Goals - good bad or necessity? large or small?

[Grace]

I've like meeting my goals in life. College graduation, owning a house...most took me a lot longer than a lot of other folks (in my 40s) but it felt good to get there.
The same with my weight loss goals on this journey. Getting to under 300, then 50, 75, 100 lbs off. Then I went smaller, to 15 lbs off. Took me 15 wks to get that 15 lbs off and then I bounced back up and it took 8 more wks to get the 5 lbs I regained back off again...sigh..
So, now I am finally settled in at 219 and ready to set another goal.
Feels almost bizarre after dropping lbs so quickly before but I'm thinking I might need to set them at just 5 or 10 lbs at the most. I'm worried if I even do 15 I'll get too discouraged, but 5 feels... wimpy or something, like I don't believe in myself anymore...sigh....

You other folks whose weight loss slowed down further out, goals? Good bad ugly, small, still large so you're reaching out for them or smaller so they are within reach?

Grace wants to know

[sleeveinbama]

Congratulations!

[Rescued-one]

Grace, I am DEFINITELY making my goals more attainable... ie: smaller increments. I blogged recently about how my mind is needing to start switching over to how to view life when the losing is done and how this slowing down time/stalls can be looked at as less evil and as more helpful.

Nitty gritty answer to your question ----I would LOVE to be at 100 lbs lost by my one year surgiversary (OCt 19th) but....will be happy if I just break my stall and keep on living in a healthy way and continue to learn about this journey so I can be successful for the LONG HAUL with my sleeve.
btw...I love walking this walk with you through this forum.

[TEACHn96]

Grace if you think you'll get discouraged with 15 or 5 is to wimpy, set your goal in the middle. Maybe 7 or 8 lbs. Your goals are supposed to be an incentive to work for not make you crazy! I also want to tell you how inspiring you are to me. I love reading your insights in your posts as you are always encouraging! So thank you for that!

[CuirousGeorge]

I so relate to your post! I have always been a goal setter with my professional life, financials, etc. BUT with this, everything is so foreign to me (maybe because I am about 2 months out) I haven't been setting ANY goals and just taking the ride. It's actually kinda of refreshing for me. I have some 'desires' when it comes to my weight loss. I would love to be in ONEderland by my birthday in March. I think that is realistic. My weight loss/ stall pattern is so strange I can't predict what will or wont happen. I just keep plugging away at getting my fluids. icky shake, lean proteins, etc. Next step is to start a consistent exercise program.

[Grace]

Grace if you think you'll get discouraged with 15 or 5 is to wimpy, set your goal in the middle. Maybe 7 or 8 lbs. Your goals are supposed to be an incentive to work for not make you crazy! I also want to tell you how inspiring you are to me. I love reading your insights in your posts as you are always encouraging! So thank you for that!

Isn't it funny it only occured to me to work in 5's? I have 24 lbs to go to hit my "goal" and then I hope to drop about 8 more as I've read most folks bounce back about that much during maintenance... So, maybe 3 mini goals of 8 lbs Leave it to a teacher to think out of the box

[purplelace70]

I'm with curiousgeorge, I seem to go from stall to stall so the scale is a killer, even in the stalls my body is getting smaller clothes looser. Have decided to let my body be my measure of loss. Just put on an old pair of yoga pants that were very tight, they are sliding down over my hips, sure beats the scale. Best of luck, stay realistic and be kind to you.

[workinprogress40]

Grace you don't even look like the same person I had to double check your name, I know this is a little cliche but you look really good!!!! I guess I can say that since I don't know you and I'm going through the same journey. Good luck with your next goal.

[Munchkin]

First, I didn't recognize you from your avatar, I had to check your name a couple of times too. You are looking awesome.

I set my goal very small now. I don't want to be discourage when I can't make goal. I am in a slumm, gain two pounds out of no where. It happened last month too. Drives me crazy. I do freak out a little when I gain weight.

[connie]

My dear dear sister Gracie---Look how far we have come!!!! I too am learning that little goals are ok. When we first started this journey remember how crazy we would get if we hit a stall???? WE CAN DO THIS--- I would really like to drop 25-30 more, time takes time---we got so spoiled in this last year that we become impatient with ourselves---I admire you so, you gave me a shot of YOU CAN DO IT!!! So here is yours from me YOU CAN DO IT!!!!---it will drop again for us---patience---do what you know you need to do. Blessings and hugs- Connie

[tmclenn]

Heck we can gain 2lbs just from needing to poop, or 5lbs from our periods(ladies!!), or because we are exercising more and changing fat into heavier muscle! Our bodies are CHANGING, so take the emphasis off the scale and go for how it feels, a smoothness here, pants baggy there, new shoe size. I feel these changes now just in the preparation for surgery- walking more, water exercises, cutting back significantly junk food, drinking more water. I can't wait to feel the changes after my surgery. Lot's of people here say to not weigh daily, and I'm going to use that, take back my emotional weel-being from an inaminent object (sorry I cannot spell!).

[scgal21]

I'm definitely reevaluating my goals at this point. I celebrate each pound and each size that I lose. I gained 3 lbs out of nowhere and it totally freaks me out when the scale goes up, but Terry is right about gaining 2 lbs just because we haven't had a BM or hormonal. My goals are more focused on learning to live with my new eating and excercising, but most of all loving myself and not beating myself up. I am more than a number on the scale! I feel good and my health is great. I'm not obese anymore..I'm learning to be happy with ME.

[PKnorr]

my first goal was to lose 79 lbs in order to have a knee replacement.
I've changed that goal to losing whatever I can by June 2013 and will have my knee replacement then, and take the summer to recover (again, a lost summer)
My first "treat myself" goal is now the 79 lbs (300 lbs) I'm 24 lbs away. (Massage)
then at 50 lbs I have treats lined up.
And I can't wait for our Christmas pictures this year, I skipped last year because I was so frustrated with how big my face was.
So mine aren't small or mini goals - yet - but they are all in sight goals .

[raw_foodie]

Even though I'm only a bit over 2 months out I just focus on 10 pounds at a time. I like reaching the mini goals. Each one deserves a reward. Guess I'm making that phone call tomorrow to schedule my massage. Well deserved.

[Santy]

Grace you look wonderful! I too had to check it was you as you have changed so much, very well done! You must be so pleased that you are almost there even though this is probably the hardest journey of the lot. I think the idea of seven or eight pounds goal is inspired as you say 5lbs seems wimpish after all the weight lost.
I am finding it hard to adhere to a proper eating schedule at the moment and so am eating rubbish again which is stupid so I do need to refocus and seeing your pic makes me positive so thank you for the inspiration once again.x