Think It's Possible...in Four Months

I am "friends" with a couple of past contestants from The Biggest Loser. One of them wrote their gola weight and the date they wanted to reach it by on the inside of their wrist. I thought it was a fantastic idea. So this morning I pulled out a sharpie marker and wrote my goal weight and 5.17.12 underneath it.

71 pounds. In four months. That would mean an average weight loss per month of 17.75 pounds. It's only three pounds more per month than what I've "averaged" over the last eight. However, the bulk of my weight loss didn't occur until this past fall when I started working with my trainer, and I've dropped a LOT in inches versus poundage. So I'm not entirely certain at this point what "average" weight loss per month looks like for me.

Nevertheless, the goal in black Sharpie ink on my wrist suddenly became a motivator. I got all charged up again. So I shared this with a friend of mine who wants to lose 55 more pounds to hit her goal weight. Crickets chirpped louder than she did during our call: "It's four months," she said. "I know," I replied. I tried telling her how I got geared up over writing the goal on myself, but I have to admit that her hesitation on the phone was unexpected and a tad contagious.

Honstly, it didn't occur to me that I couldn't reach the goal inked on my pale self until that phone call. I was wondering what some of you thought? 

 IMO - a goal is just that, a goal. I've always subscribed to the theory that if you shoot for the moon, you may get the tree tops, but heck you got off the ground! You'll be closer to your weight goal than you were before so what is there to lose??? Except the weight that you want to get rid of. Remember, your body has a rhythm of its own. It's amazing what you have accomplished already and I have confidence this will not be your last victory. Go for it I say! Burn the ships!

Realistically... unless you will live in a gym.. like the Biggest losers and work non stop with a trainer - it is safe to expect to drop average 2 lbs a week. Or all 8 lbs per month.  One week that may be 5... then other weeks - maybe none...
The closer you get to the goal the slower the body allows you to lose the lbs.
I would think 4 x 8=32 lbs may be more realistic.

But I did not work with a PT ..so ... And I get upset at myself if I do not meet goals.
As long as you are working with a trainer - as you losing fat - you may get muscles - so maybe set a goal to lose fat - based on body fat %? 

I think it's a great idea, as long as you aren't one of those people who get thrown off track and give up when you don't meet your goals.

Almost 18lbs a month is a lot, esp since weight loss slows down, but it's not impossible.

I still have yet to make it to goal, and it bugs the crap outta me- so I hope you get there!

:Danni

I don't toss in the towel if something goes the wrong way. I just try to find a way to get around the obstacle the next time it comes along. My trainer and I talked tonight about my goal after we did measurements (when we first met I was 63 inches around...today 45) and he thinks it's doable. Lots of work, but doable. He also doesn't feel I need to be in the gym six hours a day either. 

Things have changed so much since my surgery. I really didn't have any goals set, per sey, because at the time I was only wanting to stop the madness (so to speak). I wanted to not be sick all the time, I didn't want to go on blood pressure medication, I was tired of being sick and tired. I just hated my life. So really, the only thought I had was that I didn't want to be dead by the time I hit 50 because I couldn't get a handle on my weight. Now...I'm on a great new path and thus...my goal of 170.

I think a flaw in your plan might be that the weight loss slows down signficantly as you apprach the one-year mark (a combination of losing the calorc malabsopriton and your body weighing less and therefore a lower daily caloric deficit), so expecting to lose at the same rate -- let alone at a  FASTER rate -- going forward may not be realisitic no matter how much you are working out.

Not saying it cannot be done, of course... just that I personally think it is very optimistic.

Lora