Discussion Board

I always listed my goal weight at what my dr. said it should be - 150 lbs. That puts me right at the top of a healthy BMI. I'm 5'5" and wear a size 8. Now, I know I'm a decent size at 150 lbs, and people tell me that I am the perfect weight, but I have more fat to lose.

I think as long as I let myself believe that I am just about the perfect weight for me, I was getting a little too lax with my eating and drinking. A little too much tofu, how about some avacado, a couple of pretzels sounds good, I'd love a glass of winel....etc.

I lowered my goal weight to 140 this past week and I think it has already set off my brain to eat better than I was. I've already noticed that I'm eating more veggies throughout the day and I'm paying more attention to my bodies hunger signals.

Visualizing goals has helped to transform many! Keep us posted on your progress, Shell!

When I took on this way of eating last October I set April 21 (yesterday) as my goal to get to a weight of 175 pounds. I started this program at 216 and as of today I am 183 pounds, just 8 pounds short of the goal. So while I didn't achieve the goal, I know why I did not hit that goal. For me it wasn't so much the food, but the cardio. I believe if I had added more cardio earlier that would of given me a better shot at making my goal.

By no means am I upset with where my health is. The last few months have been tough to drop my weight those last 8 pounds. I am experiencing what many have already written about on this discussion board, the last 10 pounds are the toughest. I am experiencing that now. I fully expect to meet my weight goal and continue to improve on the numbers. It's a matter of setting another goal to meet.

Excellent idea, setting a new target goal will really remind you to keep your eyes on the prize! My husband has a weight loss app on his phone and every time he reaches a goal he gets to pop all these balloons as a prize which is so cute! He's had the pleasure of doing that a few times already, but I don't think he needs to lose any more weight which is a great place to be at. Now the trick is making sure he stays there.

I weigh 326 pounds and I am already hearing people who've known me a long time ask me if I'm near my goal weight.... when I tell them what my goal weight is they tell me that's way too thin and I'll never make it. Yet I picked my goal weight because it's the least I can way according to the chart and not be considered overweight.... in other words... I picked the high end of "normal" as my goal.

It speaks to what our culture considers "normal" anymore, and is quite sad.

-Norm

I know exactly what you all mean...I also set my goal weight as a number I "thought" not only could succeed to but should be a reasonable weight for me...now I am rethinking this as you are right almost reaching the goal gives the mind a sense of relaxation..."I'm almost there"..well guess what I am not almost there I have still a ways to go...now to change my ticker....

Way to go Norm you're on the right path.
I'm now having difficulty with getting below 120, strange I thought when I got there I'd be about right but now I see that I have maybe 10 more pounds,,, my new goal is 115 and then I'll see what I look like then. I'm 5'1" and almost 61! Dlee

Hey Norm..still waiting for you to come to our Meetup group...you are doing great!....

If you pm me or post a link to your upcoming meetings, I'll make an honest effort to make one of them!

-Norm

In regard to goals for slimness, the most definitive statement I have seen here is from Jeff Novick, RD. He has cited research that showed that a BMI<21 was associated with the best cardiovascular health. I think one reason this is true is because lower fat in the diet and on the body (that is usually associated with lower BMIs) tends to lower serum lipids.

So while a BMI<21 may cause you to look too thin or more wrinkled (like me), if you are seeking the best health, it is probably not too low! I have found that it is VERY easy to maintain a BMI<20 by following the MWL program.

That sounds good that you've set a new goal, especially since you're finding the richer foods sneaking into your diet.

I've wondered how to set a goal weight, other than getting there and seeing what you can reasonably maintain. The charts and acceptable BMI give ranges but I wonder how much is individual body metabolism.

I got to 124 with diet drugs when I was a lot younger and 132 with a McDougall-type plan (Mirkin's diet, which allowed some fish and skim dairy) but couldn't break through 132. Maybe following MWL would have helped. In the end, I just got sloppy and put the weight back on. Eternal vigilance!

Thank you, pinkrose,

I love your positive spirit.

That's it exactly, Steve. Setting a goal. I think my all or nothing brain needs a goal to reach for. I already have the goal of avoiding another MI, but I think I need something more tangible. I've also set goals for myself at the gym and I am doing well working towards them.

nordgirl, do you know what app your hubby is using?

It certainly does speak volumes. I've had family members tell me I am too thin (each one of them is overweight). I think we get so used to seeing people with extra weight, that someone at a healthy weight seems so abnormal to us.

Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can not reach your goals. You are the one in control of that.