CWCEBMEY's CalorieKing blog
Friday, Nov 13 2009 - Deadlines and Consequences
View CWCEBMEY's food & exercise for this day
Part of setting a goal is having a deadline. Sometimes when I set a deadline, it is a huge motivator, a challenge. Other times, it seems to just pass by as if I never wrote it down or even gave it a second thought. I'm not sure what is the difference between when the deadline works and when it doesn't. But I do think it is important for me to figure it out. I think I could be more successful if I understood when my deadlines have an impact and when they do not.
Years ago, someone told me that it is the consequences you set in place that make the difference. So on those days that I do not go to the gym, I have to take the stairs every where. . . while that doesn't make me go to the gym, it does make me happy when I do go to the gym. Today, I did not go to the gym, so I had to take the stairs. Taking the stairs is no longer a good consequence for not going to the gym. Taking 4 flights up and down to get to the cafeteria was a cake walk. It used to be hard, huffing and puffing, feeling the burn. Now, it is routine. I'm a little out of breath, but not uncomfortable.
The reason I am discussing deadlines and consequences is that I think they may be related. What if I do not reach my goal by my deadline. . . what are the consequences? When deadlines have been a motivator, it is when I look at that deadline every day and measure it every day. . . how did I do on my eating, exercising, blogging, food journal. . . then measuring every day helps me stay focused and encourages me to be successful. But when I do not focus on the deadline, when I do not measure my progress, what are the consequences? I do not have any consequences. I just pat myself on the back and tell myself to do better next time. Or change the goal and move forward. I can't undo what wasn't done. I can't lose the weight in one day to catch up to the goal. But part of me still wonders, what can I do to stay focused, and when I lose focus, what should the consequences be? Like taking the stairs, which used to be hard, that was a good consequence.
Any ideas???? I'll have to think about this and come up with something. In the meantime, I will stay focused and measure my progress, so that when I'm slipping, I will try harder. And when I am succeeding, I will be encouraged to keep moving forward.
Years ago, someone told me that it is the consequences you set in place that make the difference. So on those days that I do not go to the gym, I have to take the stairs every where. . . while that doesn't make me go to the gym, it does make me happy when I do go to the gym. Today, I did not go to the gym, so I had to take the stairs. Taking the stairs is no longer a good consequence for not going to the gym. Taking 4 flights up and down to get to the cafeteria was a cake walk. It used to be hard, huffing and puffing, feeling the burn. Now, it is routine. I'm a little out of breath, but not uncomfortable.
The reason I am discussing deadlines and consequences is that I think they may be related. What if I do not reach my goal by my deadline. . . what are the consequences? When deadlines have been a motivator, it is when I look at that deadline every day and measure it every day. . . how did I do on my eating, exercising, blogging, food journal. . . then measuring every day helps me stay focused and encourages me to be successful. But when I do not focus on the deadline, when I do not measure my progress, what are the consequences? I do not have any consequences. I just pat myself on the back and tell myself to do better next time. Or change the goal and move forward. I can't undo what wasn't done. I can't lose the weight in one day to catch up to the goal. But part of me still wonders, what can I do to stay focused, and when I lose focus, what should the consequences be? Like taking the stairs, which used to be hard, that was a good consequence.
Any ideas???? I'll have to think about this and come up with something. In the meantime, I will stay focused and measure my progress, so that when I'm slipping, I will try harder. And when I am succeeding, I will be encouraged to keep moving forward.
3 comments so far.
3.
a decade ago
Hi Chythia...ugh...I just wrote a comment and accidently deleted it! Dang it! Anyway -- let's try it again! The goals and consequences discussion is so important. I've struggled with this, too. I like the idea of the charm bracelet. Tracer (on CK) did this and it seemed to really help her. Some people set up things that they will buy or do to reward themselves for reaching a goal. I made the mistake of setting up rewards, however, that I knew I would get myself regardless (like a pedicure, for example). I think it's important to come up with things that we really WANT but don't necessarily NEED -- so the consequences are felt (disappointment) but don't deprive us of things that are essential. Does that make sense? For me -- a pedicure every couple of months is essential but a massage wouldn't be -- so maybe a massage would be a good reward. Anyway -- thanks for your post, it's a good one to think about.
by RECRE8SUZ
2.
a decade ago
Hi Cynthia. Thanks for visiting my blog. I can definitely relate to the goals, deadlines and consequences dilemma. I think I suffer from the same issues. My group meeting last week talked of goals and for the most part I tuned out (blah, blah, blah, I thought ..), but it did get me to thinking about them. Goals are great and a reward system helps, but the reward can't be something you would do/get if you didn't make your goal, only if you did. So as a reward for starting my program I decided to finally buy something I had really been wanting for a long time - a Pandora charm bracelet. And I will earn a new charm for the bracelet at every weight loss/behaviorial milestone. So for each 10 lbs lost, I'll get a new charm. When I get started at the gym, I'll buy a new charm. When I stick with an exercise program for a certain number of days/weeks, I'll earn a charm. Somehow, this is giving me some motivation. And if I don't hit those goals/milestones, then the consequence is that I don't get to buy a new charm until I do hit them!
The consequences piece is hard, because I agree with you - we tend to just restart, set a new goal and say we'll do better next time. So the rewards based version of the goal setting seems to work for me. The other thing I really like is flowers and I am thinking of using that as a way to stay on track during the weekend - which can be hardest for me to do. If I stay on track for the weekend, I'll get some flowers for my desk at work to remind me of how good a job I did and to stick with it. And if I don't stay on track on the weekend, my desk will be sad without fresh flowers for that coming week.
I guess consequences could include losing something or giving up something for a while if you don't make your goal ... hard to say what those motivators might be, probably different for each person. I do agree with Tina though, that long look in the mirror is usually enough to scare me straight again!
P.S. LOVE the penguin pic ... my son is a hockey player!
by LIZADAZE
1.
a decade ago
Wow! Your post really got me thinking... I guess, for me, the consequence for not meeing my goals is another day at my current weight, or worse, at a higher weight. I hate being heavy and that is punishment enough to keep me motivated. When I start lagging and feeling unmotivated, one look in the mirror while I'm naked is usually enough to re-motivate me!
:bigeyes3: If that doesn't work, I pull out a pair of pants that I purchased because I love them, but my arse it too large to fit into them. There are any number of motivators that remind me why I'm here and why I'm doing this. I've lived long enough punishing myself every day by being overweight.
:thumbu2:
Hope that helps!!!
by TDOWNWARD