As everybody knows, this is the time of year we set our weight loss goals for the year. If you are as serious about getting the weight off as I am, think of goal setting as making a contract with yourself, a very important contract.

There are a few posts around the TDC, like "I want to lose 100 lbs this year", or "I want to lose 50 lbs by May 1st" and so on. But ask yourself, are these REALLY reasonable goals? Is this a contract you can keep? I don't think there is any more discouraging feeling during a diet than falling behind your goal. Maybe there are mitagating circumstances, a birthday party, or a vacation. These things should be included in your goal.

And for those people around the TDC who have lost 50-75-100+ pounds, is losing 100 lbs in a year a realistic goal, or are you setting yourself up for failure? Is it a contract you can't fullfill?

To use myself as an example. First, I'm a guy, so I lose reasonably fast. Second, I exercised over 300 times in 2003, each time over 45 minutes. Thats over 500 miles of walking, and hundreds of thousands of pounds lifted. My eating plan was excellent. I was laid off my job in January, and during the discussion about how bad the economy was, and they had to cut heads blah-blah-blah, the only thing I thought about was that I could now exercise twice a day and tighten up the food plan even more, so I practically ran out of there with a smile on my face (got a new gig 3 weeks later though), so I was 100% focused. For all that effort, I lost 57 lbs. Was I happy? Yes, I was estatic because my goal after losing 49 lbs in 2002 was to lose another 35 last year which was a reasonable goal. I don't think I could have put forth a better effort. As a result, I am under 300 lbs for the first time in almost 20 years.

On the other hand, if my goal was to lose 100 lbs, I would have been very disappointed, and probably would have quit yet again.

Because you are posting in the TDC, you have a lot of weight you want to lose. And it takes time, a great deal of it. If you can consistantly lead a life of high quality and lose 1 pound a week, you will win. If you can be a good person in your community and lose 1/2 pound a week, you will win. If you are a good parent and friend to those around you and lose 1/4 pound a week, you will win. The race is long and demanding. Time is your friend, not your enemy. Like Mr. E said in another thread, he could be 55 years of age at 400 lbs, or 55 years of age at 250 lbs. If you lose only 20 lbs per year, in 5 years thats 100 lbs....a great accomplishment.

Please choose your goals wisely. The forum is stronger because of your presence, and you never know, you might be the difference in someone else seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Good luck in 2004 everyone!