Thread: hmmm I'd like to know what you think of not having a goal date please

Hi, people,

I am interested in your genuine, honest thoughts about something.

I notice that a lot of people struggle on here, me included. I am still going forward, but I struggle when I am too hard on myself. I notice that a lot of people are too hard on themselves and sometimes set unrealistic goals, or goals that are really, really hard to meet - as in, you would have to be 'really good' for the whole time and then, with a bit of luck thrown in, you would meet you goal.

The question...what do you think of a calorie counting approach, that instead of saying 'x calories per day' and 'I will reach my weight by x date', what if a person just didn't have a goal date and just made sure to eat under their tdee each day, by *some* amount. For instance, my tdee is 2089 at the moment and at my goal weight is 1853. So, for example, if I just made sure to eat less than 1853 every day...some days might be 1852, some might be 1200...then would that be *EMOTIONALLY* easier to stick to?

Would it still work?

Thanks.

I don't know if that would work sorry I know that is no help.

Somebody with far more knowledge I am sure will come along.

I have x amount of calories a day but to be honest since my wedding last year I don't really have a goal date but do want it done asap but I am like you setting a date to be a certain weight puts to much pressure on me and I don't seem to respond well. I wanted to be at target for my wedding and it didn't happen although I was lbs lighter I wasn't anywhere near target.

Originally Posted by SuperGroovy

Hi, people,

I am interested in your genuine, honest thoughts about something.

I notice that a lot of people struggle on here, me included. I am still going forward, but I struggle when I am too hard on myself. I notice that a lot of people are too hard on themselves and sometimes set unrealistic goals, or goals that are really, really hard to meet - as in, you would have to be 'really good' for the whole time and then, with a bit of luck thrown in, you would meet you goal.

The question...what do you think of a calorie counting approach, that instead of saying 'x calories per day' and 'I will reach my weight by x date', what if a person just didn't have a goal date and just made sure to eat under their tdee each day, by *some* amount. For instance, my tdee is 2089 at the moment and at my goal weight is 1853. So, for example, if I just made sure to eat less than 1853 every day...some days might be 1852, some might be 1200...then would that be *EMOTIONALLY* easier to stick to?

Would it still work?

Thanks.

Yes, I'm sure it would work. Calorie zigzagging is a good way to approach CC, because it's meant to keep your metabolism on its toes, and as you say it's easier to stick to. I always look at my weekly calorie total on MFP rather than having a set daily amount, and I try not to set myself definite targets or weigh in more than once a month, and it works well for me. xx

Thanks for that, Tracy. I think I was getting overwhelmed by my goal date...taking some time away from thinking about it helped I like this zigzagging thing. I try to get 1200 cals per day but it's good to know that at least as long as my cals add up to an average of 1200 a day over a week, it will be the same loss, maybe even better. It also gives me an 'out' if I overeat on my cals one day. For instance, yesterday I overate and had about 2000 cals. However, some days this week I have still had at least 1200 *to eat*, but with exercise I have ended up with a bit of a surplus, e.g. 1100 net etc. So, today I worked out the average cals I have eaten per day and what I will need to eat for the next two days (today and tomorrow) to give me still an overall average of 1200 a day for the week, ready for my weigh in day on Friday. As long as I have 772 today and tomorrow, I will be fine for Friday and will still have stuck to my weekly target...then, back to 1200 a day after that.

Thanks for that, Tracy!

Originally Posted by SuperGroovy

Thanks for that, Tracy. I think I was getting overwhelmed by my goal date...taking some time away from thinking about it helped I like this zigzagging thing. I try to get 1200 cals per day but it's good to know that at least as long as my cals add up to an average of 1200 a day over a week, it will be the same loss, maybe even better. It also gives me an 'out' if I overeat on my cals one day. For instance, yesterday I overate and had about 2000 cals. However, some days this week I have still had at least 1200 *to eat*, but with exercise I have ended up with a bit of a surplus, e.g. 1100 net etc. So, today I worked out the average cals I have eaten per day and what I will need to eat for the next two days (today and tomorrow) to give me still an overall average of 1200 a day for the week, ready for my weigh in day on Friday. As long as I have 772 today and tomorrow, I will be fine for Friday and will still have stuck to my weekly target...then, back to 1200 a day after that.

Thanks for that, Tracy!

I'm all for mixing things up and making life a bit easier. It's got to be sustainable, hasn't it. I could never go as low as a 1,200 average though, lol. xx