Would I be stupid to set a goal to get to my goal weight by my 26th birthday? I started at 270 and as of 3/12 I was at 252, not sure of my weight today but my scale says 245, will confirm weight again on April 3.

Any who my 25th birthday is Monday April 2nd I was just doing he math and if I averaged 2 lbs a week then I could be down to my goal weight of 155 by my 26th.

Is that too lofty of a goal? Would I be setting myself up for failure? When I originally went into this my goal was to be at goal by my 27th birthday so that my husband and I could start trying for a baby again. It would be great if I could be there a year sooner even though my surgeon recommends no pregnancy for 18 months. That would give me some time to enjoy being thin again before my husband starts getting on me about the baby gig.

I think goals are important. They motivate you. 2lbs a week is doable but you will need focus and commitment, and how better to make sure you have those than to have a motivator like a deadline?

True a deadline is a good and it will make it so that I get nicely motivated.

Setting goals and deadlines are very important to a lot of people.

Myself, personally, it is too much like dieting, as though I need to do something more than I already am to reach those goals.

I try to live a normal day to day life, letting the band naturally control my food intake, and get as much exercise as possible.

I know of a support group that has been setting monthly 10lb goals since the day they were banded.

That may be all well and good, "white-knuckling" it as though it was Jenny Craig or something.

They go to their Dr. and are told they are doing a good job and don't need any fills.

Then they complain that the band is not working and worry they will never reach the green zone.

Catch 22!

Its a lofty goal, but you could set mini-goals as you go along. I wish you luck, and best wishes. Don't set yourself up for failure, however. KAren

I think that is a great goal! You will have to work hard and monitor your eating and exercise! I started this at 286 and had my surgery 2/28/2011 I lost exactly 100 lbs in that year and it was not impossible. I'm now at a stall since then but I feel fantastic! You can do it! Good luck!

I think goals are great, but my problem with "number by date" goals is that if we fall a few pounds short we feel that we have failed. If you make it to within 3 pounds of your goal weight, you have truly succeeded, but will you consider yourself a failure? I hope not. 2 pounds per week every week is unlikeky. Sometimes we can do everything exactly right, and post a gain on the scale.

I don't want to be a downer, but to me a goal of following band rules and contuing to lose is great, also, but not as tangible.

Yeah I don't think that I will set this as a firm goal yet. Maybe in like January if I am closer and I know better as to what I can really do I can set a birthday goal. Right now my main goal will be to get my band in the Green Zone and get a good exercise routine going. Then once I am in the Green Zone I can start setting little weight goals and other non scale goals. I will keep my ideal weight goal at 2 years and adjust as needed.

Does anyone have any non scale goal ideas. I know basics like pant sizes and such but did you guys have any goals that you were looking to meet or things you hoped to one day do that helped you to be really motivated to stick with your new lifestyle and not revert to old ways?