Is this a cop out?

Definitely a cop out. 215 was my STARTING point, and a wake up call that I needed to lose weight. I am on the tall side as well.

I know 170 seems like a long ways away. Set mini goals for yourself - don't worry about where you end up a year from now or even six months from now - just keep going. Focus on losing 1 to 2 pounds a week. If you change your diet and embrace a healthy lifestyle, the weight will come off.

I didn't start to think about goal until i was maybe 10 lbs away.

Yes its a cop out, I have been up and down the same 45 pounds over the last couple of years and I still wear the same clothes.. I always get so close to that 18 and either never quite fit in them and gain weight and am almost busting out of my 20's... i for one am sick of it, for me 45 pounds is one dress size... so at almost 260 and a size 20 at 215 i'll be a size 20 and that f*&#^ing sucks...I personally think i'll be happy at 170, 160 because I have a large frame but in the 200's heck no!

Unless you are taller than 6'0, I don't know any woman that can support a 200+ weight healthily. Period. I'm 5'11 and 147 and I'm as curvy as they come. Just because you haven't been there before doesn't mean it isn't achievable. I call Cop Out. Now, enough with the excuses, take it 10 pounds at a time and get into that healthy BMI range. Obviously tough love is my motivational MO. Stop thinking about it and just work hard.

Definition of health has different meanings.
Great blood pressure reading? check
great resting heart rate? check
no diagnosed health problems, able to pass Dr exam check

I've been 200+ for most of the last decade.
I eat healthy most of the time, and generally am healthy.
no health conditions.
and if I workout regularly, I feel fit.

you don't have too be a certain size to be fit. or 'healthy'
of course I am trying seriously now to get to a lower weight
and the risk for getting a health condition goes way down,
but I don't see myself getting any lower than 170.
not bc I've never been there
bc I have wider hips now and tons of muscle
we each need to determine than on our own terms.

read skinny emmie's blog.
she ran a half marathon.
you don't have to be a certain size to be healthy or fit.
you can start now.

edit to add, I'm 65.5 inches. tall.

I have been doing a lot of thinking about where I want to go with my weight loss and I had an original goal of 170 or so. However, lately I have been thinking maybe 200-220....

I have always been comfortable with a little extra weight. I am not necessarily looking to be skinny. I am just wondering if this is a cop out of sorts. I dont know what it is like to be under that and honestly.... it does scare me to think I could make it there.... I know that probably doesnt make much sense for such goal oriented folks, but knowing where I have been in my life and what I have been through, I am just not sure I would ever feel safe much under 200...

Set 200lbs as a mini goal and then once you get there (and you will with determination) about more mini goals after that.

I was 250lbs BUT I was always heavier on the scales. I have never been "thin" and I always have a stocky, wider frame, even with dramatic weight loss. BUT 200lbs is still significantly heavy for any height (unless you're guy, tall or body builder).

I too had this mental comfort zone that 200lbs is "alright" because, frankly, I never thought I would break it and remain under it.

So after 200lbs, I just set mini goals, such as 10lbs by X, 5 lbs by Y and then ... guess what? Don't weigh yourself and I did it on clothes.

A comfortable weight for my shape and size was 140lbs - 147lbs (I am 5' 5.5") but guess what? I was a US size 4 and UK size 8 .... most people that height and weight are bigger than that. I have always been much heavier on the scales.

Just do one stage at a time.