5 pounds at a time

[SunsetRunner]

Trying to change my approach. Instead of constantly thinking of need to lose 40-50 pounds, I'm only thinking in terms of 5 pounds at a time.  Little bites at a time.  Anyone else use this approach? 

[lyro]

Yes, I was setting 5 lb. weight loss goals and was meeting them at the beginning.  I think I have plauteaued now although I still have more to lose, so I just stepped it down to 3 lbs. for November.  Hope I make it.  I think it is easier mentally and physically to have smaller, more attainable goals.

[smhermione]

I found that smaller multiple goals helped me as I saw more progress and wasn't beating up on myself for seeing how far I still had to go.  That and fitbit helps you celebrate when you reach your goal.  I just love getting those emails!

[diversitygirl]

I like that approach...setting milestones

[JJLM]

I changed my approach from years ago to "10 pound increments" and it is working.  Kind of like the "5 pound increments" though.  Quicker results, but I do weigh in once per week and my goal for weekly weigh-ins is 1 pound.  So, far, actually losing slightly over the 1 pound weekly goal, so that's motivating too.

[SunsetRunner]

Actually saw a 3 lb loss this past week and closer to that first 5 lb loss. I was more motivated to bring lunch to work and w/ the cooler weather in FL, it made walking at lunch more manageable.  The smaller milestone equals less pressure.  Feeling much more motivated. 

[Marcy]

Thinking in small increments definitely worked for me. It's more encouraging.  When I was losing weight, I did it by trying to beat my last low weigh-in, even if it was only by 1 or 2 lbs.  Then that weigh-in became the new goal to beat. 🙂   

[LewWagner]

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@SunsetRunner wrote:

Trying to change my approach. Instead of constantly thinking of need to lose 40-50 pounds, I'm only thinking in terms of 5 pounds at a time.  Little bites at a time.  Anyone else use this approach? 

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CC,

Sounds like a good plan!  I didn't try to focus on my overall goal.  That would have been too much (130 pounds), so I chose 10 pound increments and created a spreadsheet to track the progress in weight loss.  Each time I lost another 10 pounds, I would change the background color to green (from yellow).  Over time, I also placed horizontal bars across the trend line for 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4's of the way to my overall goal of 170 pounds.

9 2/3 months later, I lost that 130 pounds, but was able to do it 10 at a time...

[SunsetRunner]

Congrats on your accomplishment!