[shrinkingchica]

Do you think that it is possible for me to lose these last 25 lbs by Dec. 18th??

I know that it is physically possible.......but, I am at the ending phase of my weight loss (ie weight comes off more slowly) and I am lighter than I once was (thank God). I am just so desperate for this weight to be off before Christmas!!!!!!

Help me! Do you have any suggestions that you think might help me get to goal in the next 12 weeks?

[Heather]

I can't speak to whether or not you can do it, but personally I don't like to set goals like that -- it just makes me more desperate and I don't like the feeling. Plus, I can't control the scale.

Instead, set behavioral goals to accomplish between now and then. 12 weeks is a great timetable! (but please tell me there are more than 12 weeks between now and Dec 18th! Our 10 week term that ends before thanksgiving hasn't even started yet!! )

Step 1 might be to identify the parts of your plan that need the most attention (e.g., eating, exercise) and address the most important ones. Set goals for how many days you'll exercise, or something like that. Make the goals behaviors you can control, rather than the scale, which is evil and fickle.

The NICE thing about a 12 week (or other short term) goal is that you can make a lot of progress -- even if you don't lose all the weight, getting things set in motion and working for toward goals is a great accomplishment. Maybe you can say that you exercised XX of the YY days! Also, getting yourself in gear may make you less likely to really go off plan during the holidays.

Of course, you already know about great accomplishments, having lost 110 pounds so far!

[beautifulone]

Hey Charlotte! Your last 25 pounds - WOW, that must be so exciting! Congratulations

I don't know too much about rate of weight loss yet, but going along with what Wyllenn has said, I personally would feel very pressured by myself to succeed and if my body took some time to do its own thing, I would probably start to feel stressed, frustrated, and disappointed.

We're all different, so I don't know if that would be something you would face, but I guess I would probably set a range like "I'd like to lose 15-25 pounds by Christmas" so that way, even if you don't lose the full 25 you'll still be able to celebrate entering your last 10lb weight loss range! and I bet that's going to be a milestone too

[DeafinlySmart]

I'm at the last 25lbs too. I set a 20 by Christmas goal then hit a plateau. Go figure. You can set the goal, but don't beat yourself up if you don't make it.

[TamiL]

I wanted to lose atleast 20 more by Christmas myself, but the last 3 or 4 weeks I just stay within the same pound or two. I've decided to just be happy that I can fit into a size 9 jeans for now and worry about the 20 pounds over a longer period of time. Besides Christmas cookies and fudge are calling to me already, LOL

[Glory87]

25 lbs in 12 weeks is over 2 lbs a week, I found the closer I got to my goal weight the slower weight came off. I easily lost 2-3 lbs every week when I started, by the end...well, it took me 9 months to lose the last 13 lbs. I agree with Wyllenn (as usual), make goals you can control since the scale is fickle and unpredictable.

You are definitely totally amazing with your progress already, you will reach your goal weight! If you aren't at your specific goal weight by Christmas, I bet you will have lost more weight and you will feel great and look great and this Christmas is going to be wonderful for you!