Is it ok not to have goals? I have been eating clean and lifting well consistently for about a year. I love the way I feel, look, and I could never go back to eating the way I used to or being sedentary.
Five years ago I was a size 18, over 200lbs, and now I'm a size 8-10, 143 lbs. The whole time I lost weight, I never thought of a goal weight, I just kept going.
I don't have any goals in mind, other than to compete in a competition someday. I know some people have a target weight, bf%, measurements, but I feel that goals like that make me feel like I'm setting myself up for failure. If I tell myself to just keep going, it feels mentally easier.
I know it's important to have short term goals that will help me reach my long term goal of competing, but is it ok if they don't work for me?
When i was first losing weihgt my goals were simple as see progress in my physique and enjoy my time in the gym. once i fell i "have " to be there my heart is not in it.
gradaully goals changed
get ready for pictures
competitions
now my goal is my wedding on feb 28
but i always want to love to be in the gym as long as i do that i see progress
before 5'1"approx 180
first comp light wieght 112 10%
last comp light weight 118 10%
now 130-135 18%
Yeah I always look forward to going to the gym and I don't feel good if I've taken more than one day in a row off. I get antsy!
Last spring I had some gym boredom, so I took my cardio outside, swam or did Tae Bo at home. Helped a lot.
I am going to have to take some pictures pretty soon, because I don't really have anyone in my life who can evaluate me for readiness for competition. I have one friend who evaluated me for symmetry (he's been lifting since I met him 13 years ago), but it would be nice to have people who know what they're looking at tell me what's up.
My original goal was to compete in figure in spring or early summer 2004. My friend told me to give it another year. I'd kind of like to practice the dieting and posing for a summer competition, just to gain some experience before I'm really ready.
Ok that's my short term goal Take pictures for evaluation. I wish I knew how to pose better, but I have a hell of a front double bi!
goals are overrated. That's heresy I know. sure I have long term ones, I'd like to squat 1.5 bodyweight for example. Id' like to do an unassisted pullup some day.
But day to day, I just aim to enjoy being at the gym, feeling like I've lifted heavier than last time ... so shoot me.
Originally posted by mirror ....But day to day, I just aim to enjoy being at the gym, feeling like I've lifted heavier than last time ... so shoot me.
OK.... Bang!! LOL
Seriously though, I agree with you. As long as I make steady progress, I'm happy. I like to feel that each time I lift, I've made some further progress. I keep a journal of my workouts so I can keep track of things.
I guess my main goal is to gain as much size and strength as I can naturally while maintaining my femininity.
Sometimes I do set specific short term goals though. My latest goal is a 300lb deadlift which I'll be attempting in a couple of weeks. I feel really confident about it too
Retired strongwoman and powerlifter. Now living for God!
www.ausdisciples.com
* My posts prior to Nov 2008 do not reflect my new-found faith in Christ. I became Christian in Nov 2008.
Goals aren't overated at all. Everyone has them, its just that some people's aren't as defined as others.
Sure you can make gains without solid goals, but you would do far better if you set short term goals working your way toward your long term goal.
A vague analogy... I can leave my house toward a desired destination with a vauge idea of how to get there but with a clear and precise plan, I'd get there a lot faster.
GymChic
The uncomfortable truth is too many of those who venture to the fields of iron and steel give up, quit, abandon the glorious task too soon to realize the sub-surface bounty of exercise, good eating and training. The qualities they lacked to keep them going were amongst the qualities they were about to discover" - Dave Draper
I think it's OK for beginners not to have a specific goal other than "I want to lose weight" or "I want to look better".
I'm sure that everyone has a reason that makes them go to a gym and workout. In the beginning it may not be more specific than the reasons above but once you've reached a certain level, one where you can see the progress you've made that's when it's time for more specific goals.
Every couple of months you should evaluate your progress. Take pics every couple of weeks and compare them. The thing is that you don't really see the changes while they are happening but at one point you look into a mirror and go: "Woah, I look great!" That's when you dig out those photos you took 4 months ago and notice the changes, the gains you've made.
It's also the perfect time for nitpicking, are there things you aren't perfectly happy with? If so, there's your next goal, this time a more specifc one like "the biceps needs more work", "my abs should be more defined"...whatever. Choose one and work on it.
Originally posted by sweetbecky Is it ok not to have goals? I have been eating clean and lifting well consistently for about a year. I love the way I feel, look, and I could never go back to eating the way I used to or being sedentary.
Five years ago I was a size 18, over 200lbs, and now I'm a size 8-10, 143 lbs. The whole time I lost weight, I never thought of a goal weight, I just kept going.
I don't have any goals in mind, other than to compete in a competition someday. I know some people have a target weight, bf%, measurements, but I feel that goals like that make me feel like I'm setting myself up for failure. If I tell myself to just keep going, it feels mentally easier.
I know it's important to have short term goals that will help me reach my long term goal of competing, but is it ok if they don't work for me?
Does anyone else feel this way?
first of all, lemme say that i've seen ur webpage and must say u r freakin intense, esp after reading the 2nd paragraph of ur post! secondly, i have "general" goals, which is basically what u seem to have. what i'm doing now is "maintaining" which is nothing specific. i did at one time have targets, but upon reaching that i have now eased into the maintenance mode...
again, after reading ur post and comparing ur webpage, ur totally awesome!
^^^ i actually do have a ultimate goal, which should be beneficial to my gf in the future, and that's to look sexy naked.
odd goal to say the least, but i do have it written down (aspect of amway!) and plan to get there sooner or later.
Originally posted by onehawaiian first of all, lemme say that i've seen ur webpage and must say u r freakin intense, esp after reading the 2nd paragraph of ur post! secondly, i have "general" goals, which is basically what u seem to have. what i'm doing now is "maintaining" which is nothing specific. i did at one time have targets, but upon reaching that i have now eased into the maintenance mode...
again, after reading ur post and comparing ur webpage, ur totally awesome!
lol thanks. I have a before and after pic, but the after isn't very recent. I know I'm in better shape now, I have much more lean mass now than in this pic. I'm trying to get a more recent one scanned, but this gives everyone an idea.
I think its ok not to have goals, or at least specific ones. Just make an effort to work out regularly so you won't get off the bandwagon, other then that you really don't need any other goals.
"The man who has no imagination, has no wings."-Mohammed Ali
- Skip "No, I'm not a post whore. But I play one on TV."
you may not think you have a goal but u probably do... I'm the same way i say i dont ahve a goal but then when i get to a certian point i feel like ive accomplished something ( the goal i never had)
"that which doesnt kill me, only makes me stronger."
"Today is the first day of the rest of your life."
If you're happy where your body is at now TRAIN TO MAINTAIN and because you enjoy it and feeling of training. More mental/emotional then than physically how you want to look because you're already happy with that. Until/unless you once again find a physical goal to pursue. Then re evaluate your training and adjust it for this and up the focus and intensity in that direction.
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as long as i do that i see progress
Take pictures for evaluation. I wish I knew how to pose better, but I have a hell of a front double bi! 
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