Realistic Band Goals

I'm so proud of you all. I wish I had that same mindset.  It is so hard for me.  I still want to be in the normal range for weight.  I don't want anything to say overweight.  I've been obese my whole life and I would like to just once to be referred to as normal.  The sad truth is, I'm having a hard time getting the last 40 lbs. off.  It's been a struggle for me, because I've wanted to eat what I wanted and still lose weight (that just doesn't work). 

I have to work very hard not to look at the negative and focus on the positive.  When people see that can't believe it's me and that is when I say...wow...look where you've come from.  Other times I have to fight not to beat myself up for not being able to beat the odds and lose 100% of the weight. 

Thank you everyone for your honesty.  It helps bandsters like me who are still struggling with issues with our weight loss.

You must be an amazing person to say that you are a negative thinker and still lose over 100lb.  You're almost there!

Thank you Stephanie...I guess I never thought about it like that.  It's something how I've totally dismissed that I've lost over 100 lbs., since I'm not where I want to be.  You're right, I am almost there.  Now for me to get my mindset together.  I'm going to need help with this!!!!!!

I'm so glad I've decided to come back to OH.  I really helps to encourage me while I'm struggling.

I think this thread is great.

It IS hard to remain realistic with our goals and not feel defeated if they don't jive with reality. With my height [5'8]... 150 would put me in the middle of normal BMI range. That just is not realistic for me. My personal goal is 170, which is on the low end of overweight.

Honestly, I would be estatic to hit 199 and never lose another pound. 

I guess I don't think it is unrealistic to get to goal, a healthy BMI. I didn't want to be obese or even overweight. I worked really hard to get to my current BMI and while I understand what you are saying, I guess I just disagree with what is realistic.

Would you seriously be happy only losing up to 70% of your excess weight?

So true, Stephanie.


I started at 284 and 5'6 inches tall and 52 years old
.
My lowest 'known' weight as an adult was 167 pounds when I did Medifast for 26 weeks.
I maintained that weight for about 20 minutes and then started to gain.

So, I went in to my band surgery planning to get to 199 --  but hoping to get to 175 or even better, 165.

My doctor did not set a goal for me -- and said that he would write a letter to Weigh****cher's at 175 to make that my goal ---- but I just kept losing, so I kept on course.

I am at 153 - 154 these days --- made my WW goal on my own and hope to lose another 3 or 4 pounds

Realistic expectations are so important -- and like Kate said, without time limits.

Thank you everyone for contributing to a positive experience for all of us...it is great to have such open communication!  Would love to keep this going for a while to show those struggling in some way that we don't have to be "perfect" we just need to get healthier and allow ourselves to be human. 

no desire to be what the BMI charts say i should weigh for being a shortie 5ft tall person.

i have hips / booty / double D's - just a curvy gal that bounces around 128-135.   i run around 25 miles a wk, eat what i want & enjoy some wine.  

this has not been complication free - but it's in me, i paid for it.....therefore i baby it.

I have goal pants...I loved them so much when I weighed 150 so I saved them for Better days:) I dont care about weight at all to be honest. I want to feel like ME again...I want to feel alive! I want to feel beautiful and not ugly and frumpy. I want to smile and it be real and not fake. I want to go places when I am invited instead of making up an excuse to not go because I dont want people to see how FAT I have gotten. I want to be able to bend to tie my 4 yr olds shoe or to get on the floor with my son Gavin and actually do a puzzle with him without losing circulation in my legs! I want to be able to feel like a happy person instead of a grumpy ***** because I AM MISERABLE with myself and how I feel and look...I want my husband to have the woman he fell in love with!AND THE LIST GOES ON FOR ME:) Being Fat cheats you out of life...so many things! I want to live my life to the fullest...not let my size or how I feel or look hold me back!!! I thank God every day that I had the chance to get my band...and paid for...which I COULD HAVE NEVER DONE ON MY OWN...I feel so lucky so Im am working my very hardest to use my Little tool to the fullest!

I have several items I have saved that I have recently been able to wear or will be able to wear soon.  One is a lime green silk Dana Buchman jacket I bought on sale at Nordstom in 2001.  It is size 18 and I am wearing it to my niece's wedding on Saturday.  It is the most heavenly color and looks fabulous with black slacks and a crisp white shirt or black sweater underneath.  The last time I wore it was in 2003 and I could not button it...it buttons easily now and I am sooooo looking forward to wearing it again!
I also have a black silk dress my hubby bought me for New Year's eve in 1996...long sleeve, faux wrap, deep neckline and straight skirt...size 16 misses...I am about 25 lbs from wearing it and I will even tolerate heels for a night so he can see me in it again...I had lost 80 lbs when he bought it and it looked great and I felt great wearing it.