Tuesday, June 1

The skinny on my goal weight

Now that I actually believe I can lose weight once and for all, I have been giving some serious thought to what my goal weight actually is. The one on my ticker is to be a normal BMI - 24.8, which puts me at 173 lbs at 5'10".

But is that actually my goal?

I really have no idea.

I graduated high school around 176 lbs and wore size 8/10. I was convinced I was huge.

The last time I was below 200 was in 1999 or maybe 2000. I was 191 lbs and wore a size 12, sometimes size 14. I still thought I was huge.

Now, it's many years, two kids (including one c/s), and hundreds of pounds later.

Maybe 173 lbs really is doable. And maybe it's not.

Here's what I know for sure, as of right now:
  • I definitely want to be below 200 lbs.
  • I want to be able to shop anywhere, even if their sizing runs small, I am okay wearing a size 18.
  • I want to be able to maintain my weight while still enjoying holidays, meals out, and my favorite foods, in moderation of course.
  • I want exercise to be a part of my life, but I don't want it to be something I have to do 2 hours per day to maintain my weight loss.

I fully admit I have no idea what I am going to feel like when I lose 100 lbs more and start to seriously think about my goal. But as of right now, the four bullet points above are what I am using to define my goal weight. I'm guessing that'll put me around 185 lbs. We'll see if I'm right or not in about 18 months. :)

I also fully realize that I don't have to define a goal weight now (or ever). But I am a very goal-oriented person, and even if I don't hit my goals, I like having something to work towards, especially when within a given timeframe.

And btw, I hit a "mini-plateau" and was at 70.6 lbs lost for a week. I just started dropping again the last two days and am down 72 lbs. 302.4 lbs - look out Twonesia, my passport is ready!

14 comments:

  1. I'm right there with ya on not being able to full on declare a goal weight. But I am not necessarily driven by goals, I am driven by feedback (like payraises and scale drops and ultimately, the feelings produced by both feedback mechanisms). So I'm not declaring a goal, oddly enough, but instead am saying, when I get there, I'll know. It's kind of odd. Seems counterintuitive - but 142 may be too little and it may not be enough. I won't know til I get there. :) If I get to 158 and I'm thrilled - that may be plenty. Weird stuff, that's all I know!

    Come on twonesia!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love your bullets in place of a number in pounds. Cuz yeah, it's hard to imagine what it's going to feel like when you get there. Plus, after babies, things are mighty different! I'm 10 pounds past my pre-prego dieting result lowest but I feel way fatter...and am wearing bigger clothes.

    My idea was to set my goal kinda high so I can keep meeting and beating it!!

    But honestly, just work those mini-goals girl. You're seriously rockin it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have tweaked my goal several times along this journey and will probably change it again. My goal at this point is to get into a size 9/10 but I don't want to sabotage myself my setting a goal that would be stressful to maintain. Set a goal, but reserve the right to adjust it!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, and I hate you for being 5'10. *jealous*

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great post. Long term goals are such a hard thing to figure out aren't they? I doesn't help that many of us had such a distorted view of ourselves at our goal weight. I am also very goal driven (if you couln't tell) and I set my goal higher than where I think I want to be. I don't want to feel like a failure if "normal" according to the BMI scale is just not right for me - it would mess with my mind!!

    As I am getting closer to my goal I am thinking more and more about what I want my "final" goal to be, but I can't even image what 175 will be like let alone 150. Will I ever hit "normal" - maybe not, but heck years ago when I was a couple pounds heavier than I am now my doc said that I looked great. He thought I only had a 10 or 20 pounds to lose and that I shouldn't be concerned. He had to look twice at my BMI - he just didn't believe it :)

    If your 6th month face pic is any indication, I bet your recent pictures are looking great (hint, hint). As you get closer and closer to the end I am sure your goal will change many times, but no matter what you pick as long as you are healthy, happy, and can do all the things you want that is what matters!!!

    And I agree with Jess.. 5'10 makes me jealous too!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am 5'8" and want to get to 180 lbs. That is 100 lbs. down for me. It is also what I weighed before my last pregnancy. I was a size 16 or 18 and felt great at that size.

    With good restriction, we'll probably keep losing from there, but I think those are good goals.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The goal weight is tricky, isn't it? We spend so many years thinking we'll never get anywhere close, we aren't quite sure what to shoot for.

    You're soooo close. Can't wait to see the twonesia post!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I could have written this post because I feel the exact way that you do!

    Isn't it crazy to feel like we can actually reach a goal!?!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have issues with goal weights too. Just because I have no clue nor do I remember what I looked like smaller than I am now. I started out saying my goal was 135 and then I changed it to 150 thinking maybe 135 would be too small but really I won't know til I get there. I think we should all just go by how we look and feel in our own skin rather than pounds but it's hard, I admit.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great post, you are just rocking this band, I'm proud of you! I have no idea what a good weight for me is, I guess I'll know it when I get there.

    ReplyDelete
  11. You are doing so well. I think that to break down your journey into little chunks is wise. Start with aiming for under 300 then 175 etc until you are in onderland and then take it from there. You might be a size 14 there and be happy with that. I just want to lose my muffin top now so I suppose that will define my finishing weight. You are a rock satr and inspiration...keep at it

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great Goals!

    I have not picked a finish point for myself and since my current weight is all new to me (except when I passed it by on the way up 18 years ago) I'm not sure what to aim for?

    I am looking forward to your twonesia post!!!!

    PS-I'm 5'11

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love your bullet points, but what I especially love is reading the 'belief' that is starting to form for you...that you'll actually be able to reach all those bullets!!! Belief in this process is such a strange new thing, isn't it?!! Great WL, CONGRATS!!!

    ReplyDelete