Goals.... How do you set them ?

My goals were pretty "personal" to me, and I wanted to make sure they were not "number based" (IE: A specific number on a scale or a specific clothing size) only because those can be elusive and a bit of a let down.

I had not been able to FIT in an amusement park ride for a LONG time, so that was a goal...

Fitting into an Airline seat without an extender was a goal...

Walking 1-2 miles without pain was a goal...

Being BRAVE to go on a beach or pool without the dreaded Mumu coverup was a goal...

Having more photos of me being taken...

Going to VISIT more vacation sites with the family...

Horseback riding again...

That kinda stuff, goals that I knew would really mean something. Honestly, was the "first time" I wore a size 14 again fun...Yeah, sure, but today's size 14 is NOT the same size 14 that existed in the 1970's!!!! (That was a 9!) Nor did a scale number mean anything because honestly...Can you look at most people and "guess" their weight? Most people can't and no one is going to be able to tell whether you are 190 or 150. (Well, some may). That may be more important to your vanity...So, I wanted to do things I would TRULY remember...To this day, I remember the first time POST-surgery I was able to not only sit at a BENCH seat again, but had ROOM without my tummy all crunched in there! Or the first time my husband could wrap his arms all the way around me! THAT is the stuff that lives in my mind.

I wish you the best of luck! Write your NSV (Non-Scale Victories) down and check them off as you accomplish them!

Ahhhh yes! I want to go horseback riding and not feel like my short stubby legs are sticking straight out the sides . I also was reading your reply thinking how nice it would feel if I felt comfortable to sit on my husbands lap and not secretly put all my weight on my feet on the floor ! You guys are awesome and have me starting a list ! Thank you 

My goal was always to get into a size 4.

Yes Grim !! A 4 would look good on you lol .... Not really but that's my secret wish to fit into a 4!

Here are the goals I set in the beginning, the ones I've reached so far have dates next to them: 

(3/20/14) 291 - Extremely Obese BMI
(4/29/14) 269 - Fifty Lost/25% EWL
(5/17/14) 260 - Driver's License Weight
(8/2/14) 233 - Obese BMI
(9/12/14) 219 - One Hundred Lost/50% EWL
(11/25/14) 199 - "Onederland"
(4/28/15) 180 - Age 18
180 - Weight before dad's brain cancer diagnosis in 3/2015
174 - Overweight BMI
169 - One Hundred Fifty Lost/75% EWL
159.5 - Half the person I used to be
150 - Start the Plastics Process
145 - Normal BMI
120 - 100% EWL (based on Ideal Weight calculations)

It was easier for me to set multiple small goals instead of just the one final goal.  I've also had a number of exercise based goals like "run a 5k and don't die," and "exercise at least 15 minutes EVERY SINGLE DAY."