What’s Your Goal?

July 8, 2010

I’ve been getting more email questions about various things, so I decided to add a “Ask Me Anything” box in the right sidebar of the blog. Is there something you want me to answer on the blog? If so, just pop in a question there and submit. You can submit anonymous questions if you want, but if it’s mean spirited or offensive, it will not get answered. As always, you can email me if you’d rather ask something privately.

I was thinking about more questions today that I probably needed to think about as I go through this process. It was interesting to see on the blog and on Twitter how you guys define “fit” from yesterday’s post. One of the things that makes weight loss so hard is that it’s so individualized. The process is not only physical, but it’s extremely emotional. It’s shaped on how you were raised, what your family attitudes towards fat or fitness were, how your friends talk about fat or fitness, etc. It’s about the farthest thing away from a cookie cutter as possible.

During this long weight loss journey, I’m sure I’ll change my mind on these questions as I progress. Take goals, for instance. The more progress I make in the journey, the more my goals change. Have you experienced the same thing?

So- what is my goal?

When I started, my goals were very long-sided. To weigh 200 pounds. To fit wherever I wanted to: restaurant booths, bathroom stalls, airplane seats…

Now? Sure, I still want to fit. Not sure what I want my weight to be. The lowest I ever remember being is 215 (I’m 5’10, that puts me around a sie 14/16 misses), so why I said 200 is kind of beyond me. I think my goals for right now are a lot more short-sided.  The road is so long that I’m having to feel small successes more frequently in order to keep motivation. Tonight, my goal is to make it through my high intensity workout without falling, puking or crying. Next week, my goal is to complete the 5K. After that is to stay consistent with my workouts until my cruise. During the cruise my goal will be to not eat like crazy and to stay active. Beyond that? No idea.

Obviously the end goal is “health” or “fitness” but those are so broad… it’s not like I can write that down and then know on Tuesday, “ooh! I just reached my goal of health! Let me check that off the list!”

How frequently do you change your goals? What are your goals RIGHT NOW?

  • http://diaryofcurvyjones.com CurvyJones

    My goals go by about every 10 lbs. I'm in the 230's now so my goal is to get to 229. And then I will want to hit 219… advancing a decade every time. I have a few rewards set aside for when I achieve certain goals as well. Sometimes, though I get so frustrated because it seems like I do better when I don't have any kind of goal in mind. The minute I said I wanted to be down 50 lbs by the time I go home in September, I stopped losing and stopped feeling like going for it hard core. I psyche myself out, so I try not to think about it.

  • Katdoesdiets

    I like to make goals along the way that are fitness related, like your 5k (so wished I lived remotely close to do it with ya). But as far as long term goals, I just guessed at my goal weight. It was the highest weight for my height on one of those charts that looked halfway sensible. I truly think I'll know when I'm at my happy weight, whether it's the one I picked, or not. All my other goals are constantly evolving and changing, I think that's OK.

  • Marcie101

    Kat, you can do a local charitable 5k, such as a NAMI Walk (for mental health), Relay for Life, Children's Hospital walks, Diabetes Walk, etc. even some Alzheimer's Memory Walks are 5k. Then you are joining in on the concept and can channel the local folks while you do it. :)

  • Marcie101

    Right now, my goal is to have two consecutive days where I eat within my Weight Watchers points limits. That's going to take some more education on what I can eat, how poor my eating habits really are, etc. I'm hoping with this goal I'm learning those life lessons for health that we all need, regardless of weight. It's a small goal, but one that will help me build up to losing “x” number of pounds.

  • http://chasingthenow.wordpress.com/ Maria @ Chasing the Now

    I think it's healthy to constantly change our goals as our bodies, motivation, and lifestyles change.

  • http://realfatandsassy.blogspot.com sassy

    I am very reluctant to set weight loss goals. I have an idea of where I would like to be someday, but that's not the number that's driving me. Weight can be such a fickle thing, so I don't want to pin all my hopes on it. I do that enough as it is without having a short-term goal weight in mind, so my goals are to meet my daily points target and (now) to get to the gym four times a week. Numbers, numbers, numbers. It's easier to see success if our goals are measurable, but for me, the more important focus is on the intangible, like having a positive attitude or not making excuses for myself. That's the lifestyle I want to cultivate in myself. The numbers will follow.

  • Brittany

    I think it's good to have small, stepping stone type goals.

    My current goal is to reach 166 for a 40 pound loss! When I first started, my goal was to simply reach 120. Now I find that I need to take baby steps to get there. I'm not thinking about the 48 pounds I need to lose everyday. Right now, I just want to lose 2.

  • http://twitter.com/LilyFluffbottom Lily Fluffbottom

    My goal is to train myself to jog 3.1 miles by August 15th. I am completely and utterly terrified that I'm going to injure myself in the process because I'm still well over 300 pounds. But, SE, how epically amazing would it be if I could pull it off?

  • http://twitter.com/RaisedQueer Christine

    “ooh! I just reached my goal of health! Let me check that off the list!”
    You made me LOL when you wrote that!

    I think you're exactly spot on, when you mention that often times our 'goals' are too broad. I so agree….b/c it leaves too much leeway and it's easy to get lost. Baby steps are a perfect fit for me:)

  • http://kclanderson.com/before-and-after KCLAnderson (Karen)

    While having a specific weight goal helps some people, it can also be counterproductive because it puts all the focus on a fickle number. I had a goal once of reaching 149. Never got there…not even close. I got to 168 and was smokin' hot. But because I was disappointed about not reaching 149, I didn't appreciate being smokin' hot and then regained some weight. This is where trusting your gut comes into play…don't listen to the marketplace! They just want you to buy buy buy!

  • http://LowStressWeightLoss.com Sarah@LowStressWeightLoss

    I”m not focused on the numbers, I'm looking at the long term, how I want to live.

    I've been meaning to write up my thoughts about my goals, because I think it will help me to clarify them if I make myself post about it.

  • Sarah6116

    For me, I have to have a measurable result. And numbers seem to motivate me the most. I set rewards for five pound increments, small things, a movie, a manicure, etc. The healthy lifestyle to me is a commitment now, I mentally reached that goal a while ago. My end goal, so far, is to be at a healthy BMI. Of course I will re-evaluate when I get there and whether it be more weightloss or maintenance, I'm gonna go for it!

  • Kittykatz4

    I feel the same way you do. I had joined Weight Watchers, & lost 70 pounds. I looked good, but WW told me I still had to lose another 20. I gave up, & gained all but 15 back. I find when I set a number goal, it just depresses me if I don't get there quickly. But if I set a healthy eating, & work-out goal, I can do it.

  • http://tcjewfolk.com/category/minnesota-mamaleh/ MinnesotaMamaleh

    this post really resonated with me. i have an extremely long, up-and-down relationship with weight and all of the baggage that sometimes comes with it. i think you're spot-on with so many things– baby steps, the connections to how we were raised, etc. but i really appreciated the individualization and fluidity that yu mentioned in terms of goal-ing. it makes it so…attainable and do-able. thanks for that.

    i found you through free fringes and am very (very) glad that i did!

  • http://twitter.com/Gainedweight Dee Dieter

    Love your goals, Em. “Fitting in” is a goal of mine too. Just wanted to let you know that, once again, you were mentioned on my blog – http://skinnyemmie.com/

    Luv ya

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