Lately I've been realizing, that it's time to bump it up a notch, and it's time to set some goals.
To be honest, I think I've been a little afraid of setting goals for myself. Afraid of setting myself up for disappointment I guess. The only goal I've really set, is to weigh 120lbs...someday. I've come to the conclusion, that I NEED to set goals for my weight loss.
If you don't know what direction you're headed, how will you know where you'll end up, and how long it will take to get there? If you don't visualize it in your mind first, how can it ever become a reality? If you don't have specific goals you're working towards, how are you ever going to achieve anything?
I need to set goals for myself, so I have something to push myself towards. Setting goals for myself, gives me something to believe in. To believe that I will achieve the goals I set. The opportunity to set myself up for success!
So, I sat down, and stared to think of goals to set for myself. I sure did get a dose of reality, as I started to look at the numbers. I thought to myself, "this is why I haven't sat down to do this..." But it was needed, and I'm very happy I did it....even though it made me a little nervous :)
Here's the 411:
Joe and I are going to start trying to get pregnant in May. That's 3 months away (Yikes!). It's my goal to weigh 150 by then. That means I have to lose 44lbs, by the first week in May. Yeah. That's a big number. I pulled out the old calculator and calendar, and figured out that in order to reach that goal, I have to lose 5lbs a week for the next month, and then 3lbs a week from then, until the first week in may. With my PCOS, we are going to have to get fertility treatments, to get pregnant. The first step is for me to take a pill, that will hopefully get me to ovulate. My husband and I have decided that for the first couple months, we want to try without any fertility treatments. So, I feel like we're really not trying until July, as that's when I get put on the ovulation pill. I'm going to stay on my diet, until I get pregnant, and once I do get preggers, I'm going to keep watching what I eat. I'm hoping that I will weigh 130 by July, if I'm not already pregnant by then.
Let me lay it out again for ya:
*Feb 5th-March 5th, Lose 5lbs a week, or 2olbs for the month.
*March 5th-April 5th, lose 3lbs a week, or 12lbs for the month.
*April 5th-May 5th, lose 3lbs a week, or 12lbs for the month.
*By the first week in May, weigh 150 pounds.
*From May-June, lose 2.5lbs a week, or 10lbs for the month.
*From June-July, lose 2.5lbs a week, or 10lbs for the month.
*By the first week in July, weigh 130 pounds.
Also, Remember THIS dress? Well, my husband is graduating with his bachelors degree April 1st, and I want to wear it to the graduation:
When I bought it, I weighed 185. I remember thinking that I could probably wear it if I lost 15-20lbs. If I stick to my goals, by April I should weigh around 160, so I should be able to wear the dress!
Obviously losing 2lbs, every 3 weeks, isn't going to cut it. I'm glad I sat down to crunch the numbers, because it lit a much needed fire under my tush! It's definitely time to bump it up a notch! Over the next few days, I'm going to research places that have pools, so I can start doing laps. I think it will be a very good workout, and will work well with my RA. Hopefully by next week, I'll be in the pool, burning some calories!
A part of me thinks these goals are too unrealistic.
What do you think?
On a side note:
This morning I peeked at the scale, and I weighed 194! That means I'm down .5lbs!
I was going to post a recipe on this post, but now I don't have time. Hopefully I can post it tonight. Stay tuned, because it's totally yummy!
Wish me luck!... I think I'm gonna need it! ;)
To be honest, I think I've been a little afraid of setting goals for myself. Afraid of setting myself up for disappointment I guess. The only goal I've really set, is to weigh 120lbs...someday. I've come to the conclusion, that I NEED to set goals for my weight loss.
If you don't know what direction you're headed, how will you know where you'll end up, and how long it will take to get there? If you don't visualize it in your mind first, how can it ever become a reality? If you don't have specific goals you're working towards, how are you ever going to achieve anything?
I need to set goals for myself, so I have something to push myself towards. Setting goals for myself, gives me something to believe in. To believe that I will achieve the goals I set. The opportunity to set myself up for success!
So, I sat down, and stared to think of goals to set for myself. I sure did get a dose of reality, as I started to look at the numbers. I thought to myself, "this is why I haven't sat down to do this..." But it was needed, and I'm very happy I did it....even though it made me a little nervous :)
Here's the 411:
Joe and I are going to start trying to get pregnant in May. That's 3 months away (Yikes!). It's my goal to weigh 150 by then. That means I have to lose 44lbs, by the first week in May. Yeah. That's a big number. I pulled out the old calculator and calendar, and figured out that in order to reach that goal, I have to lose 5lbs a week for the next month, and then 3lbs a week from then, until the first week in may. With my PCOS, we are going to have to get fertility treatments, to get pregnant. The first step is for me to take a pill, that will hopefully get me to ovulate. My husband and I have decided that for the first couple months, we want to try without any fertility treatments. So, I feel like we're really not trying until July, as that's when I get put on the ovulation pill. I'm going to stay on my diet, until I get pregnant, and once I do get preggers, I'm going to keep watching what I eat. I'm hoping that I will weigh 130 by July, if I'm not already pregnant by then.
Let me lay it out again for ya:
*Feb 5th-March 5th, Lose 5lbs a week, or 2olbs for the month.
*March 5th-April 5th, lose 3lbs a week, or 12lbs for the month.
*April 5th-May 5th, lose 3lbs a week, or 12lbs for the month.
*By the first week in May, weigh 150 pounds.
*From May-June, lose 2.5lbs a week, or 10lbs for the month.
*From June-July, lose 2.5lbs a week, or 10lbs for the month.
*By the first week in July, weigh 130 pounds.
Also, Remember THIS dress? Well, my husband is graduating with his bachelors degree April 1st, and I want to wear it to the graduation:
When I bought it, I weighed 185. I remember thinking that I could probably wear it if I lost 15-20lbs. If I stick to my goals, by April I should weigh around 160, so I should be able to wear the dress!Obviously losing 2lbs, every 3 weeks, isn't going to cut it. I'm glad I sat down to crunch the numbers, because it lit a much needed fire under my tush! It's definitely time to bump it up a notch! Over the next few days, I'm going to research places that have pools, so I can start doing laps. I think it will be a very good workout, and will work well with my RA. Hopefully by next week, I'll be in the pool, burning some calories!
A part of me thinks these goals are too unrealistic.
What do you think?
On a side note:
This morning I peeked at the scale, and I weighed 194! That means I'm down .5lbs!
I was going to post a recipe on this post, but now I don't have time. Hopefully I can post it tonight. Stay tuned, because it's totally yummy!
Wish me luck!... I think I'm gonna need it! ;)
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12 comments:
It is definitely great to have goals to work towards. I think it is fine to have steep goals, as long as you don't let yourself get too disappointed if you can't meet them in the exact time frame you set out to do. Honestly, 5lbs a week for multiple weeks, is HARD. I don't think I've ever been able to do that. The best I hope for is usually 2-3 pounds in a week, and I only make it when I'm extremely strict with myself. I'm not trying to discourage you, I just know how it can be to get upset with yourself when you aren't doing as well as you hoped, and I don't want that for you! Just do the best you can, and the weight will come off. Good luck!
P.S. Can't wait to see your yummy recipe!
I think it's normal to lose 2-3 pounds a week. BUT it's good to have goals!! My friend wanted to get pregnant and her doctor told her if she wanted to get pregant she had to lose weight....so she lost over a 100 pounds. And guess what....she's now PREGNANT :)
I tried for over a year to get pregnant when my husband and I were trying...we are blessed with a sweet boy and girl :)
Deborah
I don't really know what's too much to lose, and what's not, so It helps me a lot to hear what you think! I've been thinking, if I can lose 2.5-3lbs every week, from now, until July, it wouldn't be the end of the world. That would put be at around 160 by May, and 140 by July. It's better then getting pregnant at 206, which was my heaviest! Although losing 5 pounds a week, for the next 4 weeks, and then 3-2.5 a week after that, is my goal, but I'll remember to not beat myself up if I don't achieve the exact numbers. I need to be grateful for EVERY pound lost, even if it doesn't match the numbers in my head. Thanks for your input!
Deborah,
I love hearing stories like that! I'm HOPING that losing weight will trigger my body to function properly, and ovulate on it's own, so we won't need fertility treatments. That's why we're going to try for a couple months the all natural way ;) Thanks for sharing!
I don't think I've told you but I have PCOS too. The symptoms get worse when I gain weight. I have 2children w/o fertility issues. I was not overweight at all when I got pregnant the first time. I was about 35 lbs overweight when I got pregnant the second time. When I lose weight, my hormones levels get a heck of a lot better.
You can do this. I think it's wise to set goals. If you need to adjust them along the way...that is NOT failing that is adjusting.
One day at a time, one pound at a time, one meal at a time....
I'm rooting for you :)
Wow, those are some lofty goals. Good to set your standards high, but not too many people can consistently lose 5 pounds per week. As I'm sure you know, it's even more difficult for PCOS sufferers.
I do wish you great success in both getting pregnant and with your weight loss goals. I know that losing weight before trying to conceive will only help with the PCOS issues.
My PCOS symptoms have diminished incredibly with 64 pounds lost.
I hope you get to wear your dress!!!! Congrats on the scale being down!
Thanks Lisa! I LOVE it when I hear about women with PCOS, who were able to get pregnant without fertility treatments! I'm REALLY hoping losing weight will do the trick. My specialist told me she wouldn't be surprised if simply losing weight allowed me to get pregnant, as it's happened with a lot of her patients with PCOS. I'll keep my fingers crossed! ;)
Thanks Dawne! :0)
I have PCOS, too. Not trying to have any kiddies though, so not sure how it affects fertility. Just know that's why the hair is falling out of my head, growing on my face, and my cramps feel more like contractions every month!! Yay for PCOS!!! lol
I'll be honest with you. 5 lbs a week for 4 weeks in a row is a little high. HOWEVER....it's better to shoot for the 5, and land around 3...than to shoot for 3 and only lose 1. You get what I'm saying, right?? :)
Hey Tammy!
Usually PCOS causes you to not produce eggs, because you don't produce enough hormones, or you don't produce the right hormones to trigger an ovulation. But, if you have a period, that means that your body ovulated that month, which is a very good sign when you have PCOS. For me, I very rarely have periods on my own. Usually only once or twice a year. That means I only produce an egg once or twice a year. For me to get pregnant, I have to chemically induce ovulation.
Yes, that made total sense! :0) Thanks for your thoughts!
I agree with the other ladies in that 5 pounds is a lot to try to lose in a week. Doing too much at once can sometimes do more harm than good. But I definitely don't want to discourage you, and I'm rooting for you all the way! I'm so excited for you and your husband on trying for a little one! I have a friend who has PCOS, and she recently found out she and her husband are expecting their first child -- without fertility drugs. Just thought I'd share as encouragement that it can happen! :)
Thanks Meg! Definitely encouraging!
My own humble opinion is that these are very hard goals to achieve. Not only are they high amounts of weight you want to lose each week, but they don't account for the fact that your body may not do exactly what you want, even though YOU are doing everything right, you know what I mean?
Personally, I don't give myself goals for a certain number of pounds per week or to lose a certain amount by a certain date, because if I don't make it, I feel bad, and bad feelings lead to overeating. Now, this is ME, and everyone's different, so this might not apply to you.
What I would do is make goals to eat a certain amount of calories per day, a certain amount of water and a certain amount of exercise - these are goals that you can control, and will give you weight loss - no matter how long it takes.
Just my opinion! I wish you luck with your goals, whatever you choose them to be!
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