Last year, my goal was chosen without a lot of thought. My surgeon recommended I try for a goal of 135-145 pounds. I'm 5'7.

I had weighed 145 my senior year of high school, and 140 was between my surgeon's recommendation, so I put down 140 as my ultimate goal.

It also made my ultimate goal match my youngest daughter's weight: 115 pounds.

Since then, I have done more research about my ultimate weight goal. I learned that I will be at a normal weight according to BMI charts when I am about 161 pounds.

This really surprised me. Why was my goal 21 pounds below "normal"? Although 140 is still within that normal range, I didn't realize the normal range for BMI was so big!

I have considered changing my goal weight numerous times, and I know I've talked about it here as well.

Today, I decided to do it. I adjusted my ultimate goal by 15 pounds. My new goal is 155.

I'm not giving up on losing weight. I am not changing anything that I am doing. I just feel like this ultimate goal is a good place for me to be. It makes me have a normal BMI and gives me wiggle room as well.

When I get to 155, I might change my mind and my ultimate goal again. But for now, I think this is a more realistic goal for where I want to be.

Catracks - it sure seems to me like the people on this forum do a lot better than the, as you appropriately put it, "silly statistics" would have you think.

I know. I would sure like to get a study done with active members of this forum to see if we do better than those silly studies. How many have gotten to goal. How many maintain goal with a given percentage +/-. How many are at appropriate BMI 2 years out, etc.

Sounds like a far more realistic and HEALTHIER goal. Best wishes!!!