HLSG: Do you set time limits for yourself?

[lindrusso]

jd raised an interesting question in the introductory thread - she wondered if we thought that not having a time limit within which to lose weight was a good idea or not.

So, I wondered if you all have a date set for your weight loss goals (for those who haven't mentioned it yet)? Do you find this is effective for you, or not?

I used to do that, but it doesn't seem to work for me anymore. The past few times I set a date I ended up procrastinating and then giving up because the date was nearing quickly and I knew I'd never reach my goal. So I ended up doing NOTHING instead of at least doing SOMETHING! I also think that setting a date makes the whole eating and exercise routines seem temporary - I want to make them a permanent part of my life.

So, I will not be setting a time limit this time (but I would like to look better by next summer so I don't have to hide in my baggy t-shirts again!).

[cookgirl]

It goes like this:

The more I try to tell myself DO NOT EAT CHOCOLATE.. the more I want to eat chocolate. It works in reverse, too. YOU MUST BE THE WAY BY THIS DATE can intimidate me, and then of course, I'm forced to give in to the couch, where I eat cheetos and sulk about how I didn't meet my goal.

It's weird, but if it's a day at a time, it works much better for me. That way I enjoy it more, and I'm not forced to look at some overwhelming big picture.

[Kelly]

I have never really set a date before - until this time. I have found that for the past year (at least) I have been "... going to loose weight, get in better shape, exercise more, etc etc ..." The best intentions of going out for a walk or going to the gym are very easily replaced by reading one more story to the kids, going grocery shopping, or taxi-ing the kids to soccer, basketball - whatever the sport of the season. Since you have kids lindrusso, I'm sure you can relate to that.

The main reason that I set a date this time was to give myself a definite amount of time to reach a moderate goal and be able to look back and see how much I accomplished during that time. I agree with you, exercise and eating right has to be a part of life - not a 12-week stint. I have always eaten fairly well (without depriving myself of my favorite foods) and exercised regularly; once I hit a target weight I can maintain it. I still, however, have not lost all the pregnancy weight from my last baby (who is by no means a baby anymore!) - that’s the weight that I’m trying to loose now. I also have a family history of medical conditions that I am trying to avoid by staying in the best possible shape I can.

[JJeannette]

No dates, no way. Well I take that back--once I was aware of just how much I COULD lose and how much I had already lost, I did set a target for "making goal". I had another motive, tho--I wanted to make "lifetime" by a certain date so that I could ease up on weigh-ins" while I work over at a local X-mas tree farm thru Nov. Once that is over, I'll go back to meeting weekly anyway. I'll really need that after the holidays!

[iqueen]

I do not set time limits because I don't care how long it takes. I look at it this way every week I am trying to lose weight...whether I do or not...is better than a week that I am not trying at all. So if I sit on the same weight for 1,2,3...etc. weeks...So what! At least I haven't gained any. I think this is a life long endeavor and time limits would harm my efforts at that endeavor.

[Missi]

I try and set a small time limit, like a week or two. For me it is great to get that little boost of confidence when I meet a small goal. When I don't make the goal, I don't beat myself up either, I know I can try again the next week. I think it would be harder if the goal were say, in several months, and then I didn't make it, I would really feel down. Small accomplishments prove, for me at least, to be great motivation.

[andreajackson]

I don't like the idea of a deadline because I would like to eat healthy and exercise regularly. So I feel like if I set some kind of date then I would stop atfer that. However I think that the situtaion is different for everyone. Some people need those types of goals so that they have to get it done, otherwise they never will!

[JennyR]

I was a chronic deadline setter. I was also a chronic postponer with the deadline. A big negative feedback cycle. I think it was a combination of factors,but essentially I bit off more than I could chew. This time I really didn't give myself a deadline, but next summer I'd really like to wear a couple of pairs of shorts that I remember looking pretty darn good in. I've already hit a big symptom of my missed deadlines: my health. Whether its cramps (which, unfortunately are every month) or sinuses (the case now) I usually get off track with these small excuses. I enjoy walking and jogging. And I love the fall. Unfortunately, spring and fall don't like me. I feel more tired and breathing some days feels like a chore all by itself. Anybody know what I'm talking about?

[jd]

lindrusso, thanks for raising my question. The feedback is very interesting. I haven't set a date and follow iqueen's philosophy - I feel successful if I haven't gained in a week. I also know that 1-2 lbs per week is a healthy rate of weight loss, so am happy with that. I figure that if it took me 5 years to gain 40 lbs and losing it in a shorter time is a bonus!

JennyR, I can relate! My problem is migraines which can last several day - and they sure don't provide motivation to do anything. After the few days have gone by, the routine is gone.

[skylarc]

I last 53 lbs last year & I truthfully had no clue where I was going to end up or when. While I never set specific deadlines -- I want to be at X weight on Y date -- I definitely had some targeted times & events for which I really wanted to feel good about how I looked. I made all those targets & more importantly for me, it gave me something to look forward to get me through challenges. I don't think for instance that I would have made it through the "Food Season" (Halloween to New Year's) without some kind of end goal (I had a trip to Florida planned in late January). "Eat Healthfully" would not have been compelling enough for me.