Timeline

I jot down the projections MFP gives me and write in on my calendar. When I get to that date I check against where I am for a reference. So far, so good.

One can certainly have a time frame in mind, but losing weight is not a linear process. Setup reasonable expectations and be patient. I just hope one would not try to 'speed' up the process to hit an exact date.

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Hi OP, I personally do not believe that setting a specific date for weight loss is a good idea.

To use myself as an example, I am openly an anxious over-thinker and put a lot of pressure on myself, this year I wanted to be a certain weight for my holiday in September. I started the process in mid June (so didn't give myself much time) and lost 7lbs over six weeks and felt really good. Unfortunately, August was full of horrible deadlines for me and so I neglected my food logging and exercise. When it came to the day before my holiday I was devastated that I didn't reach my goal weight, I had just maintained. This led to me going coo-coo for coco puffs with disappointment for the whole of September and the first half of October and gaining back 5 of the lbs that I had lost previously.

In retrospect, this was a foolish reaction but it is the type of nonsense that comes with unrealistic goal setting. I have since had a stern word with myself and have reset mfp to 'start afresh'. I am no longer keeping a date in my mind, just my goal weight and I KNOW that if I stick with mfp properly then I WILL get there one day. This is only my personal account, however I think we can learn from each other's mistakes if you do choose a date, then prepare yourself for the eventuality that it might not happen even if you work hard, it's just one of those things. Good luck OP!

It's really a good idea to set a goal......except when it comes to scale readings.

I'm not as much of a veteran as many around here. I started logging in February. Then I started learning. Once I learned how this stuff really works (and realizing that the most important thing I learned was that I had a lot to learn still), I decided to make my goals be something not only measurable, but something I had control over.

Because scale readings are only one of many indications, and are notorious liars in terms of fat loss (which is the real goal), it became one of the lesser things. Instead I focused on goals I could measure and have control over:

1. Eat within specified range and deficit over a week at a time.
2. Track every single day as accurately as possible
3. Move according to what I plan - i.e. # of steps, finishing a workout, etc.

As I learned more, I added more goals:

4. Fit into certain (smaller) clothing sizes.
5. Accomplish a particular fitness goal.
6. Achieve the proper recovery time for fitness activity, i.e. don't over-train.
7. Celebrate something every day.


Not one of these goals is tied to my weight. If I do each (or most) of these things, especially the first thing, the scale follows.

You can set goals; but I believe it's better to set goals that are independent of the scale. Use the scale as a tool, but also use measuring tape, the mirror, pictures, etc.