Goal setter or habit former?
Foxgym
Posts: 59 Member
Hi, What are peoples views on goal setting or habit forming. For me forming healthy habits with exercise and diet works best, I have no interest if given a goal I aim for fitness and healthy eating to be part of who I am ...hang on is that a goal 
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Interesting question. I've been thinking about this lately too. I know I want to build healthy habits, but at New Years I saw that I had the same goals as always: be lighter, be healthier. Fast forwarded I've been working through some goal setting programs and there is something really beneficial about being able to tick off an accomplishment, like having the Fitbit vibrate when I get 10000 steps0
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I've recently found an app to help me practice goals/habits...it's called Pocket Coach. So far, I'm well underway of making 3 new habits. I hope they stick! Will be interested to follow this convo and see what others say on this topic. Thanks for starting it!0
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Habit forming works best for me0
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I don't think they are mutually exclusive.
I'm a big believer in establishing habits. That's what has been making me successful this time around (almost to 1 year, where the longest I had ever done this previously was 3 months). I focus on my habits and as long as I stick to them, I'm happy regardless of my progress.
However, that doesn't mean that I can't set goals. I actually look at my habits as daily goals. My daily goals are usually something like 1. Stay within calories (which also means accurate logging) 2. 10,000 steps (measured with fitbit) and 3. follow my training plan (mix of cardio and strength training). They are daily goals that establish my habits.
But I also set long term goals. I'm trying to hit 50lbs lost by my one year MFP anniversary (I hate setting time-bound goals on weight loss, but this one is aiming low, so I should easily hit it). I also want to consistently hit a 10 minute mile pace when running (I'm sooo close). I want to be able to do 1 pull up. I want to complete the Rugged Maniac race that I'm signed up for in September. I want to get into a size 8 (currently a 10).
These are all goals that I will hit BECAUSE of my habits. I really don't see them as two separate entities.0 -
Interesting question. I've been thinking about this lately too. I know I want to build healthy habits, but at New Years I saw that I had the same goals as always: be lighter, be healthier. Fast forwarded I've been working through some goal setting programs and there is something really beneficial about being able to tick off an accomplishment, like having the Fitbit vibrate when I get 10000 steps
Thats good, looks like you are well on your way to building healthy habits with small motivational steps, good approach
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I agree with BOTH. Healthy habits lead to attaining your goals of a healthier stronger body. Goals also give you a direction on which habits you need to change or strengthen.0
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SingRunTing wrote: »
I don't think they are mutually exclusive.
I'm a big believer in establishing habits. That's what has been making me successful this time around (almost to 1 year, where the longest I had ever done this previously was 3 months). I focus on my habits and as long as I stick to them, I'm happy regardless of my progress.
However, that doesn't mean that I can't set goals. I actually look at my habits as daily goals. My daily goals are usually something like 1. Stay within calories (which also means accurate logging) 2. 10,000 steps (measured with fitbit) and 3. follow my training plan (mix of cardio and strength training). They are daily goals that establish my habits.
But I also set long term goals. I'm trying to hit 50lbs lost by my one year MFP anniversary (I hate setting time-bound goals on weight loss, but this one is aiming low, so I should easily hit it). I also want to consistently hit a 10 minute mile pace when running (I'm sooo close). I want to be able to do 1 pull up. I want to complete the Rugged Maniac race that I'm signed up for in September. I want to get into a size 8 (currently a 10).
These are all goals that I will hit BECAUSE of my habits. I really don't see them as two separate entities.
Yes you are right, you have a good balance of healthy habits building into goals. What I find difficult is consciously setting a challenge or goal, like: Running a 10K in a certain time, or saying 'I will bench X amount by june 10' and so on. I can see that some people love to push themselves in a carrot/stick style, but I find this difficult bordering on unmotivational, it makes my enthusiasm die and sucks any enjoyment out. I have built exercise/activity into my life as hobbies, fun play and it is habit for me.
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I've always been a goal setter. And I have a competitive nature, so I rarely fail to hit the goal. But, once the goal is met, I lose interest and have to set another goal, and then another, and after a while it just seems like the goals become too much work and I slack off.
So, this time there is no goal other than weight loss. I don't have a time or even a specific goal weight. I'm just trying to form a habit of consuming less calories in general. It's slow going and not as much fun as working toward a specific goal, but I'm hoping it will be longer lasting.0 -
I've recently found an app to help me practice goals/habits...it's called Pocket Coach. So far, I'm well underway of making 3 new habits. I hope they stick! Will be interested to follow this convo and see what others say on this topic. Thanks for starting it!
Thats interesting, But isn't it wierd, an App like that would simply irritate me. 0 -
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Habit former. I can have goals and a way to reach them, but if I haven't developed the habit to keep me going, I'm quitting 2 weeks in.0
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Frankly, for me it's something in between. I set a vague and flexible goal, like "I want to be satisfied with my body in a bikini", that is largely independent of numerical values and such, and then I build the habits that push towards that general direction.
Also, I like to use vanity a little, as weird as that sounds. Vanity is a source of motivation for me; I tell myself things like "woah, my hard work is paying off, look at this, such badass queenly quads" and they help me make the habits stick.0 -
SingRunTing wrote: »
I don't think they are mutually exclusive.
I'm a big believer in establishing habits. That's what has been making me successful this time around (almost to 1 year, where the longest I had ever done this previously was 3 months). I focus on my habits and as long as I stick to them, I'm happy regardless of my progress.
However, that doesn't mean that I can't set goals. I actually look at my habits as daily goals. My daily goals are usually something like 1. Stay within calories (which also means accurate logging) 2. 10,000 steps (measured with fitbit) and 3. follow my training plan (mix of cardio and strength training). They are daily goals that establish my habits.
But I also set long term goals. I'm trying to hit 50lbs lost by my one year MFP anniversary (I hate setting time-bound goals on weight loss, but this one is aiming low, so I should easily hit it). I also want to consistently hit a 10 minute mile pace when running (I'm sooo close). I want to be able to do 1 pull up. I want to complete the Rugged Maniac race that I'm signed up for in September. I want to get into a size 8 (currently a 10).
These are all goals that I will hit BECAUSE of my habits. I really don't see them as two separate entities.
Yes you are right, you have a good balance of healthy habits building into goals. What I find difficult is consciously setting a challenge or goal, like: Running a 10K in a certain time, or saying 'I will bench X amount by june 10' and so on. I can see that some people love to push themselves in a carrot/stick style, but I find this difficult bordering on unmotivational, it makes my enthusiasm die and sucks any enjoyment out. I have built exercise/activity into my life as hobbies, fun play and it is habit for me.
This is why I try to avoid putting timelines on my goals. I set a goal, but as long as I'm progress toward it, I'm happy. One day, I'll be able to run a 10k (it is one of my goals), but I'm letting my progress determine when that will be instead of a specific date.0 -
Thanks everyone, it seems that for many of us the line between motivation and habit can blur, while for others habits grow out of challenge and motivational targets. Very interesting views 0
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I dont' set hard goals either. I want to habitually live a very healthy life. I do have soft goals (meaning they are not in stone) and I based them on my progress but I see that as natural progression of habituatlly living a fit healthy life.0
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I'm all for setting easily achievable goals, and forming habits during good times.0
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kommodevaran wrote: »I'm all for setting easily achievable goals, and forming habits during good times.
I'm with you on this, but I would add that once fully developed, good habits can be a foundation to carry us through difficult time, as I see it exercise is the best stress reliever, and eating mostly highly nutritious 'unprocessed foods' will keep body chemistry balanced which also helps stress.
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Definitely agree that a combo of habits and goals is the way to go. My goal is to weigh 119 and be able to wear my old clothes. This gives me something to aim for, to daydream about when I get grumpy and discouraged. The habits that will help me reach that goal weight and, more importantly, maintain it, are little things like being more active, eating well (my carefully counted breakfast almonds are on the verge of becoming not just a habit but a ritual to start my day!), being aware of my intake and learning to appropriately manage my booze calories (went out to lunch yesterday, had gin & slimline tonic rather than the enticing fruit flavoured cider stocked in the fridges).0
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I'm very goal driven, I'm very self-competitive as well as competitive with others so it suits my personality.
Habits definitely make a big difference though, always taking stairs, walking or cycling for local journeys, lunch break at work is exercise time not eating time as examples.
Some of my previous goals (like weight) are now givens and so a habit.
For this year I have 4 goals, 3 are lifetimes bests, 1 probably unobtainable and 1 fun goal.
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Habits, if I don't set goals I can't be a disappointment.0
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I love the idea of a vague overall goal and then specific, small and attainable daily goals which turn into habits!
I really struggle to motivate myself into sticking to healthy eating for more than, ohhhh, three days so going to give this way of thinking a go 0 -
Definitely agree that a combo of habits and goals is the way to go. My goal is to weigh 119 and be able to wear my old clothes. This gives me something to aim for, to daydream about when I get grumpy and discouraged. The habits that will help me reach that goal weight and, more importantly, maintain it, are little things like being more active, eating well (my carefully counted breakfast almonds are on the verge of becoming not just a habit but a ritual to start my day!), being aware of my intake and learning to appropriately manage my booze calories (went out to lunch yesterday, had gin & slimline tonic rather than the enticing fruit flavoured cider stocked in the fridges).
Great Aims and daydreams are good things to foster, BUT a cold cider on a hot day takes serious strength to resist, hats off to you lol 0 -
Why not use both? They are not mutually exclusive. They complement eah other. If you only do one or the other then you are missing out.0
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I love the idea of a vague overall goal and then specific, small and attainable daily goals which turn into habits!
I really struggle to motivate myself into sticking to healthy eating for more than, ohhhh, three days so going to give this way of thinking a go
One week hold out for 4 healthy eating days and given time it can snowball, apply the 80/20% rule. Remember your only human Even Tony Horton has a cupcake occasionally
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylE9EkvTNp0
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deathninja82 wrote: »Habits, if I don't set goals I can't be a disappointment.
Yep I can relate to that
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I'm very goal driven, I'm very self-competitive as well as competitive with others so it suits my personality.
Habits definitely make a big difference though, always taking stairs, walking or cycling for local journeys, lunch break at work is exercise time not eating time as examples.
Some of my previous goals (like weight) are now givens and so a habit.
For this year I have 4 goals, 3 are lifetimes bests, 1 probably unobtainable and 1 fun goal.
Oh yes, getting into the habit of 'NEAT' can seriously ramp up the daily burn.0 -
kommodevaran wrote: »I'm all for setting easily achievable goals, and forming habits during good times.
I'm with you on this, but I would add that once fully developed, good habits can be a foundation to carry us through difficult time, as I see it exercise is the best stress reliever, and eating mostly highly nutritious 'unprocessed foods' will keep body chemistry balanced which also helps stress.
Yes, that was exactly what I meant Thank you, very important! I'm not all that fluent in English when it comes to those intricate explanations, lol 
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Habits for me as well. I find that with goal-setting I either miss and then hate myself for it, or end up doing unhealthy things to reach the goal and then hate myself for that. I guess my goal is to keep up the habit of getting regular exercise and being mindful of my eating.0
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I set short term, mid term, and long term goals and they have helped me to create new habits.
For example: 1.5 years ago my short term (daily) goal was to only have bread, pasta, potatoes or rice for 1 meal per day.
My mid range goal was to cut these things out of my diet almost completely to control my blood sugar and to control my urge to binge on these things.
My long term goal was to be able to commit to actual dieting without bingeing on carb.
I created a new habit and on the first of this year I was able to start reducing my calories without craving carbs and without bingeing for the first time in my life.
My new goals are leading to new habits involve logging food and exercise.
My ultimate habit is to be able to maintain my goal weight permenatly and I plan to get the one little goal at a time.
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