I'm sure you will all understand the emotional hold a "goal weight" can have over you. I've lost and made it to goal and then gained the weight back more times than I want to admit. I have three goal weights... I'm 5' 6.5" tall and according to the charts, I should weigh somewhere between 120 and 160. I'd say I am average boned. I have three goals but I want to get some feedback on how others decide on their goal weight. Part of me knows it is only a number on a scale and there are so many other goals I have in mind. I can't wait to feel strong and fit again. I can't wait to wear the clothes that show my body and aren't all black. I look forward to all the NSG benefits of losing the added weight. But, still, I'm drawn to set a goal for myself weight wise as well...

When I used to weigh 150 lbs. my body seemed to maintain that weight without my being too terribly hungry all the time. But I was always wishing I was a bit thinner here and there. I call this goal weight #1 because once I reach it, I will see how I look and feel. My second goal weight is 140 lbs. When I was this weight, I felt like I could wear whatever I wanted and wasn't self conscious. I felt strong, but it was a bit of a struggle to maintain this weight. I call this goal #2 because if I'm not happy at 150 I'll shoot for this. My third goal is 130 lbs. When I weighed 130 I felt that I looked the best as far as how the clothes fell on my frame. I could wear what I wanted, and felt "thin". BUT, it was very hard for me to maintain this weight. I guess in my dream world 130 would be my true goal, if I felt I could maintain it without struggling all the time.

So... how have you all set your "goal"?

My first goal was to hit onederland and stay there. My surgeon has set 160 lbs based on what he thinks the sleeve can do (60-65% of EBW) - but that still places me in an overweight BMI category. I'm shooting for 131 as my second goal to be in a normal BMI, but would love to go lower. I'm only 5'1". Not sure if it's possible....

It's so great to read these responses! I feel more "normal" (whatever that means) about the fact that I have several goal weights and they are arbitrary in how I picked them. I'm going to try not to become obsessive about reaching these goals - I want to celebrate each pound along the way and rejoice in the JOURNEY... That won't come naturally to me since I can be obsessive about watching the scale. I'll need to post reminders to myself around the house with the mantra "Enjoy the Journey".

I set my goal based on body composition, looking to get down to around the 15% fat mass level, which is on the lean side of normal for men. Using the gross assumption that only fat would be lost, that would put me in the 200lb area as the initial goal, with a re-evaluation as I get closer. Now that I'm about 2/3 to that goal, it looks like 190 or so is the appropriate weight, so I will adjust accordingly. That would still be "overweight" on a BMI basis, but I'm in this for my health, not some numbers on an insurance company chart.

I struggled a lot with trying to figure out a goal weight- I even posted a topic on here about this. I finally settled on 165 since that would be a normal BMI (I am just shy of 5'10"). However, I recently had my body fat measured and learned that if I lost only fat from here on out that I would under 20% body fat at 190. That is considered athletic for women. Even now at 227 I am already wearing a 14/16. I have now mentally amended by goal to somewhere between 165-190. I really would like to be in a size 8/10 so we'll see where that lands me.

My only advise is that while goals are good, don't be afraid to amend your goal if you get down the road and learn that whatever goal you set previously wasn't realistic. For some goofy reason I, at first, felt like saying that I may not hit 165 was a failure rather than seeing this as a realistic adjustment based on new information.

Wow! I love the responses. I had several goals as well. 1^st goal is to get to 210 or 200 by my dad’s anniversary on September 11^th. I want to turn a few of his "church members" heads. J 2^nd goal: Onederland. 3^rd goal: My doctor’s goal of 170. 4^th goal: 150’s. Final goal is to be in a healthy weight which is between 125-145. So we will see. During high school I ranged from a size 0-3 (freshman year/band—they tried to kill us) to size 9 when I graduated. I don’t ever remember weighing myself back then. I do remember being a size 14 when I was 190.—I was 22 then

Goal #1 - weigh less than my husband! He is currently at 208 as he gained 5 pounds on our Hawaiian vacay ;-P I am at 223......and working hard! He jokes about trying to get to Onederland and making a happy dance video about it on MY You Tube channel!

Goal #2 Onederland Before my trip I had this fantasy of doing it by the end of summer- September 21st. We'll see....

Goal #3 170 My doctor's goal- which he actually changed from 160 recently- I am not sure why...

Goal #4- seeing where I end up! The exciting thing is being confident I CAN do this, and can keep it off.

I love my sleeve!!!

Goal #1 - weigh less than my husband! He is currently at 208 as he gained 5 pounds on our Hawaiian vacay ;-P I am at 223......and working hard! He jokes about trying to get to Onederland and making a happy dance video about it on MY You Tube channel!

Goal #2 Onederland Before my trip I had this fantasy of doing it by the end of summer- September 21st. We'll see....

Goal #3 170 My doctor's goal- which he actually changed from 160 recently- I am not sure why...

Goal #4- seeing where I end up! The exciting thing is being confident I CAN do this, and can keep it off.

I love my sleeve!!!

Meggie - I really laughed when I saw your Goal #1 because that is a definite goal of mine too - There's something about weighing less than the man in your life that makes you feel a little more feminine! I've watched and enjoyed many of your youtube videos (so great that you are documenting this journey). I'm considering doing some youtube videos as well so I have something to look back on... I'll watch for your happy dance Onederland video!