This was actually a big part of my weight loss success, and will hopefully be a part of my maintenance plan.

I was overwhelmed by the thought of needing to lose 50lbs, so I never let myself think of it like that. And I absolutely NEVER put time constraints on my goals. Saying "I'm going to lose 50lbs in 5 months" is setting yourself up for failure. Even though that may be a possible goal to achieve, the moment that it started to feel like mission impossible, I knew I would give up.

Instead, I set smaller goals, like many of us here..."mini goals." I also had many goals going on at once. Lose the first 10lbs. Drop a pant size. Run a mile straight. Lose an inch off my waist. Exercise for a total of 5 hours this week. All of these goals were within reach, they felt possible and realistic. Along the weight loss journey, I was achieving goals like this practically every week. Every week I had a reason to celebrate and feel proud, and that gave me motivation. Eating and exercising on plan day after day seemed easier when I was always achieving these little goals, and then I was always so close to the next goal.

I'm very determined to maintain my weight loss. There are some pretty hefty statistics that are not in my favor. Supposedly 95-98% of people who lose weight gain it all back. I'm not sure if I am confident in that specific statistic, but there's no doubt that many people who lose weight gain it back plus some. I do not want to be a yo-yo dieter.

I simply cannot tell myself "I will never regain the weight." I don't know what I'll be doing or how much I'll weigh in a year, 5 years, 10 years. I'd like to hope that the lifestyle changes I made are permanant. But fact is, I can only control in-this-moment-Megan. I can't control the choices that in-10-years-Megan makes. But I can guarantee with 100% certainty that in-this-moment-Megan will make good choices. I can guarantee myself with reasonable certainty that I'll make good choices for this entire day. So again, I make small goals.

Basically my goal right now is to be within my maintenance range (125-130lbs) on next Monday morning. Controlling my choices for one week doesn't seem too hard. It seems quite legitimate to promise myself that I'll work out and eat right for a whole week. When Monday comes along, I'll make the same goal for the next Monday. And so, week by week, I'll set the goal to maintain until the next Monday.

Very good advice and really good topic. Thanks gals!

That is so true for me as well. For some reason my plan work when I don't target a specific lbs goal. Just keep going and don't think about the pounds you have to lose this week to get to target.

I really need to learn to do this. I've noticed I set impossible goals for myself. I am getting married in about a year and would like to be down to 16 percent body fat by then, which I estimate to be around 50 - 55 pounds, and instead of giving myself a year, I find myself going "I need to lose 20 pounds in the next 30 days" which is, of course, unrealistic and dangerous, so thanks for the reminder.

What's interesting is that this started as spam, and turned into a genuine discussion (the OP's username is a website to help people set goals). I think I am going to start this post myself, move all your posts, and keep the conversation going minus the ugly spammer. Are you with me?

Hahaha, wow, I inherited this thread...I didn't know it was spam, sorry! I...kinda feel like a geek now, lol.

But yes, onward with discussion

I definitely think goals can be a double-edged sword. And I also think it varies from person to person. For myself, if I fail at a goal I set for myself, I get discouraged and want to quit completely. For others, if they fail at goals they set, it makes them want to try even harder. So goals are just another tool in our toolbox that we can use, but not everyone will use them the same way.

You guys lost me on the spam thing! I'm assuming the original post was different than Megan's first post...'cause Megan ain't no spammer.

Anyway...

I'm a huge fan of goals. My husband, who suffers from depression and I suffer it with him (!!), has no goals. When he does have goals, they're monstrosities, like I will be the top of my company by the end of the year. Me? Mine are all so tiny, and each little goal I reach brings me joy!

Typical goals:
No chocolate for a day
Complete the 100 push-ups challenge (this one's long term and achievable)
Run a 5K (Also long term and achieved. )
Read 50 pages or finish a book
Increase my veggies for a day
Increase my water for a day
No TV for a day
Pick up the Saxophone again

The list goes on. My goals are random, but they keep me focused. As long as I am living, I have goals!