Week Eight - Goals and targets

Early blog release this week due to other commitments which I will cover next week and are sure to test my new lifestyle. But as I waved goodbye to my son this week going off on his school trip taking in Washington, Philadelphia and New York the wife and I are taking full advantage.

Just a steady week on the improvements and a slightly stagnant on progress although it is still moving in the right direction. Head down and carry on is my motto as always. My lifestyle has gathered momentum and I will continue on the same path knowing I continually improve.

So one question I keep getting asked is what is your goal? what is your target weight? What do you wish to achieve.

My tongue in cheek answers are 'well I am about halfway' or ' I will carry on until I am no longer obese'

In truth I have no set goal in terms of weight loss. My goal is to carry on my 6 month programme with Chris and see where I am then. The future will then be assessed on where I am at then and is something I will discuss with Chris at the time.

Having said the above I do need goals as we all do and set myself various targets, so many in fact you will realise even more what a freak I am!

With my weight to keep it all confusing I get weighed every morning so I can get a weekly average and using the Fitbit Aria scales I have them set in stones/pounds. This then transfers to my Fitbit app where I have the settings in Kgs!

Why?

Well I set myself two target. Mentally I aim to reach the next half stone milestone but also on my Fitbit I set targets in 5 Kg chunks and the two don't equate. This means though that I always have a small goal within my reach, for instance I have this week hit another half stone goal but am 1.3 Kg off my other goal. This means I always have an easy achievable goal in my sights.

It works for me although the sight of me rushing through to the bedroom naked to grab my phone to see how close I am to my Kg target is not for the fainthearted!

I believe an end goal is important but you need things along the way to keep you on the right path.

The clever and regular people who read my blog will now all be saying 'I thought you weren't concerned about the scales!' Well I'm not but I need to use them as part of my progress.

Other small goals are moving my belt another notch, putting on clothes that are now far too big or even getting into clothes I previously couldn't wear. These goals do give me a far better buzz than losing a Kg by a long way.

I have just accepted another target with my friends and members from Impact Nutritional Coaching and whilst it is one I have done before it will give me a training incentive and goal.

I will be taking part in the Total Warrior mudder event next June.

Whilst my fitness had greatly improved this year I still need to get myself running for the event and setting this challenge is a great way encourage me.

Last time I used the C25K app which is good for any non-runner starting out and I may even revisit this time.

Looking forward to the event as many of the people in the team are doing it for the first time and our philosophy as always will be start as a team and finish as a team. Although if my son joins us I am sure he'll be gone at the first hill.

So we all need goals in life whatever we strive to achieve but my view is we need goals of varying size and achievement.

I am no expert but I would encourage anybody to set themselves targets and goals and go for them. Tell people some of them so you are held somewhat responsible to achieve them. Don't reach too far with all of them either and as you reach a goal push on and set another.

So next week will probably be my journey falling off the horse and hopefully getting back on!