Your goal

Thank you for posting this. As I read the responses I feel like a complete failure of my WLS surgery and can't be the only person who feels that.

My WLC clinic says that the elimination of medical issues, reduction/elimination of drugs, and overall better health and ability to participate in "life" is the best measure of success.

That should be the best measure of whether or not you are 'at goal."

We worry about the scale too much.

Sorry!

I recently had a session with a therapist *****minded me that we all worry too much about these things. For us, as obese individuals, weight is a major focus of our lives. And at what point will we be happy? At what point will we NOT obsess over weight or the number on the scale? At what point can we look in the mirror and say, "I am enough. I am GOOD ENOUGH," and not be constantly striving for something more, for something better?

I want peace in my life, at some point. I don't want to obsess over my weight forever until the end of my days. I want to be free of that monkey on my back and be able to let it go and enjoy where I am in life RIGHT NOW.

And you know something? I want that for all of us.

I realized that because I realized that I want that peace for my daughter. I do not want her to live as I have lived or obsess as I have obsessed. I want something better for her.

Peace. Contentment. To be able to sit back and enjoy.

This is my goal.

Great question.  Thanks for asking it.  Everyone's insight is certainly informative and kudos to everyone who exceeded their weight loss goals expectations.  

My center (TWH) never set a specific goal or maybe I never asked for a number.  They just kept emphasizing that you're only going to lose between 60-80% of your excess weight.  I wasn't particularly thrilled what the math worked out to be.  

I picked 145 lbs as my goal because that is 10 lbs more than the highest weight the military would accept me at when I joined at age 23.  And I had to lose 5 lbs back then to make that number!  So I thought 135 was maybe unrealistic for someone now 30 years older so I added 10 lbs.

Unfortunately as many have noted BMI charts are handy though not necessarily an accurate measure of health and my 145 goal puts me in the overweight category.  If I go to 140 lbs then I'm "normal".  If all goes well I may try to be normal.  LOL!  

I wasn't given a real goal weight through TWH either.  I would settle for 160lbs -- that is what I weighed in high school.  My ultimate goal is to be 145lbs.... A weight I can't ever really recall weighing as I have been overweight my whole life.  Unrealistic? Possibly. But I am giving it my all to make it happen 😊