These last couple of weeks on my fitness journey have been a slippery slope. The change in weather/daylight has thrown off my exercise routine. And after 15 months of being in control of my food intake, recently, that’s been slipping too. Not measuring here, a little extra there, and really, how bad can that fun-size candy bar or handful of candy corn be in the overall grand scheme of things? Apparently pretty bad if I’m not accouting for it because inevitably one turns into two turns into too many to count.
Not that I haven’t allowed myself candy or other goodies before. And not that I haven’t had days where I’ve eaten whatever I wanted. I do. It’s the way I’ve been able to stay in control this time. But, I was in control. Those days where I’d allow myself whatever I felt like eating were planned. And the next day, right back to reality. This time has been different. These haven’t been planned excursions off the diet trail. Instead, it’s been more like when a car goes careening through the guard rail and down an embankment. Whoops. Didn’t meant to go that way.
This sudden detour got me to soul searching. Why, after all of these months of having control, am I suddenly reverting to behaviors that caused me to gain weight in the first place? There are, of course, all of the usual culprits— stress, season change, hormones— but I don’t think that’s it. I’ve managed those issues during the past 15 months.
However, something that has changed has been my goal strategy, or lack thereof. Since day one on Weight Watchers in July 2008, I had goals for getting fit. I had a lot of weight to lose and a long way to go. I needed that broken into manageable chunks if I wasn’t going to get discouraged. There were short-term and long-term goals, target dates and rewards, even if some of those rewards were just that I did it. In the beginning it was the 10% loss thing, reaching a certain weight by a holiday when I’d be seeing people I hadn’t seen in a while, etc. Then my focus turned to fitness and I had races to prepare for, each one a little tougher than the one before.
I remember floundering a little at this time of year last year too. That’s when I joined the gym and set my sights on triathlon. So yesterday, while I sat in front of the TV with the cat on my lap ALL afternoon, although I did go running in the morning (it was about time since it was my first exercise since Tuesday…), I decided to set some new goals for myself.
I don’t have nearly as much weight to lose this time as I did last year. In fact, now I have less to lose than the original 10% weight loss goal. But this last 20 pounds seems tougher than the first 23, possibly because I’ve gotten a little careless. I need target dates to stay on track.
Race season is over until the spring, but I’m setting my sights on some longer distances that will take me 6 months to train for (it took me six months to feel comfortable in my first race), so I’ll have targets that push me out the door and to the gym in the wee hours of the morning. Apparently, I am still not someone who will just get out there and exercise for exercise’s sake.
So what are my goals?
- I will lose the last 20 pounds by my first race in April 2010.
- I will have 10 of it gone by Dec. 18, eight weeks away.
- By next summer, I want to be in a size 8.
- I will be running a 5-mile distance by Thanksgiving. (I can currently run 4 miles)
- I will be swimming a 1-mile distance by Thanksgiving (I regularly swim 3/4 of a mile now).
- I will be biking a 20-mile distance by Christmas (I’m at 10 miles).
- My first race of the season is in April in 2010. In August, I completed this race in 1:06. This year, I’d like to do it in less than an hour.
- By September/October of next year’s race season, I’ll be completing an olympic distance triathlon.
- By September/October of next year’s race season, I will have my first half-marathon under my belt.
Getting fit is not easy. Staying fit is even more difficult when every day it takes a serious conscious effort to make the right food choices and get moving. I need to constantly monitor myself to do what’s right for my health. I’m realistic. I don’t beat myself up anymore if I fall short on some of my goals as long as I’ve made the best effort I can to get there.
But having goals helps. Now, I just have to set them for the rest of the stuff in my life.
What are your fitness goals for the coming year?
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[...] Original post by Fat Girl To Fit Girl [...]
mine are kind of similar ……
they’re more fitness related and then just hoping the weight comes off in the meantime.
my first 5k ever at thanksgiving
another 5k in dec.
my first 10k in march
then my first triathalon in april
my total weight goal is 50 lbs. by april.
thanks for writing all of your struggles and success. helps to know someone is going through similar things.
Those are great goals!!! Once you fall off, it tough to get back on…and it continues to get tougher. Just keep working hard at getting back in control and you’ll do it! These goals are a great way to get re-started! Can’t wait to read about your Olympic distance tri next year!!!
Compliment for you Diane: you’ve grabbed yourself by the but and set some goals for you. Measurable and fun goals too!
I do better on goals too. I don’t have weight loss goals because that puts to much pressure on me which makes me eating unhealthy stuff.
But I do have exercise goals:
- I won’t be running another 10K race before I can run it in less than 1.15. I have already signed in for one in April 2010 so I’ll have till then.
- I will run some 5K of 6K runs before that and try to improve my PR on those distances.
- My plan is to start training for 15K next spring but only if I ran a 10K under 1.15
- After that I’ve planned training for a half marathon in 2011. Just to see if I can do that. I don’t know if I will, maybe I’m comfertable at 10K or 15K but we’ll see.
Great post! This time of year makes it so difficult. The change in weather, the early darkness…so many factors. I have about 15 to 20 more lbs. to lose…we should get an online group…to create some sort of contest. Sometimes, that’s all it takes.
I will be posting my goals for 2010 very soon
Your goal list is awesome and I know you will kick ass!!!
i easily Loss Weight by just avoiding a high carb and foods high in saturated fats. exercise is also very important in losing weight that is why i did cardio.