Newbies needs help setting weight loss goals.

hal1968
hal1968 Posts: 8
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi, all, I'm 6' 2" and 275 lbs. I just joined mfp this week at the recommendation of my doc after being diagnosed with diabetes. Funny, it doesn't feel any different. Since I have too many things to do in life and don't want to die young, I figure it's time to do something about my weight. I figure I'm off to a good start. I'm down 2 lbs this week already (273lbs as of this morning), but am going to wait for the "official" weigh-in on Sat before I log it. I LOVE the food logger on this site. It's already helped me make better choices. Also have my second run of the week scheduled for tonight: 30 min's, approx 3 miles. I'm a C25K graduate (graduated the day that I was diagnosed; funny) and huge fan!

My question is how do I set my weight-loss goals? Ultimately I'd guess I'd like to get down to 200lbs, where my BMI would list me as normal/healthy. I have no idea whether I can do it. 75 lbs sounds daunting right now. When I was 225 lbs years ago I felt pretty good about my weight. My initial thoughts are to lose 15 lbs by Christmas (11 weeks from now), mostly as a "see if I can do it" exercise, and then reassess. That's why you see my ticker below showing only the 15 lbs. Am I better off, long term, having my in-my-face ticker showing my final goal of 200lbs (75lb weight loss), and having that be my focus? How do I balance my focus on short term goals vs my long term? Clearly I need some short term goals too.

Replies

  • EmilyJaneRigali
    EmilyJaneRigali Posts: 59
    you can definitely get down to 200 lbs. for sure. you just have to be ready and willing to put forth the effort.
  • Katbody10
    Katbody10 Posts: 369 Member
    Just set your goal for 200 lbs .. that's your ultimate goal .. you can set personal goals of 15 lbs by Dec 24 .. and so forth and so on.

    if you have days/weeks you're discouraged .. don't be. Work with your doctor - find support here .. YOU CAN DO IT! You're a C25K graduate .. you can do anything! :heart:
  • BigG59
    BigG59 Posts: 396 Member
    You may want to check out the Diabetes Group here on MFP as well.

    I've recently been diagnosed as well and found the support and advice from the group very useful.

    As for goals, anything is possible :) you just need to believe in them. When I set mine at the start of my lifestyle change, I thought they were too aggressive. Now only 8 weeks in I am half way to my Feb goal, so I don't think I made mine aggressive enough!
  • amez1974
    amez1974 Posts: 213 Member
    I have had tons of mini goals along the way. I shoot for 5 lbs at a time and entering new decades. When I first started losing, I also worked toward losing 5% and then 10% of my starting weight. I'm still not sure what my final goal is--I always tell folks "I will know when I get there" I have an arbitrary goal in my ticker, but it's just a number I tossed in there.

    These little goals feel so much more attainable to me then becoming overwhelmed by a large number.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    BMI's not a great rule of thumb for guys, especially since you're being so active. Put it this way, a guy I work with is one of the leanest most fit guys I know but according to BMI, he's overweight. So I'd say if you remember feeling very comfortable before at 225, I'd shoot for that goal and once you get there, if you feel like losing another 5-10 would be feasible you can change your goal again.

    For me, as a medium/large framed female who's pretty active, the high end of the BMI range is my primary goal. I remember being 10-15 pounds lighter than that in high school but I wasn't as athletic back then (meaning have more muscle mass now and therefore a higher LBM weight). i also want to make sure I can maintain wtihout much of a struggle. So once I get down to 157, I'll up my calories a bit to test the waters and if I feel up to it, I'll try to lose a bit more.

    Better to be realistic than set the bar too high and be disappointed.
  • hal1968
    hal1968 Posts: 8
    Thanks everyone! I'm touched by the quick and thoughtful responses. I've decided to update my ticker to show a goal of 50lb weight loss, to get me to 225. I'll reevaluate things at that time. My short term goal will still be 15lbs by Christmas. It's going to be tough to skip the holiday season treats (Halloween candy, Thanksgiving food fest, Christmas treats), but oh well, that's life.

    Last nights run sucked. (Pardon my language.) Some days I just don't feel the goodness, and last night was one of them. On the bright side, this morning's scale showed 272.7 lbs. My official weigh-in is Sat morning.
  • WinnerVictorious
    WinnerVictorious Posts: 4,733 Member
    Hi, all, I'm 6' 2" and 275 lbs. I just joined mfp this week at the recommendation of my doc after being diagnosed with diabetes. Funny, it doesn't feel any different. Since I have too many things to do in life and don't want to die young, I figure it's time to do something about my weight. I figure I'm off to a good start. I'm down 2 lbs this week already (273lbs as of this morning), but am going to wait for the "official" weigh-in on Sat before I log it. I LOVE the food logger on this site. It's already helped me make better choices. Also have my second run of the week scheduled for tonight: 30 min's, approx 3 miles. I'm a C25K graduate (graduated the day that I was diagnosed; funny) and huge fan!

    My question is how do I set my weight-loss goals? Ultimately I'd guess I'd like to get down to 200lbs, where my BMI would list me as normal/healthy. I have no idea whether I can do it. 75 lbs sounds daunting right now. When I was 225 lbs years ago I felt pretty good about my weight. My initial thoughts are to lose 15 lbs by Christmas (11 weeks from now), mostly as a "see if I can do it" exercise, and then reassess. That's why you see my ticker below showing only the 15 lbs. Am I better off, long term, having my in-my-face ticker showing my final goal of 200lbs (75lb weight loss), and having that be my focus? How do I balance my focus on short term goals vs my long term? Clearly I need some short term goals too.

    you should be fine setting an aggressive goal early on. 10-12lbs per month for you should not be a big deal. i lost at that rate this summer (June 1 to September 3) going from 290 to 245 and it was not a big deal. i wasn't hungry and didn't deprive myself.

    - log your calories every day. this helps you make better food choices.
    - understand what your daily calorie maximum should be.
    - don't drink your calories. switch to drinking only water as many days as possible.
    - move. get some cardiovascular burn going every day. the more the better and the faster the weight will drop.

    that's all there is to it. you should be able to take off 20-25lbs by Christmas.

    the only thing i can't speak about is how diabetes affects your diet/exercise/weight loss goals.
  • GomesDavid
    GomesDavid Posts: 149
    Thanks everyone! I'm touched by the quick and thoughtful responses. I've decided to update my ticker to show a goal of 50lb weight loss, to get me to 225. I'll reevaluate things at that time. My short term goal will still be 15lbs by Christmas. It's going to be tough to skip the holiday season treats (Halloween candy, Thanksgiving food fest, Christmas treats), but oh well, that's life.

    Last nights run sucked. (Pardon my language.) Some days I just don't feel the goodness, and last night was one of them. On the bright side, this morning's scale showed 272.7 lbs. My official weigh-in is Sat morning.

    ys u will achieve whatever u want .....and its tough to skip the holiday season i greed!!

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