I've been reading a lot about people reaching a weight loss goal that they've set. I haven't set any goals, but maybe I should. I just watch the scale every day, making sure it is going in the right direction.

What are your thoughts on setting goals? Do you reward yourself when you meet one? How do you reward yourself?

I haven't quite decided on what to do for myself in terms of goals. I'm currently 8 pounds away from my first big one, and 150 away from my final weight goal. I mean I get clothes once things are just too loose for me to wear. There really isn't anything else that can bring me as much satisfaction as knowing I've pushed myself to lose as much as I have.

Although I have set a mini goal/challenge to see how much I can lose before November, Hawaii trip with family & friends!

Edited May 29, 201412 yr by alicesandra

Goals are important; however, I also believe that goals are constantly changing. I've just had my surgery a week ago and my goal right now is to heal and get my Protein in! I can't really reward myself but the pounds I've lost thus far is a reward in itself. I think when I'm finished healing, I'll focus on working out type of goals and reward myself by shopping!

I set my goal to have a target to shoot for. Once I reach it, I reevaluate and decide if I'm happy there or want to set a new target.

My doc told me to expect to reach a weight goal of 230 to 235 lbs. I reached that and decided I wanted to be at 220. I've reached that and now I want to shoot for 210, with the ultimate goal of 205 lbs.

As I reach each goal, I look at the changes I had to make to reach the goal, how I physically look and decide if I'm happy where I'm at. Then I decide what to do next. I don't reward myself for reaching a goal. The reward is in the doing and reaching the goal.

I never set a goal and I did lose a significant amount of weight.

When I had the surgery done I remember during one of my check ups they asked me to set a short term goal and a long term goal. My long term goal was to be 120. The nurse smiled and said that I should do something a little more realistic and asked me to think about aiming for 160. I agreed, but in my head I promised myself I wouldn't settle for anything less than what I wanted. ... I made it! I stayed focused. I followed all the rules. Never chested. Never ate things I shouldn't. Never over did it. Never ate and drank at the same time. ...but I freakin did it! That nurse was happy for me but I so badly wanted to shout I TOLD YOU I COULD DO IT

When I had the surgery done I remember during one of my check ups they asked me to set a short term goal and a long term goal. My long term goal was to be 120. The nurse smiled and said that I should do something a little more realistic and asked me to think about aiming for 160. I agreed, but in my head I promised myself I wouldn't settle for anything less than what I wanted. ... I made it! I stayed focused. I followed all the rules. Never chested. Never ate things I shouldn't. Never over did it. Never ate and drank at the same time. ...but I freakin did it! That nurse was happy for me but I so badly wanted to shout I TOLD YOU I COULD DO IT

You know, maybe you should tell her. Or sing to her: "every party needs a pooper that's why we invited you...party pooper.."

I mean really, who's she to say? You did great. Hope as successful as you!

First...I have to say I am a Lap Band Patient....so my perspective is different from other WLS.....

I have set many goals, and continued to loose weight going right past them...

I once asked my Dr., very early on about what my weight loss goal should be...and what do I do when I get there...

He basically said it is NOT about goals, it is NOT the same as a diet where you can turn it on or off...it is a NEW, PERMANENT LIFESTYLE....

For years and years, my whole life perhaps, I lived a lifestyle that was made up of over eating, poor food choices, and physical inactivity...all the things that will gradually and consistently make you fat....

Then I had surgery to correct that bad lifestyle, and force me to adapt a new lifestyle with new eating habits, good food choices, inability to over eat, topped off with increased physical activity....

Just as a bad lifestyle gradually made me fat, changing that lifestyle will gradually return me to "Normal"

And that is exactly what happened...little by little my body lost fat, until finally it stopped and settled out where it feels it should be...not me.(again, I can't turn it on or off...it just is)

I plateaued at a certain weight....and when analyzed I see I have a very, very low body fat %....so that is it...finished, there simply is no weight left to loose and remain healthy....my body settled out where it wanted to...It was not my goal, but my body returning to a optimum place, where it should be.

As long as I have the band, and keep it adjusted where it is...this new lifestyle will continue...and so will my weight remain constant....

I have not lost, nor gained any weight in over 2 years now...except within the normal 5 lb range.

A few weeks back I had .5cc taken out as a experiment....my hunger/appetite increased immediately and I began to gain weight...got that .5cc put back in 2 weeks later....now everything is back to normal, and hopefully stay that way for the rest of my life.

I should add, as a veteran, this new lifestyle, from doing it day after day after day, becomes 2nd nature..no longer having to remind myself what I need to do, or not...it all comes natural...making this the easiest thing i could have ever done...don't even think about it that much during the day......

granted, the first 6 months to a year was pure hell and I felt many times a made a big mistake...a lot of old habits needed to change, and new habits formed......a whole life had to change in order to exist with the band......

Edited May 29, 201412 yr by B-52

I had many goals and my list keeps going. It is what pushes me to the lifestyle change. However my goals were never measured in the number on the silly scale. I knew I did this to get healthy and not for a number. So my goals consisted of

1. playing soccer without joint pain

2. Running a mile without any issues

3. Get physically ready for the police entrance exam

4. Be able to have my husband hug me and touch his arms

I am 2 years post op and stopped doing goals about a year ago. While I have maintained my weightloss, I am slipping into old habits. So this weekend I made a goal to do a triathlon.

So many times we get caught up in a silly number and when that number stops for a stall we get upset. If you make this journey about overall health and wellness and set non scale victory goals you will be amazed at what you can do!!!

I've been reading a lot about people reaching a weight loss goal that they've set. I haven't set any goals, but maybe I should. I just watch the scale every day, making sure it is going in the right direction.

What are your thoughts on setting goals? Do you reward yourself when you meet one? How do you reward yourself?

I think goals are healthy and give you something to work for. You should always have a few short term goals so you wont get discouraged along the way and a couple long term goals. My first goal was 300. I started at 356. I make 2 goals cuz one is for my kids and one for myself since they too are a big part of my journey. My 300 goal was to get a new tattoo for myslef. I wanted a small tribal heart by my ankle. My kids goal was to take them paintballing. I hit my goal when it was still snowing so i got mine and then in April i took my kids paintballing. My next goal is for 250lbs. I am taking my kids to chicago for the day and we are gonna walk everywhere. They want to go to navy pere. I will be able to take part in everything. I am 10lbs away. My 200lb goal is my skin removal surgery i hope! My kids want me to do a 5k color run with them! My ultimate goal i 178lbs which is half of.my starting weight. I can wait to get there. Good luck to you and i hope u take the time to set some good goals for yourself. Keep us informed.

Oh how l would love to have a goal of being able to walk or run without knee pain. I don't know if that is possible with my knees, but I'm hoping it is. I also like what joatsaint said about "The reward is in the doing and reaching the goal.". I think that is basically how I think also, but I love hearing about other people's goals.

I do have some non scale victory (NSV) goals. If I were ever to reach my goal weight, I'd love to take my kids to Disney World and walk everywhere without having to stop for a "knee break". I'd love to fit in all the roller coaster rides. I'd love to fit in a swimsuit without struggling to get it on, or thinking that this particular suit must be made for someone short-waisted, since it appears that the bust is somewhere around my waist...can't stand that!

I also watch the scale and feel great when I lose 10 pounds. Every 10 pounds is a victory, and is a reward in and of itself.

I also have a very bad knee. I had an accident about 20 yrs ago and as a result i know have severe osteoarthritis and my left knee has no catilage and i have a displaced patella. I boke my tibia and have 2 playes and screws. Since losing the weight i feel so kuch better. I still deal with a little pain but i can now run and jog. I never thought i would ever be able to do that. I was nervous at first but i am holding up great. I am now down to 260 from 356 and loving life. It only gets better. Good luck to you!

I also have a very bad knee. I had an accident about 20 yrs ago and as a result i know have severe osteoarthritis and my left knee has no catilage and i have a displaced patella. I boke my tibia and have 2 playes and screws. Since losing the weight i feel so kuch better. I still deal with a little pain but i can now run and jog. I never thought i would ever be able to do that. I was nervous at first but i am holding up great. I am now down to 260 from 356 and loving life. It only gets better. Good luck to you!

You can run and jog! You are going to be my new inspiration...lol! I used to run a lot, and hated it. I would make myself run about 7 miles 3 times a week, and managed to get my weight down to 130 (back in the early 1990s). It was the only way I could keep my weight down. Now that I can't run, I long for those days that I had the ability to run. I think I'm going to go back to the doc and see what I can do to make that happen.

I feels good to run and jog. I still dont go for real long distances but i can do about a 1/4 mile right now. Its getting better but i too havent been able to run for over 20 years. It was a striggle at first and i was real nervous cuz of my injury and problems but the doc said go for it just dont overdo it. Its a dream come true. Wont be catxhing my kids lol but they think its awesome to jog next to me. Loving life!

I also have a very bad knee. I had an accident about 20 yrs ago and as a result i know have severe osteoarthritis and my left knee has no catilage and i have a displaced patella. I boke my tibia and have 2 playes and screws. Since losing the weight i feel so kuch better. I still deal with a little pain but i can now run and jog. I never thought i would ever be able to do that. I was nervous at first but i am holding up great. I am now down to 260 from 356 and loving life. It only gets better. Good luck to you!

You can run and jog! You are going to be my new inspiration...lol! I used to run a lot, and hated it. I would make myself run about 7 miles 3 times a week, and managed to get my weight down to 130 (back in the early 1990s). It was the only way I could keep my weight down. Now that I can't run, I long for those days that I had the ability to run. I think I'm going to go back to the doc and see what I can do to make that happen.

It is possible. I have had three knee surgeries and one hip on the opposite side. I have rheumatoid arthritis and deal with joint pain. However now that I weigh about 135 the pain of running and doing daily activities is so much easier. All things and dreams are possible!!

Rena, I started pre op weight at 302 and have lost 55 pounds. I got cortisone shots in my knees three times a year and lived on NSAIDs. At 247, I went to Italy with nothing but Tylenol. I walked my butt off on hills and stairs and cobblestones every day for two weeks. Miles and miles every day, several cities. Although my knees hurt by the end of the day, they recovered daily. My feet hurt like hell but also recovered every day. Amazingly, I was not out of breath, and I kept up with our tour guides easily. Just that small amount of weight lost changed my physical abilities. I look forward to how much more I'll be able to do when all the excess weight is gone.

Edited May 29, 201412 yr by JustWatchMe