I am so not good at setting goals, not sure what to set my goal weight at? i will talk with surgeon or nutritionist about it at my next appt. but just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on the matter. starting weight is 335 and i want to make sure i set a goal that is attainable but yet not giving myself too much slack. some suggestions on how some of you came up with your goal weight would be appreciated.

On paper I set a goal of reaching 250 pounds knowing I could do it and also knowing I would want to go lower once I reached it. Does that make any sense? In my head my ultimate goal is 225 which may or may not be possible. I am only 6'1" but I have a lot of muscle so 225 is going to be pretty lean and at 52 I don't know if it will be possible.

I would definitely discuss this with your doctor...though I had to speak with the practice PAC to get a number. As it was explained to me:

Generally you should try to achieve a healthy BMI, so that the BMI would be in the normal range. There are numerous calculators online to look what your range would be. For some people, the best BMI will not be attainable. There are actually several weights that might be designated. I was quite surprised that the target weight my doctor established in my chart for me would actually leave me in the "overweight" range. I chose my target weight to get me to a normal BMI for my height and weight, some 26 pounds lower than the number in my chart.

The PAC also went on to discuss the "ideal weight", where health will be optimized, which for me is 6 pounds lower than the goal I established for myself. The PAC told me that patients usually will eventually reach a weight somewhere between the number the doctor establishes and the ideal weight. In medical terms, that would be considered a success.

I don't know if you were able to follow the logic in this post...perhaps there is none!

The most important part of setting goals is to understand that there are 3 types: short term, mid-range, and long term. We should have all 3 for the best results and the most healthy from an emotional perspective.

Obviously, you would want to make achieving your final goal weight your long range goal. Short range are those which you want to achieve within the next month. Mid-range are 1 month to a range of 6 months to a year, depending on how far into the future your long range goal is set.

Goals need to be realistic and measurable...you will not loose 100 pounds this month, but targeting 10-12 might be realistic. Also, weight loss goals are very measurable, just go by what the scale says...

Goal setting does take practice, so the sooner you begin, the more successful you will feel about taking the responsibility for your health and well being back.

Good luck with your continuing journey!

Today I told my dr. My goal is 170. Started out at 240. Weighed 201 today. For my height 170 would still be in the overweight range, bmi of 25. But she said that is a very healthy goal. She said bmi doesn't always take everything into consideration like muscle mass. I have lost 5 bmi points already. Whoo hoo!

I have a long term plan to simply be 5 pounds lighter than my husband!!haha that would be 165. I will be very satisfied at that.

As to the short term goals to get there, I was told to think of 1-2 pounds a week AVERAGE as a realistic goal and that has proven to be a good number for me. I have had a few weeks where I have seen 4-5 pounds lost and a few where I saw nothing so it has all balanced out to that 1-2 pound average.

Im half way to my goal...I have 35 more pounds to go and should be able to make that hopefully in the next 5 months.

Thanks for the help everyone. I am really nervous bout surgery but at least i know i have all of you out there to help me thru when i need it, that means alot.

And remember that your goals don't all have to be about weight. Set yourself some other goals and be sure to Celebrate your successes along the way. For example, I set a goal to look awesome in my son's wedding photos - I did! I set a goal to be able to dance all night - I do now. I set a goal to be rid of sore knees - I am. I set a goal to get off my blood pressure medication - almost there, just one table to get rid of. And I set a goal to ride in the Great Victorian Bike Ride this year - have signed up with my DH and we will!

I also set weight-related goals - the first biggie was to get under 100kg. Reward for that was a new gold watch. Then to get under 90kg - reward for that was a quality light for my bicycle so I can keep on riding through the winter.

Along the way I have celebrated reducing clothes sizes, generally improved health, and a closer relationship with my husband.