In answer to question 1, I should also have clarified that my mini-goals are more like mini-
milestones. They're a means for to mark my progress. I also take my measurements once a month for
the same reason. (I don't have any measurement goals! I have no idea what shape my body really is.)
I also mark off my progress by making a paper clip chain, one clip per pound. To make it even more
impressive, I use 2" clips. My paper clip chain hangs on my office cubicle wall and it's now 144"
long. Now THAT'S visual! <G>
Linda P
On Mon, 01 Mar 2004 21:45:25 -0600, Prairie Roots <
[email protected]> wrote:
>On Sun, 29 Feb 2004 23:02:14 -0600, "WannaBLean" <
[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>Several questions actually....
>>
>>1. How important is setting specific goals for weekly losses? I have just been "hoping for a loss"
>> each week, but from some of your posts I gather that goal-setting is something some of you do
>> regularly.
>
>I'm always grateful for any loss, even a maintain. I set undated mini weight goals for myself
>because it keeps me focused. Kinda like following a trail of bread crumbs in the forest when the
>end of the trail is too far ahead. I just have to get from one mini-goal to the next. I've set mini-
>goals that are meaningful to me, usually 2-3 lbs apart, just far enough that I have to work for
>them, not so far that I can't reach them in a couple of weeks. Since fluctuations and special
>occasions are part of life I don't sweat over reaching them by a particular date.
>
>>2. What do you do if a goal isn't met? I'm kinda hard on myself mentally anyway and don't want to
>> fall into a negativity trap, as I am prone to do thanks to a rough childhood. How do you "cope"
>> if you don't reach your goal?
>
>One thing I do is tell myself that a bad day is just that: a bad day. It's not a reflection of my
>worth as a human being.
>
>Also, since I don't attach dates to my mini-goals, other than the goal set for the group
>challenges, I don't usually have to do much "coping" with unmet goals. But that isn't to say I've
>never been disappointed. The support and encouragement of this group has certainly helped me to be
>more forgiving and patient with myself. More and more I'm able to accept that as long as I don't
>quit, I'm not failing. That every maintain or gain is as much a part of the journey as every loss.
>Heck, I call myself a lifetimer already, because I intend to follow this way of eating for life. In
>that sense, I'm already at goal!
>
>>3. How long should it take to "reach a goal"? I don't mean long-term, as I KNOW I will not lose
>> 100 pounds in two months, but say if I wanted to break down that 100 pounds into mini-goals,
>> how do I go about it? I'm sorry to sound so dumb, but when it comes to weight loss, I am a
>> veteran failure and I am admitting that I need help. I have already begun visualizing myself at
>> goal before going to sleep at night and while walking on the treadmill, but I can't just keep
>> "hoping for a loss" each week and expect to be successful. I know myself too well. Any advice?
>> Anyone? Thanks in advance.
>
>I can only say what has helped me. From the beginning, I've had a hard time thinking of myself as
>thin or normal weight. I don't even know what normal weight is. That's one reason the mini-goals
>help. I can imagine weighing 2, 3, 5 lbs less than now. But sometimes even 10 lbs lighter is hard
>to imagine. When I think now at having lost 70+ lbs to date, I can hardly believe it. So for me,
>visualizing success has had little to do with my actual success. For a long time, I thought that in
>order to be thin, I first had to have worked through all the emotional and psychological issues
>that kept me overeating and fat. I suppose I have done that, to a certain extent. But at some
>point, I came to realize that I can be thin and crazy. Several years ago, I was in Overeaters
>Anonymous. Some of the OA sayings help me now: "Do the work and the results will follow." "It works
>if you work it." "Progress not perfection."
>
>What I appreciate about WW is that there are as many ways to work the program as there are people
>in the program. If visualizing thinness is what works for you, then do that. But don't sweat it if
>it doesn't. Just try something else.
>
>This is what I believe: The only failure is to quit. As long as you're trying, you're making
>progress. You only have to do this one day at a time.
>
>You're asking yourself the hard questions and working through the answers. In my mind, that's the
>best indicator of success. You can do this!
>
>Linda P
>232/159.6/WW goal 145 joined WW Online 22-Feb-2003