Pre-season task 3: Goal setting

This would have to be the task that I have had the most trouble with so far.  I guess in part it's because if I get pregnant by the end of the 12WBT, the goals will no longer be achievable.  If I don't get pregnant by the end of this 12WBT, I wonder whether I'm setting myself up for failure.  And there you have it folks, that element of doubt, that seedling of wonderment, wondering whether I will be able to do it.  I know in my heart of hearts I can, but that scared little girl in the back of my mind tells me, but what if you can't?  Now is the time to shut that little brat up once and for all, by making some goals that I can work towards.

So, here goes...

Weight

• To lose at least 1kg per week
• To get back into double figures (the 90's)
• To weigh less than my boyfriend (94kg)
• To lose at least 12kg during the 12WBT
• To get back into the 80's (on the scales that is!)
• To lose at least 24kg in 6 months
• To lose at least 40kg in 12 months

Exercise

• To burn 400 calories in a workout by the end of week 2 
• To burn 500 calories in a workout by the end of week 4
• To complete C25K program in the allotted time.

Clothes

• To fit back into size 16
• To fit back into size 14
• To fit back into size 12

Misc goals

• To get pregnant (the BIG one, the motivator) 
• To maintain a good diet and regular exercise when I move, despite losing my routine - I'll manage this by being organised before I leave Sydney and knowing what items from the kitchen (mainly spices etc) I will need for the week before my Sydney Boy flies up to be with me.  I'll have a good filling breakfast before I leave home on Saturday morning, pack my snacks, and also take a packed lunch so there's no temptations at the airport or on the way to my in-law's place.  I'll go straight to the shops on my way to their place so I can get all the food I need for dinner that night so I am not tempted by unhealthy take away.  Exercise wise, I'll make Saturday my day off training as this I think will be the busiest day with the least time.  On Sunday, I will use my exercise time to go for a jog/walk around the neighbourhood and get acquainted with where things are so I'm making good use of my time.

Rewards

I have had a hard time thinking of anything I could use as rewards.  The obvious ones that aren't food related (massage, pedicure etc) are all things I'd get done anyway so I don't think they can be used as rewards, at least not at the moment because there's little motivation in me saying today, when I reach 10kg loss, I will get a pedicure because by then, I'll have had 2 of them or something so there'll be little point.  I think as I hit 5kg losses, I'll decide then and there what I want to use as a reward for my next goal - it might be going to the movies to see a new release movie that I really want to see, or it could be buying a new outfit I've spotted.  I think doing this will make it more relevant and motivating. 

If you think it, you will be it

I've been thinking a lot over the last few days and conveniently got Mish's other book Crunchtime in the mail yesterday and started reading it last night.


In her book, Mish talks about using the word, "hopefully" as in "hopefully I'll lose XXXkg by XXX"  instead of saying "I will lose XXXkg by XXX".  She says that using the word "hopefully" means we're setting ourselves up for the possibility of failing instead of being positive and aiming to achieve what it is you're wanting to achieve.  I didn't realise how much I use that word "hopefully" until I started to think about it.  Even this afternoon during my PT session, my PT said something about the weight dropping off me if I keep going the way I am to which I replied, "hopefully".  No sooner did the word come out of my mouth, did I realise what I was saying to myself.  I was chucking one leg on each side of the fence so if I did achieve that goal, I could say to myself "well I knew I could do it" but if I didn't I'd be able to say "I knew it wouldn't happen" to quell that feeling of disappointment.  I quickly corrected myself and agreed that the weight will keep dropping off me if I keep going at it.  


It reminded me of that old saying "if you think it, you will be it" or words to that effect.  From now on, I'm going to pay great attention to the words I think (all that self talk) and the words I say to others to try and catch myself in thinking this way.


Of course, the saying "if you think it, you will be it", probably shouldn't be taken too literally.  After all, R Kelly sang, "I believe I can fly" but the closest to flying he'll ever do is in a Boeing 747 or a handglider etc, no matter how much he believes it.


Which I think is probably a good thought to ponder when considering my next pre-season task.  The goals have to be hard enough so that I don't just do some pansy arse effort because it's all too easy, but then they shouldn't be TOO hard that they're impossible (ie aiming to lose all 40kg in 12 weeks, or becoming a size 6 or whatever).  


Let me ponder some more on that...