Old Software, New Goal?

Well, I've gone back to NewsXpress -- it's old and it's buggy, but
it's also very simple and it's hard to teach an old Usenetter new
tricks. ;-)

Question: how did you guys pick your goal weight? I originally
chose 150 pounds, because I looked great at 135, but that was
15 years and (probably) several pounds of loose skin ago. But
yikes, 150 just seems so far away! Would it be better to set a
longer term mini-goal (like 199, which seems more far attainable
at this point), then re-evaluate and set a new goal when I get
there?

Wondering what your thoughts are on the subject...


--
J.J. in WA (Change COLD to HOT for e-mail)

Start of diet : 251 Current Weight : 232
Original Weight: 275 Goal Weight : 1??

On Wed, 02 Jun 2004 21:35:05 GMT, (byakee) wrote:

Well, I've gone back to NewsXpress -- it's old and it's buggy, but
it's also very simple and it's hard to teach an old Usenetter new
tricks. ;-)

Question: how did you guys pick your goal weight? I originally
chose 150 pounds, because I looked great at 135, but that was
15 years and (probably) several pounds of loose skin ago. But
yikes, 150 just seems so far away! Would it be better to set a
longer term mini-goal (like 199, which seems more far attainable
at this point), then re-evaluate and set a new goal when I get
there?

Wondering what your thoughts are on the subject...

I just avoided setting a goal until I was close to where I wanted to
be, as I really didn't have a good sense of what weight would feel and
look good and be attainable. I used to post my data as
"262/whatever/???". It wasn't until I was in the 150s that I decided
on what my goal would be, and that's not a single number but a range
of 145-150.

Lots of people do have interim goals, though, and I think that's a
good idea if it helps you to have these as targets.

Chris
262/150/ (145-150)

"byakee" wrote in message
...
Well, I've gone back to NewsXpress -- it's old and it's buggy, but
it's also very simple and it's hard to teach an old Usenetter new
tricks. ;-)

Question: how did you guys pick your goal weight? I originally
chose 150 pounds, because I looked great at 135, but that was
15 years and (probably) several pounds of loose skin ago. But
yikes, 150 just seems so far away! Would it be better to set a
longer term mini-goal (like 199, which seems more far attainable
at this point), then re-evaluate and set a new goal when I get
there?

Wondering what your thoughts are on the subject...


--
J.J. in WA (Change COLD to HOT for e-mail)

Start of diet : 251 Current Weight : 232
Original Weight: 275 Goal Weight : 1??

plug warning=on
I've included a "Weight Analyzer" and a "Goal Wizard" in my recently
released WeightWare program that you may find useful.

The Weight Analyzer (see http://www.shastasoftware.com/WeightWare/bmi.htm )
allows you to understand your current weight, and experiment with different
weights or BMI values. It will show you how your weight and height is
described by the US Centers for Disease Control and www.Halls.md. It also
shows your US weight percentile (compared to others of your same height,
age, and gender). These are useful for understanding what a good, long-term
weight goal might be for you.

The Goal Wizard (see
http://www.shastasoftware.com/Weight...eightgoals.htm ) allows you to set
a weight goal, along with a target date for achieving it. The goal you set
can be your "ideal" weight, or an interim weight. If you have much weight to
lose, I think shorter-term goals may be easier to stay focused on, but the
choice is up to you.

If you just want to experiment with these tools, you can download a free,
fully functional, 45-day trial version from the website.
plug warning=off

GG
http://www.WeightWare.com
Your Weight and Health Journal

Probably a silly way to pick a goal.. but I picked 140 out of thin air
because I'm 5'8 - most of it legs and I think that at 140 I will be
"about right" LOL!
btw, your starting weight is 10 lbs less than mine was almost a year
ago - keep up the great work and don't get discouraged or caught up in
the numbers..goals are simply numbers thought up by society/culture..
The better health is my ultimate goal - no matter what the size/pound
actually ends up being.

Susan
260/192/140

"byakee" wrote in message
...
Well, I've gone back to NewsXpress -- it's old and it's buggy, but
it's also very simple and it's hard to teach an old Usenetter new
tricks. ;-)

Question: how did you guys pick your goal weight? I originally
chose 150 pounds, because I looked great at 135, but that was
15 years and (probably) several pounds of loose skin ago. But
yikes, 150 just seems so far away! Would it be better to set a
longer term mini-goal (like 199, which seems more far attainable
at this point), then re-evaluate and set a new goal when I get
there?

Wondering what your thoughts are on the subject...


--
J.J. in WA (Change COLD to HOT for e-mail)

Start of diet : 251 Current Weight : 232
Original Weight: 275 Goal Weight : 1??

I continue to avoid setting a goal weight. I'm far more concerned
about numbers other than those on a scale or on the clothes I can fit
into. My blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol are numbers worth
watching.

Also, how I feel and I what I can do matter. I can walk 2.25 miles
daily and I'm not exhausted all the time. That matters far more than
what numbers are on any given scale at any given time.

Sure, it's been gratifying to see the scale go down and to fit into
smaller and smaller clothes. But I try not to lose sight of what's
really important.

As always, YMMV.

Kasey
365/262/???


(byakee) wrote in message ...
Well, I've gone back to NewsXpress -- it's old and it's buggy, but
it's also very simple and it's hard to teach an old Usenetter new
tricks. ;-)

Question: how did you guys pick your goal weight? I originally
chose 150 pounds, because I looked great at 135, but that was
15 years and (probably) several pounds of loose skin ago. But
yikes, 150 just seems so far away! Would it be better to set a
longer term mini-goal (like 199, which seems more far attainable
at this point), then re-evaluate and set a new goal when I get
there?

Wondering what your thoughts are on the subject...

Hark! I heard Chris Braun say:
On Wed, 02 Jun 2004 21:35:05 GMT, (byakee) wrote:

Question: how did you guys pick your goal weight? I originally
chose 150 pounds, because I looked great at 135, but that was
15 years and (probably) several pounds of loose skin ago. But
yikes, 150 just seems so far away! Would it be better to set a
longer term mini-goal (like 199, which seems more far attainable
at this point), then re-evaluate and set a new goal when I get
there?

I just avoided setting a goal until I was close to where I wanted to
be, as I really didn't have a good sense of what weight would feel and
look good and be attainable. I used to post my data as
"262/whatever/???". It wasn't until I was in the 150s that I decided
on what my goal would be, and that's not a single number but a range
of 145-150.

Actually, your range of numbers is a great idea; a good reminder that
it's normal to fluctuate by about 5 pounds.

Lots of people do have interim goals, though, and I think that's a
good idea if it helps you to have these as targets.

I'm one of those people who needs numbers, but I also want a goal
that's not so intimidating. So, I've decided to edit my .sig file
to read "First Goal - 199". Once I get there, I can decide on my
next step.

So, thanks Chris, and everyone -- I appreciate all of your comments!
As well as your continuing support... :-)


--
J.J. in WA (Change COLD to HOT for e-mail)

Start of diet : 251 Current Weight : 232
Original Weight: 275 First Goal : 199

byakee wrote:

I'm one of those people who needs numbers, but I also want a goal
that's not so intimidating. So, I've decided to edit my .sig file
to read "First Goal - 199". Once I get there, I can decide on my
next step.

Sorry to be late chiming in. It's an evolving paradigm.

When I started losing weight I had no clue or expectation of ever
weighing 110. (I didn't weigh that little in HS!) I had mini goals
nearly from the start - like 25 pounds in 10 weeks, 20 pounds in the next
10 weeks, etc. Once I had lost 50 pounds I had a fleeting thought that
it would be cool to be size 12 but imagined it would be impossible to go
lower. And I kept losing. When I saw the doc in December (I had started
my program in February) I weighed 129 and she said I shouldn't go any
lower than 118. Contrary thing that I am, I immediately set my goal to
be 115. g I reached my goal and started eating a little more and lost
the last 5 pounds and settled right here for over a year. (I fluctuate
between 110 and 112) It's the weight my body wants to be.

--
Walking on . . .
Laurie in Maine
207/110 60 inches of attitude!
Start: 2/02 Maintained since 2/03

byakee wrote:

Question: how did you guys pick your goal weight?

1) The reason I started was back pain, so my first goal was
"no more back spasms". In that term starting about a month
in i've been at goal ever since.

2) I used insurance tables and eventually read that they
tend to run 10 pounds too low so I looked myself up and
added 10 pounds.

3) I got a book that has a chapter on body fat percentage
that gives a process to discover my own custom ideal weight
based on my own body's measurements. I used Protein Power
by Drs Eades. I think Enter The Zone by Sears also has a
chapter like that.

4) Eventually I came to realize that *behavioral* goals
beat *weight* goals. Body's gain and lose on their own
agenda. Folks simply cannot enforce a loss each and every
week through force of will of by setting a goal. Weight
goals can never be guarenteed. Behavior *is* always
controlable. "I will follow the rules of my chosen plan"
is something that I can always do where "I will lose a
pound next week" is not.

(byakee) wrote in message ...
Question: how did you guys pick your goal weight? I originally
chose 150 pounds, because I looked great at 135, but that was
15 years and (probably) several pounds of loose skin ago.

I was a skinny ~175 15 years ago. The BMI is a relatively accurate
measure for my body type, so when in February this year I saw I was at
a 30 BMI (230lbs) I looked down the table and saw BMI of 24 was
182lbs, which seems like a doable weight goal for the end of July,
assuming my 2lb/week loss rate is maintained over the next 2 months.

But
yikes, 150 just seems so far away! Would it be better to set a
longer term mini-goal (like 199, which seems more far attainable
at this point), then re-evaluate and set a new goal when I get
there?

Dieting can require a conscious decision to go into maintenance
(though this is only required of the lucky dieters who keep losing
down to the bitter end, which is certainly not a large %). What's the
point of maintaining a weight you don't want to be?

When starting, I thought 200 wasn't necessarily possible to get back
to (I didn't know much about dieting really), but I found the 232-200
drop to be a piece of cake: 1000 kcal deficit, carb moderation, not
avoiding dietary fat especially healthy fats, and enough protein, plus
~10hrs of moderate exercise per week (cycling for me).

Wondering what your thoughts are on the subject...

focus on clothes sizing not weight. For me, it's the waistline. This
loss regimen will be at an end if & when I can fit into my size 34
501's from college. Again, not entirely sure it's possible to lose
this gut, but so far so good.

Heywood

232/19?/182, at the end of week 16 of the diet...