Motivation Points and Landmarks - What are yours?
 

I've been thinking a lot about ways to inspire and motivate myself lately, especially after the New Year's celebration is over and I can re-dedicate myself to some serious losses. I've come up with a few landmark stats for myself that I'll be working towards. Each one has its own significance for me, and I think will help me have mini-goals to keep me going on this journey. Here are mine....what are yours?

233 - BMI will be < 40 - from currently morbidly obese (hate that term) to obese (also not a favorite, but better!)

224 - my high weight from when I started losing in 1998. I got to 130 in 2000. Started gaining it back in 2002.

218.5 - will be 100 pounds lost since starting loss this time in January 2012.

199 - onederland - can't wait!

175 - BMI will be < 30 - from obese to merely overweight

145 - BMI will be < 25 - from overweight to "normal"

140 goal weight, unless I choose to go further


Something inside me wants to shoot for 218.5, which would be a 200 pound loss, but I'm not sure that's really necessary, or even wise. Even 224, my original 100 pound loss from 2002, which I never quite made, would be exciting. I guess time will tell. In the meantime, I look forward to checking each of these off during 2013.

I just realized how much weight you've lost so far-great work :clap:

For me going down in jean sizes is a bigger landmark than actual pounds loss. This is because I'm very pear shaped and carry most of my extra weight in my butt/thighs. Every time I hit a new jean size it makes me feel like I'm really making progress :)

Started losing weight in mid-October. Started in a loose size 14 (bought my first pair of size 14 jeans in September, my highest size ever).

Size 12 jean-beginning of November

Size 10 jean-just bought them this past week :jumpjoy: I haven't seen this size in 5 years, since I got pregnant with my son :)

Size 8 jean-

Size 6 jean-I'll have to do some major toning, even after hitting my goal weight, to fit into my ultimate jean size goal. I'm planning on starting a toning regiment after the holidays are done :)

We look forward to ticking off each of those landmarks with you!

Me Too! :help:

Wow, great question; great thread! I'll have to give this some major thought and get back on it. I don't feel super motivated right now and I really, really want to be.

I've hit all the landmarks I set for myself, and have lowered my goal weight by 15 pounds. That's the last landmark I need to reach. Then, I'm going to be left kind of :confused: and :stars: ! I'd love to see what others have to say.

:high5:

I have no idea on how to go about doing this, maybe there's some sort of program online I can follow along with :confused: It would be hard to do videos since our tv room is super small. I need to start looking into this more!

Wonderful thread idea!

Ok, I think I have a few in mind:

218 - This was the lowest weight I'd reached on Atkins last year before I moved and promptly flew off the wagon. Reaching (and surpassing) this weight will mean that I have staying power...that I'm not a failure once again.

200 - This was the weight at which I was married in 2008. I was so embarrassed to be a fat bride, especially in a dress that was not quite big enough.

175 - This was the weight I was at when I met DH in 2007. It is also the weight I'd been at for approximately 7 years. My previous set point.

155 - This was the last weight at which I still felt 'normal', and the last time I fit into non-plus sizes.

135 - Not sure if it's an attainable goal (not yet a weight I can fathom reaching)...but this was my set weight long ago, before those awful years of uncontrollable IBS, and well within the 'normal' BMI range for my height.

Well, as much as I would like it not to be, my mentality is still very much tied to the numbers on the scale. My first goal is to get below 220 (I'm 5' 6") -- and then, by the end of 2013, into Onederland. I'm a slow loser, but I feel this is really do-able. I had an interesting phone conversation with my ObGyn today (she'd called to answer a prescription question I had) -- she mentioned that I'm 15 pounds lighter than when I saw her this time last year. So, yay -- a modest loss for a year -- but, hey -- could've been a gain! ;) Ultimately, my goal would be 127 -- kind of for a stupid reason. Well, two stupid reasons -- one, I really like the number 27, and two, that was my lowest weight in college and I thought I looked pretty awesome at that weight.

Getting away from the numbers, though -- I think one big goal for me is to have optimum physical mobility. To be able to run, swim, hike as long and as far as I want. I'm not sure which weight will bring that -- but that's a big goal for me, too.

Rayne, I notice our stats are very similar -- my highest weight was in the 250's as well -- now I'm *finally* below 230 (that's new this year, I held at 235 for a loooooong time). It's amazing the difference even 20 lbs can make, though, isn't it?

Wow, they are similar! Twenty pounds lost (ha! I hadn't even noticed) has meant looser clothes (but no new size yet) and feeling more agile and light on my feet.

And a much brighter outlook. :)

Callanetics is great for toning, and it doesn't take much room to do it in. I used to do it for years and got great results, but I haven't been able to do it since developing osteoarthritis in my hip and having a hip replacement.

So now I need to find something new to get this old saggy butt & flabby legs of mine firmed up and quick. :dunno:

I just found some toning exercises on Marie Claire's website, (I googled toning exercises), and I printed them out to try. They don't look to hard (at least from my computer chair :hyst: ), so I'm going to try them out after I get through the holiday blur :laugh:

This is how I'm constantly thinking. Here are my weight landmarks:

221 - my low from this year before I started regaining. This means I'm back to business.

199 - onderland! I haven't been here in 10 years.

175 - where I was when I was 18 and met DH. I'll also weigh less than him finally.

150 - dream goal weight. Would be the skinniest I've ever been as an adult.

Started at 215 in March 2012, currently at 182/size 12 jeans
174 - no longer obese, "just' overweight by BMI
150 - lowest point achieved in adult life previously (8 years ago, for about 30 seconds)
145 - no longer overweight by BMI
140 or size 6/8 jeans = goal!!!

I would also like to be able to run 3 miles without walking and without hurting my knees or hips. I figure this will coincide with reaching about 150 pounds or lower and at my slow pace of losses will probably take a good year to get to. I only hope I can keep up my momentum for that long and importantly, for the maintenance phase that has always tripped me up in the past.

Thanks everyone for joining me in this thread. I've been enjoying each of your comments and feeling the support that comes with knowing I'm not alone in this. It's been motivating for me to think about my own check points and landmarks, and gives me even more to read about yours.

Love the plans! I look forward to celebrating all of these landmarks with everyone!
Mine is that I want to get back to my maintenance weight range of under 150 again and hang on to it!
Then I would like to get to my dream goal of 145.
My goal is to not regain the weight I have worked so hard to lose.
Those are my landmarks and goal but I am having difficulty with consistency and some definite lack of diligence so thought that it might help me to list out my plan on how I am going to do this for accountability reasons.
-I plan to get back to maintenance and stay there by following JUDDD and counting calories on UD and DD and keeping within the calorie limits.
-I am going to post my weight in the weight loss thread until I get there so I don't forget that I working towards my goal.(crazy I know:stars:)
-I am going to keep coming to this forum for motivation
-I will keep exercising regularly for my health
-in maintenance I will keep following the JUDDD program and count my UD and DD maintenance level calories to prevent regaining.

I am really looking forward to us all looking again at this thread next year and celebrating our progress! I am worried about regaining what I have lost so posting this in writing is really helpful especially during the holidays. Great idea LoCarbGal!

Great thread -- right now doing this day to day and learning. What great teachers I have.:) Thanks

Arlene

Awesome post! Can't wait to meet these landmarks with everyone :)

Mine would be ....

159 and less : My comfy weight, I look and feel good at this weight and fit into all my clothes.

150 - Healthy BMI!

145 - I have been this weight 5 years ago and was considered "thin" and fit into size 6-8 clothing.

135 - Ultimate Goal ! This is the weight I have only been once in my life for about a month. I actually looked good in a bikini !!!! I would love to finally reach this in the next year!

I like this thread. :) Here's some goals for me.

the 80s - I'll dance to some disco if I can get back there! :D

the 70s - Might put a flower in my hair.

the 60s - Might not get into a mini skirt yet, but I'll give it a go. :D

Okay...that's going to take some time, so three goals to look forward to so far. :)

I have a recommendation for you.

I've started doing the Jane Fonda Prime Time DVDs, which are definitely beginner-friendly. Jane is 72 (albeit with a very toned body) when leading the exercises and the 3 women with her are probably in their 60s, so there's nothing really strenuous and nothing requiring great coordination. Each routine lasts about 25 minutes, and I feel very good at the end of the workout, partly because it ends with stretches that feel good. I'm in my mid-50s but new to working out with hand weights, so I appreciate the clear directions and encouraging presentation. Most of the exercises are done standing near or sitting in a chair, with the exception of a small amount of floor work, which one could skip if you didn't have enough room. I ordered the DVDs from amazon, and I think they'd be suitable for a beginner working in a very small space--even someone who was much younger. You can add challenge by doing heavier hand weights; I began with 8 pound weights rather than 5 pound weights.

Thanks for starting this thread, and thanks for sharing, everyone!

Current weight: 183

Goals
1: weight 169-- overweight but no longer obese, according to BMI
2. Waist measurement under 35 inches (currently 36), not at elevated risk for heart disease
3: weight 135-- no longer overweight according to BMI
4: Fit into my size 6-8 professional clothes wardrobe (probably around 125 lb)
5: Ongoing--Do more than just walking for exercise. Do toning exercises regularly, and make time to do elliptical machine at high resistence through a movie, at least a couple of times/week.
6. Learn to swim in fall 2013.
7. Stick with JUDDD, be patient with myself when I have a hard DD and go higher than I wanted on calories

This morning the scale showed me 257. I have not been this low for over 20 years.
My highest weight was 330 in 2010.

I wish I could be elated about it. I'm not exactly sure why I am not. I think I am so used to being overweight it seems surreal that I truly am finally losing this weight and all the pieces of the puzzle seem to be in place.

Having said that, my goal is for my weight to begin with the number ONE.

My non-scale goals are:



To ride a horse again.

To zipline.

Rollerskate with my grandkids.

Walk and hike all through the northwest. (without tiring easily)

To wear a bathing suit in an imperfect body (cellulite/loose skin/ so what)

To travel and spend long days walking through beautiful, historical cities and villages.
especially in europe.

Having said all that, my main lifelong goal is to BE HEALTHY and enjoy living each day!

Such a great attitude JayLynn! Congrats on hitting 257! You are doing amazing! :high5:

Thank you, Jade. I appreciate it! :)

Yes, and you will get to the 100's. It is doable on this way of eating!

I think stepping-stone goals are so important, especially when you have some distance to go in your weight loss journey.

Here's mine. I'm adding some large frame BMI adjustments because I really think it makes a difference. It's amazing how different-framed people of similar height can be the same clothing size at vastly different weights.

225 - no longer in the horridly-named category of morbidly obese, in obesity category 2.
199 - onederland! Should also be close to fitting in 14 petites, so that will be a non-scale VERY EXCITING goal.
197 - too close to Onederland, I know, but at this weight I will be in obesity category 1 according to the BMI.
185 - no longer obese (in overweight category), large-frame adjusted BMI
168 - no longer obese (in overweight category), regular BMI.
154 - no longer overweight (in "normal" category), large-frame adjusted BMI
140 - no longer overweight ("normal" category), regular BMI
135 - current goal: the weight at which I once felt was right. It was in college, but with lots of muscle from working out, more than I would probably have now. So I don't know if this is the right number now or not ... I have plenty of time to think about it as I get closer. :D

I wonder if I should have some sort of reward planned for reaching each of these goals? Probably it would be smaller clothes!

I actually had to think of stops I would be excited to see!

179 - no longer obese by bmi. Now, overweight.

165 - should be comfortably back into my 10s. Feel pretty good here, but still not done.

154 - the lowest I've ever been in my adult life. Reached it briefly with hHCG back in April of this year. It lasted maybe a week before I gained almost 40 pounds in 5 months.

149 - no longer overweight by bmi. I have not been this low since before i left highschool.

140 - the weight I was as a freshman in high school.

130 - ultimate goal. I don't recall a single time I was ever here. Once I hit puberty I shot up overnight, and went from skinny skinny to shaped like a woman in about a week.

First goal met (briefly this morning, for some reason I don't think it'll stick this week) but plan to hit them all, eventually. Hopefully 2013 is my year.

I'm resurrecting this old December post, because I find I'm in need of some motivation right now. I'm having a touch of diet fatigue, and really want to keep myself going, and losing at a steady pace. I think focusing on what I HAVE accomplished so far will help me a lot to keep focused on what I WANT to accomplish. Here goes!