what helps you - several short term goals or one long term goal? - 3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community

Jessica Committed · 10-25-2011, 01:24 AM

Hi all!

What motivates you? I realized the sting of the "long road" is lessened if I have several short term goals, rather than one long term weight loss goal. What works for you all?

Thanks!

-Jessica

Lambiechop · 10-25-2011, 01:26 AM

Short term. It makes the enormity of the remaining 77 lbs I have to lose seem a bit less daunting.

Soft Speaker · 10-25-2011, 07:29 AM

Agreed short term. I try not to think about the long term because as Lambiechop said it can be very very daunting if you have a lot of weight to lose.

I also like to have non-scale goals! Like not eating candy for October or maybe an exercise goal for that week.

That always gives me something to look forward too even if the scale doesn't move as fast as I may want it to.

shcirerf · 10-25-2011, 08:19 AM

I like short term, small goals. Like the others, breaking it down into small goals keeps the process from becoming overwhelming.

Plus, you can give yourself small rewards more often!

banananutmuffin · 10-25-2011, 08:21 AM

I usually set long term goals, but I should set short term goals. Otherwise, I procrastinate.

sontaikle · 10-25-2011, 08:27 AM

Each pound lost is a victory for me and it's made it seem like this whole process is flying by

d130 · 10-25-2011, 08:40 AM

I have lots of mini-goals along the way, but that's because I like to cross things off my list!

I have goals for every 5 and 10 pounds, 10% and well as whole and half stone (unit of weight measurement in parts of the UK). It means I have something to look forward to all the time and there isn't ages until I've crossed the next thing off my list. Seeing my progress like that keeps me motivated to continue my good habits.

carter · 10-25-2011, 08:44 AM

Short term - not merely short term, but rather laser-like focus on the moment.

I have taken this entire process one choice at a time. I do lots of planning, lots of preparation to set things up so that it is easier to make the right choice. But if you boil it down my only goal is to make the best choice I can make, every time I am faced with a choice.

(Even the choice to plan ahead counts as one of those choices. On a weekend afternoon, when it's tempting to laze about and relax, I make the choice to plan my dinners for the week and do the cooking-ahead I need to do so that weeknight dinners are quick, easy, and on-plan.)

I have no numeric goals. I focus on my actions and let the numbers follow from that as they will.

ShanIAm · 10-25-2011, 10:05 AM

Oh man, I was obsessed with goals. OBSESSED! From the beginning I knew I wanted to lose 50 pounds. Then I calculated I'd lose 2 pounds a week in the first few months and then 1.5 the weeks following. I kept a spreadsheet with dates. For example, based on my calculations, I should (would!) be 167.2 on April 13th and 165.4 on April 20th, ... etc. I would chart my estimated weight and then my actual weight come weigh-in day. Lordy -- I was really OCD about it! But it gave me something to look at. It charted my progress. And when I was ahead of schedule it motivated me even more!

Perhaps this isn't a good idea for everyone as it may add extra stress and disappointment if you don't hit your goal exactly but I always seemed to because my short term, week-to-week goals were reasonable based on my diet and exercise.

Long story short -- I was a short term goal kinda gal. I had milestones throughout the process.

I gained recently so maybe it's time for another chart!

Rana · 10-25-2011, 10:12 AM

Extremely short term goals, like hitting my calorie count or being under it ------ TODAY!!!!!!

I lose weight too slowly so hitting 165 or 160 or 155 or 150 are more like long term goals for me!

s rosa · 10-25-2011, 10:12 AM

Right now, very short term. As in, today I'll go to the gym on my lunch break, today I won't have burger king.. it's very barney-level but to me that makes it feel more like a lifestyle change - like I'm making better decisions over all, on a daily basis, than just "I'm dieting to lose 90 pounds".

Jessica Committed · 10-25-2011, 10:55 AM

s rosa, your sentiment, "Right now, very short term. As in, today I'll go to the gym on my lunch break, today I won't have burger king.. it's very barney-level but to me that makes it feel more like a lifestyle change" - this is my motivator today! Love the "barney-level" language, hee hee!

ItsMyTurn · 10-25-2011, 01:30 PM

I also fall under the short term category. I have found that if I space the goals out too far, then I lose that sense of accomplishment from meeting goals and just see a long road that I feel like I am getting nowhere on. Short term goals keep me in check and keep the spirits lifted

Mimzzy · 10-25-2011, 01:56 PM

Lately I have been using both short and long term goals to keep me on track. I set my long term goal weight so I have an idea of what I am working towards but I take my weight loss 10lbs at a time. I find that I keep myself more motivated with my short term goals, like "If i work out tonight then maybe I will be a pound lighter tomorrow!"

April Snow · 10-25-2011, 02:58 PM

I don't even have a final goal. I figure my goal will find me as long as I keep working on my short and medium term goals. Short term are usually 5 lbs at a time so I can get a new chickie avatar. Medium term are my 10% goals. I am currently working on my 3rd 10%, although I have an interim goal of Onederland which falls in the middle of my current 10%.

I'm REALLY looking forward to this next goal because it will not only be my third 10% loss, it will be the dividing line between obese and overweight!