Please help me set my next goal

I'm just about to board a plane for Malaysia... giving me plenty of time to contemplate where I'm headed next.

I'm just 18 lbs from the initial goal I set for myself in July when I started this process.  At the time, I couldn't have imagined in my wildest dreams that I would be where I am today.  (I realize a lot of you started off where I am now, but alas... I was more than 400 lbs at the time, so being in the 230s is tremendous progress.)  My doctor told me I could hope to hit my 240s or so with the VSG, but clearly I am headed to a place quite a bit lower than that as the weight is still coming off at about 13-15 lbs per month.

I seem to do best when I set achievable goals.  So I'm looking to set a next goal.  This is probably an interval, and not necessarily my final goal.  But since I crave success... I need to find a new point at which I can feel successful and keep myself motivated to continue.

So I would love your ideas of where I should go next.  Keep in mind that I have a lot of hanging skin that probably weighs about 15 lbs or more and that this will still be on my body for another 6 months at least.  Tell me your thinking around how you set your intermediate goals.

Thanks so much.

Hally

PS  I'm 5'4 and NOT yet psychologically ready to set a goal at normal BMI.

If you aren't ready to set a goal of a normal BMI, why not just lower your goal 25 pounds (which is dress size in the plus sizes, right?) every time you get close?

If you are still losing as such a good pace, I would challenge yourself and set a goal of onderland.  I would aim for 199 lbs. or 200 lbs.  It is very doable.  I would give myself a four month window to hit my goal and work my butt off to get there.  You can do this. 

So great you are taking this trip. Hope you have fun. Always interesting to see how the rest of the world lives especially in parts of Asia.

Well, a goal of getting under 200 is certainly a worthy one. But instead of thinking of a scale number, you might make your goals something different such as you will walk a mile a day 5 days a week for two months (maybe you already do) or you will stick to you doctor's program completely for another two months, or you will increase your protein by 5 g per day, or you will track all food without fail or one of the many habits that will help you lose more weight. That way you are not totally focused on the scale as your challenge and goal. Or you can measure success in lost inches or pant sizes or something of that nature. Any of this stuff will lead to more weight loss and if youare losing 13 or mour pounds a month thats an incredible rate and you are not going to stop any time soon if you keep your habits. Maybe its just as simple as making your goal be losing 10 lbs a month though recognize that one of these days that rate will slow.

If you are worried about skin, then your goal could be to save $10 a week toward a fund for plastics even though you don't know if or when you will do that. In a year you would have some money and could decide what to so with it. maybe take another trip!

I had one intermediate goal which was to be able to ride a horse again and I did that when I got quite a bit of weight off but was not yet at goal. it was fun. now i am gonna learn to surf and I want to ski next winter.

Anyway, think in terms of achievements that are not on the scale because they are fun and the scale will follow.

Diane

I also love the idea of setting non-scale goals. For example you could set a goal of drinking XX number of ounces of water each day, eating XX grams of protein each day, keeping your calories at XXX number, etc.

I also love setting fitness goals for myself. For example I am always trying to beat my own "high score" in the gym. My highest score for a half mile was 7:28 but I beat that at 7:18 yesterday. Now my next goal is to do a half mile in under 6 mins.

I also see how long I can run.. which I mark either by distance or by time. So my longest time has been 2 minutes and longest distance was 1/10 of a mile.. so my goals are to beat that.

My personal trainer also has me doing fitness tests like see how many squats I can do in a minute or how many pushups etc. and times/counts me each time.. it's great to see how I've improved over time, and really gives me a boost especially when the scale is not moving the way I'd like it to.

I like all the ideas folks had - maybe set a goal for a certain size or a body measurement of so many inches, I don't know.

I do best with action goals like Rose said: do exercise 4 times a week or increase water by so many glasses and

mostly I just wanted to say have a good trip and post photos for us!

Here are some goals you may want to consider:
-  Getting to Onderland
-  Incorporating Exercise, or stepping it up
-  Getting to a certain size of clothing
-  Getting to a certain BMI
-  Taking before & after pictures and posting them for us to see
-  Acheiving something in your career
-  Achieving something in your personal life
-  Taking a risk that you have wanted to, but never had the confidence before
-  Getting all gussied up and going out on a date, with hubby, boyfriend, girlfriend or new friend :)

Have fun,

Cindy