Making obtainable goals

[Odyssey13]

A friend wanted to lose fifty pounds. A few years later, he needs to lose eighty. He tried various diets, even fasting, with little result to make him want to continue.  Now he's struggling and feels lost.

It was hard enough for him to admit the fifty, but how often do we set goals that are just too lofty? Had he tried to lose two pounds a week, instead of looking at fifty, he could have done it.

When making a goal, it ought to be one that isn't so high that we fall before we can reach it. It's easier to achieve a smaller goal than to make a larger goal only to feel it's beyond your grasp.

In order to get where we want to be, we need to be like the tortoise. "Slow and steady wins the race."

Here's to all us tortoises!

[Jim_M]

The goal that got me started was not the primary goal of weight loss - it was only a secondary.

Within a month, I was diagnosed with high BP, high cholesterol, and Type II diabetes and put on meds for them all.  My doc told be that he considered diet and exercise the equivalent of one med.  So I started exercising more, and tracked all the stuff I could.  Yes, I lost weight, but "cut back on meds" was my primary goal!  My high BP med dosage has been cut by 75%, and my cholesterol is WAY in the normal range (once you start with the meds, I don't think docs like to stop that one.....).

[SunsetRunner]

Same here, Jim. The weight loss was a nice side effect. But my goal was to lower cholesterol, glucose levels and blood pressure. The Fitbit helped motivate me to move. Happy to report I am off all prescription Meds. I have three granddaughters, all trim but still very concerned about body image. I had to be very careful that I was presenting this journey to better health the right way.

[LilBudyWizer]

Personally, a good start is just track your calories in accurately. Two pounds is way to aggressive as a starting point. Often just tracking can help a person by just raising awareness. I loved cheesy potatos of all types until I saw I was eating 2K calories worth in a meal. Eek. I love eating out in nice restruarants but once I saw how many calories in many of meals, 2K+, I decided I didn't like it so well after all. Give it some time just tracking and you can likely find some low hanging fruit the you can easily eliminate without great sacrifice. Um, well, you likely shouldn't actually eliminate fruit, maybe low hanging cookies instead.

[WUA]

Low hanging cookies, funny:)

[WUA]

Thanks for the link.

I got an avatar in, just not showing, but the Mods are looking into it. HOpe I get to use it since it's my fav! 

[Cande]

WOW, WOW, WOW!!!

Fabulous! You should be an inspiration. I went cold turkey in August, 2012. I cut out all the crap. And guess what- unbelievably I haven't had even ONE potato chip (or tortilla chip) since then. Not even one. This from the girl who always ate "a bag" no matter if it was 1.25 oz or 10 oz. A bag was a bag.  Would I like to have one? Yes, But I don't want one.

So you're going great Good luck! Keep us posted,

Cande

[Natalie]

I'm with you  @jaycatmac , my scales are gathering dust under a cupboard somewhere.  I have decided weightloss is a bonus to a happy and healthy lifestyle. 

I try to move as much as possible, I love randomly dancing to the radio when I great song comes on and usually my kids join in and we have a laugh. I enjoy eating a variety of food and notice the difference if I have been eating too much junk.

Life is to be enjoyed and everything is good for you in moderation