So what is a reasonable goal, anyway?

flyawaybride

This is not my first time around losing weight...I've done it before, I can do it again! Only difference is, last time was with no goal, just to lose. This time, though, I'd like to lose some weight by my wedding! It will be in about a year, and since I'm 100+ pounds overweight, I obviously don't expect to have lost all of it, or even most of it, by then. But I am wondering what a reasonable goal to set is. 40? 50? More than that?

Thanks for any advice in advance!


EDIT: because I know someone will ask...I'm 5'6", 310lbs,age 22, lightly to moderately active in my day to day life.

jessicagoble

Well it's different for every person... It really depends on your own body, your activity level, and your calorie intake. For instance I've been tracking my calories for almost 50 days now (with absolutely no exercise) just to kind of get used to eating healthier and I've lost 11lbs so far. I'm not in a huge hurry to lose weight though. I eat about 1400 calories a day. I think a reasonable achieveable goal for me in a year is 60lbs. Varies by the person I suppose.

Also, I have 100+ lbs to lose as well! Good luck on your journey!

Reprocess

To be able to wash laundry on my abs. If my laundry machine one day should break without notice. With motivation everything is possible.

7deadly

Just take it one day at a time.
The goal, ultimately, is to be happy and enjoy your life.
Tying your success, and perhaps happiness, to an abstract number is setting yourself up for failure.

If you're going to set goals then perhaps consider aiming for something like 'in 3 months I will run 10km'.
I like exercise based goals because you don't then focus on every calorie and gram lost on the scale.
YMMV of course.

chrissyrenee1029

For me a "reasonable goal" is anything that is realistically attainable to the point that I don't get a knot in my stomach when I think about whether or not I can achieve it. I set myself up for success whenever possible because success = motivation.

I keep my scale goals very small. While I have a final "goal weight" in mind, it's not something I allow myself to think about too much. I started at 239, so my first goal was 229, now it's 219, and I'll continue on like that until I get where I need to be. I also don't put a timeframe on those goals because if I don't make my deadline I end up discouraged and end up losing momentum.

As far as fitness goals, I take those one day at a time. I keep track of my times, distances, etc. and am always trying to beat those stats. I try not to let myself get bored and change things up every few weeks as well.

sparklefrogz

Welcome and congrats on your impending wedding!

This thread will help you get started and give you all the basic info you need to know to succeed: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants It's a little long, but full of really good info, so I recommend bookmarking it and working your way through it bit by bit.

To get an idea of what might be realistic for you in terms of weight loss in a certain time period, see this link: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets How much you actually lose will be based on what is most sustainable for you. Pre-wedding times are super stressful and a complete exercise and diet regime overhaul is less likely to stick -- especially since you are also crunched for time. For specific weight loss/week recommendations, skip to the paragraph in this thread that starts with "General recommendations for weekly weight loss goals".

For long term determination of what your final goal weight might be: http://www.cordianet.com/calculator.htm

flyawaybride

I wouldn't really say that I'm stressed or crunched for time-we're having a very small, unofficial ceremony in Ireland so there's very little planning involved outside of hotel and airfare-but I'm using it as that kick in the pants I've been needing anyway!

cantobean

I think it has to do with your personality, as well as your body.

Is 50 pounds in a year doable? Sure. But it may seem overwhelming to take such a big, long-sighted goal on at once. A year is a long time, and setting the "end date" for your wedding might be stressful as you get closer.

Do you work better toward small goals? Say you have 100 pounds to lose total (after all, you're not going to stop after your wedding, are you?). Maybe it's better to have the "big picture" in mind while setting shorter-term goals (i.e. "10 pounds by Oct. 1").

FireStorm1972

I'm aiming for the top end of my BMI which is 160lbs. May go to 150lbs though and starting lifting more weight.