Question for those of you who have already lost a lot...

Will it help to have a set date that I want to lose weight by- or should I only keep my weight loss goal in mind. Will having a date in addition to a goal help?

Sat. Jul 22, 7:51am

I have lost a considerable amount of weight, but I did not set a date. I think it's different for each person. Some people set dates as a form of motivation, but I knew that wouldn't work for me. One of the reasons I didn't set a date was because I didn't want to feel that I had failed if I didn't reach my set weight by a certain time. I knew that I was going to lose the weight sooner or later, so the date didn't matter so much.

Do whatever makes you feel good. If you choose to set dates, make sure they are realistic. Good luck :)

-JenniLynn

Saturday, July 22, 2006, 9:15 AM

I had heard a pound a week was reasonable, so i decided to set my goals a little behind schedule to factor in a few monthly, umm, "accidents"... so my goal was 3 lbs a month, and for the most part, (until recent screw ups...) that helped me feel good about how far I'd come and keep at it.
-Sluttony

Saturday, July 22, 2006, 10:56 AM

I didn't have a firm date - it was more along the lines of "by the time it's warm enough to wear shorts....." But it did help to have a relatively immediate goal to work on (and make sure it's acheivable).

Saturday, July 22, 2006, 1:45 PM

I set long term goals for example: When I first started here at PT beginning of the year I wanted to lose 30 pounds by my 50th birthday end of July. Well my birthday is this coming Friday and I'm down 27 pounds. I won't be upset if I don't make that goal but I'm close enough to it which I'm proud of.

Plus I give myself a challenge for the month, like in the team I'm in we have a no baked goods challenge for the month of July. The winner gets bragging rights lol.

For my next goal I have a pair of size 14 jeans someone gave me and I want to fit into them for Christmas. Set small goals with yourself even if it's 5 pounds from now until September. Everyone does different things but it takes small steps to be rewarded the big ones.

Saturday, July 22, 2006, 6:08 PM

I did not set a firm date or have an event in mind. I didn't even really have losing a lot of weight in mind, just making my eating healthier. It turned into 30+ pounds over the past year.

Saturday, July 22, 2006, 6:11 PM

I found it very helpful to set long and short term goals. I haven't lost a TON so far but I'm pretty proud that I've to date lost 22 lbs. My initial goal was 1lb per week and to lose 40lbs by November based on that 1lb per week. Now that I've gotten down to this point I can't maintain even the 1lb per week so to keep myself from getting disappointed I've adjusted my short term goal to 1/2 lb per week and my long term goal to 40lbs total my New Years.

I like to write my daily weight down on my home calendar so I can't fudge or hide from the number also it's great to go back and watch the progress I've made and help me feel good about what I've accomplished.

Monday, July 24, 2006, 9:14 AM

I set a bunch of small goals. Lose 20 by this date. Lose an additional 20 by this one. Thing is, I never got upset if I didn't make it. And I didn't ever say that I'd have to lose 40 by the second date.

In cas you're wondering though, I lost 16 by the first date. An additional 22 by the second. And today (one year EXACTLY from starting) I've lost 55 pounds. The last 20 are going to be rough.

Sunday, August 13, 2006, 4:26 AM

Related Content: How To Lose Weight- The Basics Weight Watchers Points System The Fat Smash Diet The Eat To Live Diet The Beck Diet Solution How To Get The Motivation To Lose Weight		How To Be Successful Using PEERtrainer How To Burn Fat Online Weight Loss Support- How It Works Does Green Tea Help You Lose Weight? Tips On Using PEERtrainer Visit The PEERtrainer Community Diet and Fitness Resources
Fitness Weight Watchers Meetings Learning To Inspire Others: You Already Are Writing Down Your Daily Workouts Spending Money On A Personal Trainer? How I Became A Marathon Runner		Preventive Health How To Prevent Injuries During Your Workout Flu Season: Should You Take The Flu Shot? Are You Really Ready To Start PEERtrainer? Super Foods That Can Boost Your Energy Reversing Disease Through Nutrition
New Diet and Fitness Articles: Weight Watchers Points Plus How To Adjust Your Body To Exercise New: Weight Watchers Momentum Program New: PEERtrainer Blog Archive Review Of The New Weight Watchers Momentum Program		Weight Loss Motivation by Joshua Wayne: Why Simple Goal Setting Is Not Enough How To Delay Short Term Gratification How To Stay Motivated How To Exercise With A Busy Schedule
Real World Nutrition and Fitness Questions Can Weight Lifting Help You Lose Weight? Are Protein Drinks Safe? Nutrition As Medicine?		Everyday Weight Loss Tips How To Eat Healthy At A Party How To Eat Out And Still Lose Weight The Three Bite Rule Tips On How To Stop A Binge