My Goal Weight

December 4, 2007

In a comment here yesterday John asked, "So what is your ultimate goal weight?"

The easy answer is 185, down from 295 and a total loss of 110 pounds.  At 267 I am a quarter of my way to that goal.

But that's my perspective from the start of the diet, I expect it might change as I continue to lose weight and tone my body.  I picked 185 because I remember that weight and remember feeling good at it.  I was there in my late teens, early twenties where I was also as low as about 177, where I felt too thin.  185 felt healthy to me and that has been the weight I have wanted to get back to ever since I started ballooning up over 200 and beyond.

However I was not exercising then like I am now and to the level I expect to be in another year when I'll be closer to that goal.  I can imagine me feeling fit and strong and being 195 and resetting my goal.  I can also imagine me be fitting and strong at 185 but still having obvious body fat that could be reduced.

So for now, I am focused on milestones such as to lose 50 pounds, lose 100 pounds and lose 110 pounds and of course the monthly goals I set for myself like Lose 6 pounds in December, 2007.  As I knock off milestones and get closer to where I think I should be, I'll reassess.

I'm a quarter of the way to goal?  Wow.

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{ 9 comments }

workout mommy December 4, 2007 at 1:29 pm

I really like how you are setting mini goals for yourself. Keep up the good work!!!

John December 4, 2007 at 2:52 pm

I gave up on weight goals a bit back and now I shoot for consecutive short periods (usually two weeks) of healthy eating and consistent exercise. If I lose weight, good, if not, that's fine- as long as I am eating healthy and exercising.

Michelle December 4, 2007 at 10:01 pm

Milestones are great to have, but for me, my second milestone is driving me nuts!!! I weigh-in tomorrow and I'm praying that I hit it because I worked my butt off these past two weeks. I need to stop thinking about it….argh!

Reassessing is key because you don't want to set yourself up for failure. For me, I technically don't have to hit this milestone until I leave for my parent's place on 12/21…but I'm soooooo close! I'm craving it!

You know we're here to support you!

Steve December 5, 2007 at 2:05 am

28 Lbs lost is great, keep at and you will get to that 185 goal.

I've also given up on a final weight goal. Once I dropped down to the number I was aiming for (170 LBS) I found that I didn't look like I thought I should at that weight (if that makes sense).

The scale is just a number for me now. The real judgment is how I look in the mirror and in the clothing I wear.

john - from fat to fit December 5, 2007 at 5:35 am

workout mommy - thanks! 43things makes it really easy and fun to set goals.

John - your comment speaks directly to something I have written about before - focusing on decisions, not results. I think what you are doing makes sense, and within the framework of my goal setting is something I focus on as well. The fact is my goals guide me, they don't define me. Meaning, as hard as I push to reach a goal I am not overally upset about not hitting it, as long as I made all the good decisions I could.

Michelle - It's great that you have goals and are motivated to hit them. As mentioned above, I believe it is important to ensure though that your weight goals don't define you - if you work hard to achieve your goal and you miss it, evaluate your hard work and decisions and if you found you made good decisions but still didn't have the results you were looking for, then you try to condition yourself to still feel good, and try to do better next time. Still feels better to hit those goals though!

Steve - Congrats, it sounds like you have gotten into your goal fitness range. I agree the scale is just a number and I suspect I will refine my measurements as I get closer to where I want to be. When the desired results are so obvious it's easy to use one simple measurement like a scale. As the pounds come off and the difference between your current state and where you want to be become closer you need to refine how you measure.

Skinny Guy December 5, 2007 at 11:27 am

What worked for me was setting my weight loss goals in smaller increments, but not necessarily putting a time limit on reaching them. It didn't matter if I reached it this week or next week or later, as long as I got there.

Lord Matt December 5, 2007 at 12:02 pm

That's why my aim was always girth and not mass. I know that at over six foot two inches with a big shoulder width that small was never an option. The only thing tht bothers me is that I have now got a big gut and my best clothes do not fit.

So my aim has always been to trim back off from that. There is a chance I'll tone out to a size bigger than 38 inches but it is not that likely as sans fat my hips would be 36 to 38 (as opposed to 42 - 44 as they are now).

GeorgieGirl December 5, 2007 at 5:20 pm

Hi John, I'm happy to see your steady loss!

I'm back home with internet service and things are settling down again, so I guess I'm back. What a time to get back into a weight loss routine… just before the holidays. But I'm going to do it. Just thought I'd let you know, I'm back online.

Vilma December 6, 2007 at 10:43 am

John,

I just want to cogratulate you on your 28 lb loss so far. You have come a long way! I, like you, like to set mini goals for myself as well. It makes the task of losing so much easier than just one big number doesn't it? I'm just getting back in to the swing of things and like GeorgieGirl am not waiting for the New Year…. i'm starting NOW! :D

Love you blog!!! Keep up the great work!

~ Vilma

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