Please help me figure how to set my final goal date

susanswan

First I'd like to thank MFP and everyone ivolved here. I might have read your post, browsed your profile, or we might be friends who have encouraged each other! It has motivated me to reach my first 3 goals and now it is time to zero in on my final goal! I would like help to determine how to figure out how long it takes. I have lost 23 pounds and have11 pounds left to go.

About me: 54 years old, 5'6". I eat a clean diet most of the time. I walk the dog and bike ride, and need to pick up my dumbbells after neglecting them for a month.

I picked my goal weight of 135 pounds because I was there before when I was 40. It is also smack dab in the middle of the BMI chart. ANother goal was to be either a size 6 or 8, but last time I was 135 I was not exercising and wore a size 8 but my body had no bulges and I was very happy with that.

Starting weight on 2/7/11: 168.6.
on 3/7: 162.8
on 4/7: 159.6
on 5/7: 157.2
on 6/7: 152.6
on 7/7: 148
today on 7/23: 145.8

I am realistic and not in a hurry. There will never be an end to "when I get there" because I am prepared to work hard to maintain this time. Maintaining will be just about as intense as losing the weight. I don't believe in cheat days, vaction eating, or letting food overwhelm me again. I believe I can plan for eating out, parties, and such.

When I originally set my goals I thoughtlessly added an extra 3 pounds thinking it was no big deal. Well, my body couldn't lose those extra 3 pounds like nothing so I was consistently late in meeting my first three goals! This time I would like to hit my target! At half a pound a week that brings me to Christmas Eve! Nice Christmas present.

ANy thoughts are appreciated here!

melaniecheeks

I don't know what I can add - you seem to everything well thought through!

All I can suggest is, you'll know when you get there. Well done on your loss so far, and good luck!

susanswan

Okay, left to my own devices this is how I do math and statistics! (not my strong suit!)
I lost 22.8 pounds in 166 days
Lost .137 pounds per day on average
I lost the last 11 pounds in 84 days (12 weeks exactly)
I'll give myself 90 days from today - October 21 to achieve my final goal of 135 pounds.

I can do it and I will do it. I will be RIGHT in the middle of Healthy BMI for my height! I know many of you say "bah!" to the BMI scale, but it's all I got!

Once I achieve that weight I will continue working with dumbbells and towards toning up my body to see what it is capable of and what my fat percentage looks like. I am pretty darn flabby with excess skin now, but we'll see what happens and how it goes! I am so excited to see my goal before the holidays hit full swing!