How did you set your goal weight?

I'm new and still pre-op, but was wondering if you all would mind sharing how you came to deciding what your "goal" weight should be.

My starting weight (at my consultation) was 341.  I'm 5'5" and only 27 years old, so according to every chart out there - to be in the normal weight range, I should be no more than 149lbs.  My doc said that I can expect to lose 70%-80% of my excess weight overall, so that should put me between 187-206lbs.

I can't even imagine life at 225lbs - let alone lower than that, so I'm struggling with how to set my "goal weight".  I don't want to set myself up for failure by picking a number that is too low to attain, but I also don't want to make it easy and then go back to old habits.  I'm goal oriented to a fault, so this has been going round and round in my head for weeks!

Can you all share how you and your doc came up with your goal numbers?

Thanks!

My doctor doesn't set goal weights.  I always wanted to have a normal BMI, but considered myself at goal 7 pounds higher than that.  I think your idea of setting an initial goal of 225 is great.  At that point you will probably still be losing and want to lose.  But celebrate that goal.  Then decide if that weight is healthy enough for you long term.  Good luck, Loris

I've set mini attainable weight goals.  (ex: my first goal weight is to be under 250 ... I'm 270 now... then It will be 225 and then 199 etc....) 

I did not want to put my ultimate goal weight out there yet.  I figure as this journey continues I will know what I want closer to my goal.  (but that is just me. :-)  )

btw... the only reason I have 150 on my ticker is because it asks for a goal.. LOL  sill tickers.

My doctor does not set goal weights, however my goal is a size 12 or 170 lbs whatever comes first. You and I are the same height, but my starting weight was 390. I am in the process of looking at my goal though, because at 311 I wear a size 18/20. I know sounds weird, but I hide my weight very very well. I dont really like to look at my over all goal. I set small goals for myself....I dont want to get distracted by my over all goal. A few of my goals are:

1) Be 290 by 10/31/09

2) Be 275 by 1/1/10

3) Be 250 by 3/2/10 (My  28th Birthday)

4) Be 199 by 10/31/10

5) Be 170 by 3/2/11 My 29th Birthday

6) Maintain a weight of 165-175 for the rest of my life.

My doc didn't set a goal weight for me, either. He asked me where I would like to be at. I was 292 at my highest, so I said,"I would love to get to 180."

After surgery, at the 6-month mark, I went back to my doc and said,"I want to get to a normal BMI." He is this very cut-and-dried, logical and analytical type, so he said,"You only have a 15% chance of success."

THAT pissed me off royally. So I became determined to prove him wrong and meet my goal! At 5'2", I can weigh 136 at the highest and have a BMI under 25.

Right now, I still have 14 pounds to go. But hey, it's about baby steps AND celebrating Non-Scale Victories. Major NSVs for me include:  I now wear a size 8! I ran 6.3 miles today! My heart's in the best shape it's ever been in! Some guy checked out my rear-end the other day! WHOO-HOO!!!
 
And remember this: BMI does NOT take into account frame size OR muscle mass! If you are ripped, you can have a BMI that puts you into the overweight category EVEN when you are completely fit. So, as always, take it with a grain of salt.

I decided not to set a goal weight.  I, like you, wanted to go for the normal BMI range, but losing 80% of my excess weight still puts me at like 220 pounds and I personally just find that depressing.  Plus, I don't know how my post-op body will be, but I tend to put on muscle like a man on steroids, so if I'm still that way I can't put all my eggs in the BMI basket.  I really wanted to set a goal of 150 pounds, but the thing is, if I get to 180 and that's what's right for my body I'll always feel like I let myself down somehow, or like I'm missing out on something.  And if I set the bar too far the other way, say at like 180 pounds, I'm apt to get content and stay there, or to start stressing again over getting even farther.  

I totally get why people have mini-goals along the way, and I might choose to do that, but instead of focusing on the scale I'm choosing to focus on goals pertaining to exercise, like to be able to walk 5 minutes without knee or back pain, or to do x minutes on the elliptical, etc.  I have goals I want to get to, like jogging (I haven't really been able to jog ever...even during sports like track, basketball, etc, I always struggled with exercise induced asthma because I was overweight but was too embarrassed to treat it, so I just huffed and puffed and practically killed myself).  

I'm not saying goals are bad, that's just my two cents.  I don't want to get overly focused on weight because I see how many people get freaked out when they stall, or depressed when they didn't lose as much weight as they hoped in a certain amount of time... I want to remember that this journey isn't about the perfect body (even if I can afford plastics someday, I'll never have the body I could have had if I'd never become obese), or the right size or number of pounds- it's about getting healthy and getting a second chance at living, and so that's what I'm choosing to focus on!

PS I recognize that tickers have no regard for this sort of attitude!

That's right! It's about celebrating our health and doing what we can to regain it. Your activity-related goals are terrific!! As the pounds come off, you'll find it easier to move around, with less foot pain, back pain, and joint pain. Eventually, you might find those aches and pains completely disappear. Mine did!

MY big thing with activity was learning to ignore the eyes of people staring at me as I did my thing, whether at the gym or outdoors. I still get the occasional butterflies about it. But you'll learn something--some people can't STAND to see fat people exert themselves! They freak out to see a large woman exercising/sweating/TRYING because it totally upsets their stereotypes. They will try to discourage you, but don't let them inside your head. Others are absolutely fabulous and supportive, so it goes both ways!

I never thought I would enjoy running, but I tell ya--there are beginner's programs out there that ease you into it gradually, no matter what your level of fitness. I know tons of people on OH who are doing the Couch-to-5k program that's free on Cool Running.com.

My doc's final goal for me is 200 pounds.

The end goal on my ticker is 180 pounds.

In my dreams, I'd like to get to normal BMI. I think it's 149.

I've never thought about getting "back" to some particular number like 125. I know some people want to get back to where they were when they were 21 or whatever. I don't think that's realistic for me -- I was over 200 in  high school.

My current mini-goal is 100 pounds loss. I had wanted to get to it by my 40th birthday on Thursday. But my TOM effectively derailed that -- I've gained 5 pounds since I hit 93 pounds down.

I try to look at the mini-goal as the most important one -- it's a lot easier to wrap my brain around.

The most important goals with having this surgery are life quality goals. For me, it will mean that I can keep up with my daughter more. See her graduate from high school, college, get married... Be able to do things I wasn't able to do when I was 388 -- take moderately difficult hikes, do yard work all day without totally running out of steam. Mostly, just be healthy!! My blood pressure is normal. My prediabetes seems to have disappeared.  I have soooo much more energy now than I did preop. I feel so much better.

Best of luck with your journey.