Suggestions/ideas being solicited! I've lost what I considered to be my "overweight" poundage and am back to flirting with "normality". I got chewed out on one of the other forums recently for having the nerve to be here, when my current and/or starting weight is basically the goal weight for some folks, and where I thought I might be wanting to go being really a pick-out-of-the-air memory of a "good place" more than fifteen years ago.

I had some time to think hard about this over the weekend while busting brush in the backyard, and I came to the conclusion that I've lost interest in what the scale reads. I am, however, very out of shape and "fluffy" around the edges -my scale's attempt at bodyfat percentage typically reads 39-40. If that's true, that's a heck of a lot unhealthier than my weight number, and that's the one I should concentrate on moving.

I'm thinking that I want to change my goals to an "inches lost" metric, or something more dimension-based. I'm not sure how I want to go about doing it, though - should I look at a delta of a sum of bust/waist/hip, or bicep/waist/hip/thigh, or some other combination? I plan to keep on with the food journal, definitely - it's control and accountability that I need badly! I just want to work on a measurement scheme that's going to reflect positively on the muscle I need to build now, and I don't anticipate that weight loss is going to be much of a motivational target.

Ideas/thoughts/comments/criticisms are most welcome.

I don't really have any advice about how to go about your new plan of inches rather than pounds... sorry... But I do have a couple of comments:

1) Chewed out?? That sucks. Sorry 'bout that...

2) Fat read-outs on scales -- are those accurate? I remember looking into that once and reading a lot of controversy about that...

Good luck with whatever you choose... You're motivated - I'm sure you'll get to where you want to be!

Newleaf, you're right about the readouts - they are NOT "accurate", but they aren't that bad for precision - as in they'll give you a good idea of your progress. I have calipers and they read within about 10% of each other - when the scale says 40, the calipers will be 36. It's just easier to jump on the scale than it is to pinch, poke, and/or bribe someone else to grab my fluff with the calipers.

I wasn't put off by the remark about where I was coming from - it was in context and the writer was correcting my perspective - it's true that I haven't had to lose 100+ (although I am totally in awe of the folks here who have done it, and are doing it). There was a great thread on the Support forum recently about "how did we get this big"? and I could clearly see that I was headed for that place if I don't change my lifestyle SOON. I'm getting to a great place with what I eat ... but now it's time to put some attention on becoming strong and flexible. I'm just looking for some ideas on how to measure it, and more importantly, how to figure out a realistic goal. I think extra weight will come off in that process, and I plan to keep that ticker in my profile - it's not so much of a goal as it is a symptom? I'm still wrapping my tiny little brain around this, so I'm having some issues with typing it out.

I think the weight continuing to come off will be a pleasant side-effect, rather than a symptom

I would also like to lose inches off my waist (but not elsewhere). Unfortunately, there's no way to directly target that number. When I do reach my goal weight, my plan is to switch over to some fitness-oriented metric which will have the "pleasant side-effect" (or "symptom" if you prefer) of affecting my waist measurement, regardless of any effect on the scale.

So, maybe you can see if you can improve your time to walk/run some distance (e. g. 2 miles). Or see how many pushups/pullups/proper crunches you can do in one set (in my case, 0/0/?). Or how much weight you can lift/press. Or just the total number of minutes spent working out each week. Some sort of measurable fitness goal(s).

I suspect that with improving those sorts of numbers as a goal that you will see good trends in measurements and the fluffiness quotient .

For me I have started looking at my heart rate as a good indicator of getting healthy. I also want to work on flexibility and plan to do that when I get home. For that the only confirmation I will need is finding that one day I don't fall off the yoga ball as much when I'm doing my exercises.

I love non scale goals; it is what I am really starting to focus on and work on improving. The scales have been moving slow for over a month but the way I feel and how I move has continued to be a great motivator.

Cruise, yoyo, and newleaf - thanks for the ideas! This is a strange place to be right now. I'm not freaked by the number on the scale any more like I was, and I even have moments where I go, "Hey - not lookin' too bad!" But I would like to touch my toes (yoga got me there once, Cruise!), I'd like to do a 5K with my friend this summer, and man, I'd like to get my hips back under 40". That back-end dimension has my interest at the moment, and sure - working on that will have a secondary result of moving the scale, too. Bonus!