Setting new goals because I'm not reaching many.

[dizzyfreckles]

Hey everyone, so I've figured I'd share my struggle with everyone because I might get some more suggestions and/or someone needs to hear this for themselves. 

So after about 3 weeks with my fitbit, I'm loving it but really getting down on myself when I don't reach my goals.  At first i was trying to get to 10k steps a day and I was barely getting to 5k on most days, so i decided to change my goal.  This helped a bit because on the days that I really push myself I'm getting to 6k, however, thats only when my husband decides to go on walks with me. (btw, he's reaching over 10k everyday by taking 30 min lunch walk and 5 mins walk every hour -- this works for his work schedule and not mine). 

Anyhoo, now i'm thinking that i need to change all my goals because its just so unmotivating to not reach them.  As I'm writing this, I'm thinking, "wow, what a bummer" but then the other side of me thinks "well, you gotta take baby steps and its alright".  

I guess my point and message to everyone is -- "It's ok to start very small and take baby steps!"

Here's my full disclosure: Right now, i wish I could reach 10k but i'm going to set my goal at 5k (i'm not happy about this but i'm going to be realistic about it). I'm changing my active mins to 20 mins instead of 30 and decided to take the whole 'calorie' setting OFF my Fitbit Force because it doesn't work properly. Once I'm off Weight Watchers, I'll start logging all my food here instead. 

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE! Feel free to add me as a friend if you need a little motivation, I could really use some too. 

[gerrymcd]

Baby steps are absolutely the way to go...... pushing too hard will just leave you tired, grumpy and possibly even injured.  I once heard the definition of an athlete is someone who tries to go a bit faster, further, or higher today compared to yesterday.   Thats what we should all strive for! 

If you feel disheartened -- even slightly -- at the thought of dialing back on your goals, why not print out a yearly calendar and put some incremental goals..... 5k in Feb,  5,500 in March.... 7k in Aug.... 10k in Dec.

Something you feel is achievable with effort and commitment.   And yes, I do suggest you aim to take 10 months to double the number of steps.  That way - once you really get into it - you will feel good about surpassing your monthly goals.....and then have the pleasure of resetting your Dec goal. 

[Natalie]

setting your goals to more realistic ones is a great idea.  This is a new journey you are on to be the fittest, healthiest person you can be and it will be a lifetime journey.

You will find as you go through different posts, that small habit changes can make a huge difference but always remember what works for others may not work for you.  Simple things you can do is park further away, walk every isle when doing the groceries.  Little things but it can add up.

I have my goals set at the moment to 15k steps and lately am barely making 10k, but I have included an outdoor fitness group to my routine a couple of times a week.  doesn't always get me heaps of steps but fantastic exercise.

Whatever you do - Don't give up and remember that everyone here is on the same journey as you - just at different stages

Nat

[gerrymcd]

@Natalie.   I agree completely about small habit changes.  I sit in front of a computer all day at work.  By simply using a restroom along a coridor and down two flights of stairs, instead of the one nearby, I added a significant amount of extra activity. 

[dizzyfreckles]

Thanks guys! defintetly making small changes will make a huge difference. I know that logically, but when i see the 'you didn't meet your goal' part i forget it lol. 

I think i'm gonna try parking further way from the store & running up and down the staris every hour might be a good idea too. 🙂 

[MrPete]

It is absolutely a good idea to set reasonable goals, but you still want to push yourself into doing a bit more than you usually would.

I found that when I got my fitbit I was getting about 6000 steps in a day.  So I set my goal to 6500 to push my self to do more than normal.  After I hit 6500 steps every day for a week straight I changed my goal to 7000 steps.  Again, when I was able to hit 7000 steps every day for a week I changed my goal to 7500.  Now I'm just about ready to bump it up to 8000.

Keep it up and push yourself a little bit harder everyday and you'll find a way to get 10k steps.

[danid512]

What MrPete said.

By now you probably know what you do without any additional effort on a daily basis (IE without making any effort outside of normal daily routine I typically hit 4000-4500 steps).

My first goal was 5000, and once I had successfully hit that DAILY for 2 weeks, I bumped it up to 6k. Once I was hitting that regularly, I went to 7, and so on. Now my daily goal is 15k and while it definitely requires effort to get there, my general average most days is usually higher (on weekends i am generally over 20k).

You can't expect to hit 10k normally if you are not accustomed to it. It's like saying you're going to eat all veggies for a month and then failing because it's not realistic. Push yourself, but let your body warm up to the idea of it.

I will say that for me, not hitting my goal, for lack of better wording, really pisses me off. I have been known to go on a walk around my block at 10pm because i needed another 1k steps to hit my goal. It motivates me to see that smiley face and green status on my phone and i get cranky and feel like a failure when i do not. I certainly have "break" days once every two weeks or so where I skip the gym and go on a leisurely walk but even those for me now tend to be in the 8-10k range for easy days.

Your body will adjust to your increased movement, and you can adjust your goal with it. Just make sure you don't get complacent with a low number. Keep pushing and keep motivated and you'll get there. Good luck!

[Del678]

I didn't set any fitbit goals ntil after a week in of acting normally and recording. Then I knew 8000 steps, 1700 calories out, 1000 in, 3L water, would be my goals. Some higher some lower than the standard. I'm losing weight and getting fitter.

[au4all]

You could make a goal to find two friends to walk with 3 three times a week. You could be a positive influence on them.

Use your imagination. Set goals (or make habits), that inpsire you, and that you can stick with for the long-term.

Good luck.

[dizzyfreckles]

^ thats true. I don't have that many friends around my neighborhood, but i could try to make some new ones. Maybe on Meetup? 😛

[gemi643]

Hi,

When I first started my goal was 5,000 steps but after some outside walks with my husband I changed to 10,000 steps. I am keeping it there even when I achieve more on some days. Right now my key to acheiving my goals of 10,000 steps and 30 active minutes is to jog in place while watching a TV program. If I do it in the morning it gives me a headstart on the day.  I was having difficulty achieving my goal of active minutes in my daily activities of volunteering at a museum or water aerobics twice a week so this has been my way.  It is painless because I am distracted by the TV and don't realize the time going by.

If this fits into your schedule, you might try it.  I am 70 yrs old, retired with a very understanding husband. He, by the way meets his higher goals by walking continuously around the house.  That was too boring for me. He also does a lot more walking when he is acting as a tour guide at the museum.

[katie1717]

Think about it in non-fitness terms to get some perspective:  If you made a to-do list in the morning that contained every last thing you need to get done, you'd inevitably fail to reach that goal.  Perhaps you'd be disappointed.  But on the other hand, you'd have a comprehensive list of what needed to get done, and thus you would be less likely to overlook something you needed to do.  It would give you a good blueprint for the next days or weeks.

On the other hand, if you made a to-do list that only had one or two things on it, you'd achieve that by 9 am, be all proud of yourself and basking in the glory of achievement, but......there would probably be other things you really needed to get done as well.

Not that I always follow my own advice - I have the same emotional ups and downs that everyone else does on this journey - but it seems like there's a time and place for both short term and long terms outlooks here.  For instance, if I focus on needing to lose 50 pounds, I'm overwhelmed.  But right now this minute, I only need to lose the NEXT one.  You know what I mean?  

I'd suggest that you set a goal that you have a reasonable chance of reaching if you put forth, say, 5-10% more effort than you are now.  At the same time, think about longer term goals.  Perhaps you might decide that once you've met your goal four times in each of two consecutive weeks, you'll bump it up another 10%.  Figure out how often you personally need to see that 'goal reached' logo on your screen in order to stay motivated.  

you can do this!  you've already taken, no pun intended, the hardest steps!

(Disclaimer:  I've been known to write things on my to-do list after I've compelted them, just to have the satisfaction of crossing them off.)