How do you set a date for your weight loss goal? .

[jbriantoth3]

How do you set a date for your weight loss goal?   I set a goal of 10 lbs but cant find how to enter a date to do this by. 

[smhermione]

Fitbit will do that for you based on the plan intensity you choose.  If you want to lose 10 lbs and choose the plan for 1 lb per week weight loss, it should take 10 weeks and so on.  If you are losing weight faster or slower than it plans then it will adjust your goal completion date.

[KJScarp]

Setting a goal date is meaningless.  It's not a race, and there's no finish line.  The weight will come off as it comes off.   Once it comes off, then it's a lifetime of working to maintain that loss.

[runnergirl318]

I disagree.  Have you heard of S.M.A.R.T goals?  Look it up, there's a lot of info about it. The S stands for Specific.  The T stands for time.

I want to lose weight is very general a goal like this could go on and on and on...

specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound.  

With that being said-I don't know how to change the date.  

[KJScarp]

I've been continuously, slowly losing weight for the last 3 years.  I haven't come close to losing said weight according to the goal date on either Lose It (where I log my food) or fitbit.  The body is not a machine, and weight loss is not linear. 

The only goal I have set for myself is to lose a certain number of lbs.  However long it takes.  Weight loss (and maintenance) is a lifelong project.  I don't need the additional pressure of an artificial deadline to fight against.

Honestly, I think trying to adhere to an algorithmic weight loss schedule is why people start out strong on sites like this, but then give up when they don't meet the calendar deadline.  At this time of year there's *always* the rush of posts stating, "I'm eating my calorie budget but I've only lost 3 pounds in a month instead of the 6 lbs. that  <insert calculator here> said I would lose in that month.  What am I doing wrong".  And then they get discouraged and leave.

Or another favorite is the person who starved themselves and exercised like a fiend so that they can lose 30 pounds in 3 months so they look good in their beach bikini.  If they're lucky they plod along until they reach goal weight, and then what?  They haven't learned how to maintain their weight loss because they were too invested in losing the weight by a certain date, rather than learing how to eat to maintain said weight for life, and the pounds pile back on in about half the time that it took to lose it. 

[Idahonancy]

After you set the intensity as other poster said the date expected you will reach your goal shows up under the tab where you log your food.

[WendyB]

I agree with @KJScarp  I have never set a date for losing weight. If I dont make it I might be disappointed.

I have also only set a ceratin number. Like 10 Pounds and then I would reward my self with a New Exercise DVD or Pedi.

[KJScarp]

@WendyB, I had to do the same thing with the incremental weight.  I initially had about 190 lbs. to lose, and it just seemed so hopeless to even contemplate losing that much.  By doing it in increments, I've been better able to stick to plan and continue, even when I would get discouraged.  It's worked so far, as I've lost 75 of those 190 so far.  Yay for the almost-halfway point!

[WendyB]

@KJScarpAwesome! You have done very well! Congrats! WOOT!

[JaneB]

@KJScarp, congratulations on all you have accomplished so far! That's awesome! I'm doing the same thing for myself. Just setting little mini-goals so I don't get overwhelmed by the big picture. I don't really have a specific date for accomplishing those goals, although I am hoping for a reasonable amount of time. For example, I think I would be really unhappy if I'm working really hard and it takes a whole year to lose 10 pounds as opposed to working really hard and it takes 3 months to lose 10 pounds.

[Chris72]

How do I set up a weight loss plan on the Fitbit charge

[muslgrl]

I am a bodybuilder and have to set a date for weight is there any way to set a date and have Fitbit tell me how much I can eat4

[LewWagner]

Just my two cents worth...

You can estimate a target end date where you wish to achieve a certain weight, but factor in your weight loss goal per day so that you are losing about 1-2 pounds a week as a start.  Normally, you tend to lose more weight per week at the start (if you're heavy) through dietary/nutrition and starting up of exercise (if you haven't been exercising previously).

So, if you have let's say 36 lbs to lose and you weigh 200 lbs and your BMI says you should be at least at 164 (for me, 5' 8 1/2", age 59), then 36 / 2 = 18 weeks, roughly.  If you have a negative calorie count (i.e., burning more than you intake), you will get there.  How much your negative calorie count is will determine (along with what type of exercise, HR, and exertion, and nutrion) how well you meet that weekly goal.

[Paradise555]

I actually have monthly goals like lose 1 to 2 pounds a month to be more realistic in my opinion. I know I have to lose another 55 pounds but when I see 55 pounds I don't want to do it but when I break it down to 1 to 2 pounds a month then I find it is more dueable.

[DNME]

That depends on who you are. Take a boxer for example, in the lead up to a fight. The boxer wants to drop 5 kg for an upcoming fight in 8 weeks. They may want to ensure that they hit their goal a couple of weeks in advance of their fight in order to let their bodies fully adjust. 

Some people may also need a set goal date as a means to stay dedicated and committed. Using set dates as a goal for weight loss is a perfectly normal way to acheive those goals.

[Wolftor]

It is too bad that fitbit cannot calculate for us the date when we will achieve our goal.

And it should also be able to tell us how much we can eat today based on what we ate so far and our exercise and the date we set as to when we want to achieve the weight goal by.

[mdutcher]

Not sure if you recieved an answer to your question.  On computer, you can go to Log tab and go to Food Plan.  Click the side arrow til you get to the Plan Summary.  You can set a goal weight, but not a goal date. It will give you a date to shoot for, depending on the Intensity you have chosen.  Hope this helps:)