Joseph Kang, Period 7, 5/17/2022

 

Goal Setting & Growth

1. At this current point in time, what specific goal(s) do you have for yourself? Why?

2. How do you demonstrate resilience towards achieving this goal? (or these goals?)

3. How does the world around you affect your perception of this goal? (or these goals?)

I am currently working towards a goal to lose 20-25 pounds from my original weight of 190lbs. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, I have gained over 20 pounds due to binge eating and a lack of physical activity. Over time, I started to become more self-conscious about myself. My mindset about myself may not be the best at times, but I thought it would be best to use the insecurity as motivation to get started. So, I started working towards this goal to lose all the quarantine weight and perhaps lose even more than before. 

One of the reasons I am working towards this is for aesthetic purposes. For the longest time, I was always out of shape and have wondered how I would fit in a “sculpted” body frame, factoring in the potential change in everyday interactions with other people. Not to mention, I felt that my confidence was compromised in a conversation when the topic of fitness came up. 

To reach my goal, I plan to keep a calorie deficit by eating low-calorie and nutrient-rich meals while exercising for at least 40 min a day, whether it be going to the gym or simply running around my neighborhood. 

To maintain my nutrition, I plan on minimizing my intake of carbohydrates and fats because excessive intake of such can lead to weight gain and poor cardiovascular and digestive health. Instead of consuming simple carbohydrates (foods with a high concentration of sugar and starch), I will continue to eat complex carbohydrates to fulfill my daily carbohydrate intake goals. Also, I will be sure to include protein-rich foods to maintain muscle mass while losing as much fat as possible. 

In order to burn the calories I consume, I plan to continue attending [the/my] local gym and going for runs on alternating days. At the gym, I plan on engaging in high-intensity weight training exercises to maintain, if not gain more, muscle mass while burning the calories I consume. 

Working towards this goal is much easier than I thought, as I have support from my parents to do so. Through their support, I have become more mindful of my  caloric intake, which will help me create a deficit between the calories I consume and the calories I burn. They have been the primary financial support for this process, whether it be groceries for nutritious foods or the gym membership that they pay every month. Without it, I don’t think I would have the same mindset towards this whole process. I don’t think I would have the same motivation and persistence that I currently have.