Goal setting and revising of goals...
Sorry for being late to the party on this topic but I have been way busy. This just happens to be one of my most favorite subjects!
First SCREW THE BMI! as others have already pointed out this is an extremely flawed measuring device in todays worls and on the individual level. It was designed in a time where people were smaller and also it was designed to describe a population, LAWS OF LARGE NUMBERS!
How did I go about setting my weight goal? Like many of us I pulled it out of my ass....
Really we find a number that sounds good or one our surgeon says would be good and we say ok thats the number for me. Some people say "Well 20 years ago in HS I weighed Xlbs and I liked it so that is my goal" Well for many of us it isn't 20 years ago and our bodies aren't 20 years younger.
Sometimes for guys setting a number on the scale as a goal can be difficult because we carry more muscle than females and we may carry even more muscle than we realize. This is why chosing a Body Fat % as a goal is a much healthier approach. It is easier to say I want to have 20% body fat (Normal for a male) and work towards that as it will take in to account you muscle mass and bone density.
The reality is your body may not agree with your goal I know mine didn't to the tune of about 30 pounds. Does that make me a failure because I haven't hit my goal in almost 2 years?
This is what I see as being a huge problem in this journey is that we set ourselves up for failure by continuing to let a number on a scale dictate who we are and if we are successful. Why not set measurable goals that you can achieve more requently that give you a sense of accomplishment. Ever want to shop at Old Navy? Hell you would not believe the feeling you get being abe to walk into Old Navy and buy ANYTHING YOU EFFING WANT! Huge goal.
Finish a 5K, Ride a rollercoaster things that make life fun! Is it fun getting on a scale daily and then stressing because you only lost a pound or HEAVING FORBID YOU GAINED 1 POUND?
What will you be able to do at 162 that you can't do at 170? Will you run? run faster? run farther? Play with the kids more? wear normal size clothes? Fit in a movie seat?
Remember everything that made you ashamed to be fat everything that made you feel like a failure, once you don't have those then how can you not be a success?
This is a journey about being Healthy and Fit why not make that the goal? Living an enjoyable life where anything is possible. Don't measure you success and let a scale continue to dictate who you are.
First SCREW THE BMI! as others have already pointed out this is an extremely flawed measuring device in todays worls and on the individual level. It was designed in a time where people were smaller and also it was designed to describe a population, LAWS OF LARGE NUMBERS!
How did I go about setting my weight goal? Like many of us I pulled it out of my ass....
Really we find a number that sounds good or one our surgeon says would be good and we say ok thats the number for me. Some people say "Well 20 years ago in HS I weighed Xlbs and I liked it so that is my goal" Well for many of us it isn't 20 years ago and our bodies aren't 20 years younger.
Sometimes for guys setting a number on the scale as a goal can be difficult because we carry more muscle than females and we may carry even more muscle than we realize. This is why chosing a Body Fat % as a goal is a much healthier approach. It is easier to say I want to have 20% body fat (Normal for a male) and work towards that as it will take in to account you muscle mass and bone density.
The reality is your body may not agree with your goal I know mine didn't to the tune of about 30 pounds. Does that make me a failure because I haven't hit my goal in almost 2 years?
This is what I see as being a huge problem in this journey is that we set ourselves up for failure by continuing to let a number on a scale dictate who we are and if we are successful. Why not set measurable goals that you can achieve more requently that give you a sense of accomplishment. Ever want to shop at Old Navy? Hell you would not believe the feeling you get being abe to walk into Old Navy and buy ANYTHING YOU EFFING WANT! Huge goal.
Finish a 5K, Ride a rollercoaster things that make life fun! Is it fun getting on a scale daily and then stressing because you only lost a pound or HEAVING FORBID YOU GAINED 1 POUND?
What will you be able to do at 162 that you can't do at 170? Will you run? run faster? run farther? Play with the kids more? wear normal size clothes? Fit in a movie seat?
Remember everything that made you ashamed to be fat everything that made you feel like a failure, once you don't have those then how can you not be a success?
This is a journey about being Healthy and Fit why not make that the goal? Living an enjoyable life where anything is possible. Don't measure you success and let a scale continue to dictate who you are.
Paul C.
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
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