 pounds by April 20th! Lol
  • erelyl
    erelyl Posts: 48 Member
    I'm trying to manage this with a combination of long and short term goals. Long term for me is an event (Family trip to Disney in six months). I don't have to be a specific weight by then, but it's a fixed point in time to work toward and measure my progress. Short term my goal is to stick to my calorie allowance today. That's it. If i can do that today.. and tomorrow... and the day after etc that will keep me moving toward the long term goal and beyond. I'd love to say that i will weigh 160 lbs or whatever on October 1 but that's not realistic or sustainable. But i do intend to weigh a lot less than i do today!
  • galprincess
    galprincess Posts: 683 Member
    My plan started with I want to lose baby weight (2 stone) by my daughters 1st birthday which was last month but managed 17lbs had I not set that goal I wouldn't have done as well but I now have 4lbs to go and then sculpting and maintenance
  • peleroja
    peleroja Posts: 3,979 Member
    Unreasonable goals don't do anyone any good.

    But I don't think wanting to lose weight for a particular occasion is weird or bad. Everyone has smartphones and every event now means hundreds of photos taken, and do I totally get why someone would want especially to look good for a particular event with that in mind.

    Like, I don't even wear the same dress to two events anymore because I know there will be SO MANY pictures taken. I totally don't blame anyone for wanting to be thinner for a specific event.
  • corgicake
    corgicake Posts: 846 Member
    As long as the time frame is realistic it sounds like a good idea. I don't feel like I can rip on goals just for being big with my big kahuna this summer/early fall. It's on the extreme side, I don't think anyone except for maaaybe someone at the local bike workshop would join me on it, but it's completely doable and I'm gonna make it happen.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Shoot, you mean I can't lose 20 lbs by June 1st?

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