I have no goals, does it matter?

BenKnowsFitness
BenKnowsFitness Posts: 451 Member
edited September 29 in Success Stories
I’ve lost 41 pounds in 80 days. I have no dietary or fitness goals. I don’t count calories or fat or anything. I just go for the things that have reasonable nutrition labels.

I do exercise 3 times a week but I never really plan it and if I do I usually miss the plan. Basically I eat less than before and I exercise. I don’t know if this is good or bad. Comments appreciated...

Replies

  • sue26
    sue26 Posts: 412
    Youve lost 41ibs in 80 days, that says it all:smile:
    Keep up the good work
  • ashlinmarie
    ashlinmarie Posts: 1,263 Member
    It's good that you don't need those to stay motivated, but I like having goals, meeting them, and rewarding myself. If you don't have to obsess to lose weight, then I don't see an issue with it.
  • AnotherMichelle
    AnotherMichelle Posts: 110 Member
    Wow- I agree with Sue! Keep it up... If it works and you feel good- Keep at it!
  • Kelly_Wilson1990
    Kelly_Wilson1990 Posts: 3,245 Member
    Me too...I like a goal.
  • paulagabay
    paulagabay Posts: 96
    I agree with Sue. You are doing great. I need this site and goals because if I don't do it I will stay on the couch and watch tv.
  • yvonnerab
    yvonnerab Posts: 21
    There are those that believe that the modern idiom that "SMART Goals should be 'S'pecific, 'M'easurable, 'A'ttainable, 'R'ealistic and 'T'imely" is just psycho-babble...honestly, "to set a goal" is just another way of saying you set your mind to do something - ANYTHING.

    Regardless of your motivation to do so, 80 days ago you set your mind to eat healthier and exercise more, and that in itself is a GOAL, albeit a short-term one. You achieve that goal every time you exercise, eat less than before, or make healthier choices in your diet.

    So you do indeed have goals - they are simply short-term ones rather than long term. And by setting these goals you have made a conscious effort to "create a new reality" in your life - Congratulations!
    :wink:
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    I think that we all know that eating better and exercising more should lead to weight loss, but I find it hard to stick to that if I don't have a guide.
    MFP works well for me because it gives me concrete goals for eating/exercising each day. I alos like the accountability aspect and the playing around with my meals to make the numbers work.
    If you have found something that works for you and that you can stick to, go for it!
  • gingerfoxxx
    gingerfoxxx Posts: 267 Member
    Perhaps your goal is to not have a goal?

    I'm just kidding :) Some people don't need goals, they just do! Keep up the good work!
  • thenewkarisa
    thenewkarisa Posts: 207
    sounds like you won't have as hard of a time keeping it off as the rest of us... I would love to do that but I have a horribly skewwed sense of what's good or not... but it sounds like you are doing great
  • BenKnowsFitness
    BenKnowsFitness Posts: 451 Member
    sounds like you won't have as hard of a time keeping it off as the rest of us... I would love to do that but I have a horribly skewwed sense of what's good or not... but it sounds like you are doing great

    I have failed 5 times now (or more, kind of lost count) so maybe this time will do the trick. And each time when I went back up, I knew with every bite of every bad thing that it was going to get me. Strange cycle... Maybe my goal should be to keep it off this time.
  • KyleB65
    KyleB65 Posts: 1,196 Member
    Sounds like you are doing well.

    However there is an old saying. "If you are not planning to succeed you are planning to fail."

    By giving yourself short and long term goals you are defining the yard stick against which you can measure your success.

    As it costs nothing and takes very little time. Perhaps giving your self some goals will help you get to a healthier life style?

    With no goals there is no psychological barrier to returning to what ever habits you had when you were heavier.

    Good luck with what ever you decide.
  • MzBug
    MzBug Posts: 2,173 Member
    I haven't set any goals either. In the past I would get pissed with myself for not hitting the goals and give up. I have an idea of where I would like to be as an end product, but nothing between start and finish, and definitely no time restriction! If it takes 5 years, it takes 5 years. As long as I am making reasonable choices and the scale doesn't go the wrong way I am content.
  • infamousmk
    infamousmk Posts: 6,033 Member
    My boyfriend doesn't really have any goals either - he just cut back on portions and drank more water. He lost nearly 30 pounds in about six months. Now he says that when I started getting closer to my goal weight, he'll probably cut back on his sweets and treats and see how that treats him. Some of us need concrete goals or measures to stick with something, but my lovely boyfriend has shown me that some people just need the will to do something better/right to get it done. I think you're doing an awesome job, and as long as you are making changes in your habits that you know you can keep up long-term, you're going to keep the weight off this time!
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