Sparky Under Wraps: WLB - Week 2 - Post 2 (Set Some Effin Goals)

Originally posted on my Win, Lose, or Blog blog when I was a Win, Lose, or Blog season seven contestant.

~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~

For years I have wished I could lose weight and be healthier. I think the best thing I did to get started this time around was turn those wishes into goals by writing them down.

Source: chroniclebooks.com via Lorraine on Pinterest

Before sharing the goals I have made I am first going to go out on a huge limb and just put it all out there ("it all" being my weight). I started this whole thing at 238 lbs. I want to cry a little as I write that...not sure if it is because I was so big or more so because I just told everyone how big I was. (I really want to delete all of that. But I won't.)

Source: businessinsider.com via Kate on Pinterest

Moving on. . . When I started, my first major goal was to get to 175 with my next goal being to get in my healthy weight range which is 130-155. Since then I have added a couple extra goals so that it isn't such a HUGE distance to my first goal. I have added get under 200, and lose 20% of my beginning weight. Those are two on the journey to the major goal and I think they are good additions.

One thing I do to help me reach my goals is to give myself what I call motivational conditions. Two of those are 1) I cannot cut (only trim) my hair until I get to my first major goal weight and 2) I cannot get my hair professionally colored until I get to my ending goal weight. I have had those conditions for a couple years. My hair started just below chin length. It is now to the middle of my back. When I made that goal I thought it would be a good motivator. For the most part it hasn't been because most days I like my hair BUT it is a little annoying because I know I can't cut it if I wanted to. I find the more active I am the less hair I want mainly because I have a lot of hair and it takes time to dry and style and the whole sweaty hair thing is just so...sweaty.

Source: via LeAnn on Pinterest

The no professional coloring is a little more motivational to me. I like how my hair looks with highlights and lowlights--while I may color my hair at home, there is no way in hell I am going to try to do that at home. I recently made the decision to give a little on this condition. I have lost over 10% of my starting weight and I think that deserves a reward. I am going to wait until I am under 200 and that will be over 15% lost too. Once I get there (which should be very soon) I will allow myself to get my hair colored. But to not ruin the original motivation I am only going to get one all over color. While I try to be a stickler for the rules (even rules I impose on myself) I feel pretty good about giving myself this reward.

This may seem silly to some but you have to do what works for you. These little motivation conditions work for me. They don't work for everyone, I understand that. Maybe a "forbidden" food treat or new clothes would be more of a motivator to you. Maybe motivation like another season seven contestant,Allison, wrote about over on her WLB blog would work. She placed a pompom for each pound she needs to lose in one jar and as she loses the pounds she will move them to another jar. At the bottom of the "pounds to lose" jar is some money she gets to spend on new clothes.

No matter what it is or how silly it may seem to you, if it works DO IT!