Which is better? Short Term or Long Term weight loss goals?

[earthakatsuki]

Personally, I think it is better to do short term goals for my weight loss. I want to lose about 100 pounds. Having one goal to just lose 100 seems daunting. In my eyes, It makes me feel better to see me accomplish multiple smaller goals eventually leading up to one big one. What do you guys think?

[josephz2va]

Both. Having a Short Term Goal and a Long Term Goal and maintaining that goal is essential to what you want. ex: "I'll quit after my 60 day transformation to six pack abs". Arnold Schwarzenegger you can use as a pretty picture of a transformation from six pack abs turned to muscular atrophy. If you quit your 60 day transformation, you revert back to what you were. It's best to do it 365 as long as you can which is my plan. AM Bodybuilding and PM Insanity Max:30 all 365 days versus 60 days. When I stop, it starts to revert. Losing muscle development to flabs. So I have to keep it up. Start it over at day one after 60 days and keep going.

[Sunnylane]

I think this depends greatly on your age and current health as well as you activity level. It is best to make small goals that can be achieved quicker on the way to the final goal, whatever that happens to be. Regardless of how long it takes, you really have to nurish your body correctly through the whole process.  The exercise routing must also be a workable one to start that you can increase as you go for the "burn" and the final result here too.  One has to be smart when trying to drop excessive weight.   If its a 10-20 lb loss that can be acheived easily by cutting carbs and sweets for a couple months.

[NatashaP]

I do both. I have an overall goal of reaching 150 pounds but I look forward in small chunks. X pounds lost before my anniversary in a few months, X pounds lost by Christmas or whatever other date I decide seems like a nice end goal. I have daily goals to stick within my calories and weekly goals to progress my strength workouts, my walking distance, hiking endurance and trying new healthy recipes.

Big goals are good to break down into smaller goals to give that sense of accomplishment and to make it seem less endless. But it doesn't mean you have to give up the big goals!

[Sharon1960]

I have lost about 86 lbs over a period of several years.  I found that joining a non-profit support group helped (with weekly weigh-in's).  I joined Tops and I know I could never have done this on my own.  Also, I used a similar food tracking and tracked exercise, etc.  Best of luck - It can be done.  One thing that I've read about goals is that they should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound).  I found that setting mini goals and then rewards (non-food related) for reaching 10 lb increments really helped me.

[braceface]

I agree with everyone on having both.  I have an overall goal of 20 pounds, but I really just focus on one week at a time.  Everyday I think about how what I do will affect my weekly results.  That (so far) has kept me motivated to make good food choices and get out and exercise every day.  It really helps to mix things up with exercise too or you might get bored.  I do a mix of jogging, yoga, pilates during the week and on the weekends I usually go for a good long hike and do some walking lunges/knee highs/pushups/tricep dips throughout the hike, as well as one weekend day I do a nice long (~25 miles) bike ride or go kayaking.  The dog motivates me for the hike to get he and myself outdoors and my coworkers motivate me to bike or kayak. 

It's really all about whatever works for you.  I think in general, if the goal you set gives you anxiety or causes some negative feelings like "how can I do this?!"  you're going to be fighting it, so breaking it down to something smaller/more attainable will help.  Trust me, if I thought about 20 pounds every day, I'd probably give up.

Good luck!

[DominicJ]

My "goal" is 140lbs

That doesnt mean I cant celebrate every pound on the way

[TexasSun]

I agree that you should have both.  Having a long term goal is good, but doing it with baby steps seems the most logical.    I try to motivate myself with some kind of reward for every 10-20 lbs lost...maybe new shoes or workout clothes.  My overall goal is to lose 50 lbs.  I'll get there...eventually.  🙂  

[Raviv]

Another vote for "both."

Yes, I started with a 58 pound weight loss goal, but along the way I reward myself - not just for weight lost either.

Losing weight (like every 10 pounds or so), not missing a workout at the gym, eating really clean for a week... anything that may not be easy and I want to encourage.  

Just don't give yourself food rewards.  Bad for your head in the long run.