Uninspired on goals

For the last couple of years I've had big fitness goals: Ride XXXX miles, do all five peaks of Death Ride, train for and complete a Triathlon. I usually have something mapped out by mid-December and can't wait to get started. Having a BIG GOAL really helps me stick to a training plan: I work out even when I don't want to, push myself, don't give up until I have that Finisher's Jersey/Medal/ice cream bar.

This year, nothing feels right. I'm kind of burned out on the long rides. I really sucked at CX this year. Setting a weightloss goal is a recipe for disaster (hi, self-sabotage!)

It doesn't help with scheduling that we might be trying for a baby soon (!), so I don't dare register for any big events that I can't transfer out of (Death Ride, why did you do this to me?)

I don't know if I'm looking for advice or just commiseration. I just feel a bit lost and wandering, moreso than usual. :)

-- gnat!

Sometimes your priorities in life change and then the types of goals you are used to setting need to change, too. We all go through phases. I've learned to let myself enjoy whatever phase I am going through.
Trying to get pregnant is a big goal. Sure, it's not cycling related, but it is something you just might be more focused on right now.

What Crankin said.

I know when I was looking at getting pregnant, I got a little depressed b/c I knew I was going to gain weight, not be as active, etc. Blech. I ended up setting goals like working out 45 minutes a day. I even took up swimming during pregnancy and treated myself to a massage every month :)

Give yourself a break, I'm sure you'll find your motivation again.

For one of my sisters she was motivated to exercise enough to stave off gestational diabetes (diabetes 2 tendencies can magnify for some pregnant women.).

She was alert to this already because she did have diabetes 2 reading several yrs. prior to pregnancy. (She did lose 50 lbs. with lifestyle change, but did struggle with weight loss after 2 subsequent pregnancies.)

Just ride around regularily to enjoy yourself....before a child changes your life forever.

This is in itself a good goal for now.

First off, congrats on the potential baby making! I'm not a mom nor do I desire to be, but I'm always thrilled for my friends when they opt for that fork in the road.

Second, I'd second and third was Crankin and LW said. While I think it's great as a general rule to hold one's feet to the fire, sometimes you just need to let yourself on the hook. Otherwise, life becomes a chore, and that's really not what any of us want out of life, is it? Unless and until you're letting yourself off the hook chronically to the point of it becoming a bad habit, lighten up and enjoy where you are in you life today. Let tomorrow take care of itself another day.

Even without such a huge distraction as maybe trying to get pregnant, I find my enthusiasm for big cycling goals waxes and wanes year to year. After 3 -4 years or so of big goals, I find I need a year of just riding for fun to recharge and rekindle my enthusiasm. I think recognizing that each year doesn't have to be a show stopper, bigger/better than the year before, etc., is important to putting it all in perspective and keeping it fun year to year.

Maybe instead of an end-goal, your goal is to work out a certain number of times per week, or to achieve a certain mileage every week. Plan a big celebration for achieving your goal after __ months.

Yeah, I think one of my fears is that I can't get pregnant right away (age, hormones, sheer number of years on birth control, etc), and then I've lost a whole year doing nothing but, well, uh... That counts as cardio, right?

I do like the idea of having shorter goals or ones based on habit. Maybe I'll look at some 30 Days type of goal setting rather than Big Event or Big Numbers.

Thanks, everyone. :)

-- gnat!

You could add goals in another area too, like clean the closet or read books or organize the garage. If it does take a while to become pregnant, it might be nice to have a little energy directed in another direction.

Don't count on having been on birth control for years to slow you from getting pregnant... a number of women I know, including myself, became pregnant the very first month after stopping the pill, despite having been on it for more years than we could count.

I totally see where you are coming from and like MP I have seen my cycling-goal enthusiasm wax and wane over the years. That's ok. Cycling just for fun, or for the pleasure of discovering new destinations, is great too.

I was thinking like malkin - maybe set a non-fitness goal, just so you have some kind of structure. Or hey, I'll throw pilates out there - my teacher is still teaching and taking classes and she's 6 months pregnant. I'm seriously impressed, b/c she's kicking my butt. And if nothing else, supposedly it makes childbirth much easier because you really learn how to control the right muscles!

Or maybe...involve yourself in someone ELSE's bike goals. Find a protege :) Someone new who needs help with a training plan, or needs company to get through rides that you might find less than challenging. Nothing gives you a new perspective on a hobby like teaching someone else.