Originally Posted by wickedlady:
See, this is where I think there needs to be a balance between aiming high while still appreciating your current status. I think it's possible to have both. It's not easy, but it's something I've been working on... :)

I don't understnd what you mean, or how it relates to what I said. :?:

I mean that I think it's important to find a way to be happy with yourself TODAY, no matter what your current status is. It's not settling. It's about self-esteem. Goals are great, but what's the point if you can't enjoy the progress you make along the way?

Originally Posted by wickedlady:
I mean that I think it's important to find a way to be happy with yourself TODAY, no matter what your current status is. It's not settling. It's about self-esteem. Goals are great, but what's the point if you can't enjoy the progress you make along the way?

I don't agree with this. I don't think being unhappy with your body means you have low self esteem. Obviously, I am not overjoyed with my body or I wouldn't be trying to change it. I'm not crawled into a ball, miserable either. I am thrilled with my progress and how much I am learning about myself.

I was always content with my body when I was not being conscious about my eating or my health. In my family, I was a nice size. I've received positive reinforcement about my size for most of my life. But now that I am more aware I may not be content, but I am determined and committed

Originally Posted by berryblondeboys:
When I lost weight last time I sort of did WW. I used some of their tools, but even then I calorie counted and didn't use points. I was very frustrated with their weight they wanted me to get to. I think it was 150 max or something like that.

When you are large built, 150 is "possible" but it's very difficult to get to. If I were a petite build, with thin bones, the 150 would give me a nice cushion. I don't have a 'cushion". While WW was saying 150. My doctor was saying 155-160. Who's right?
I guess we'll see as I get closer to that weight. As it is already, my legs sink like a lead balloon in the swimming pool. I can't get my legs to float in the water no matter how hard I try!

With doctor approval, WW will let you set your goal weight higher than what BMI allows.
I do agree though - I love WW, but don't like that they go by BMI. I have a very large build, and while 160 (the highest I should be, according to BMI) is possible, it's going to be tough to get there. I've set my own goal at 160 because even though I hate the whole BMI thing, I'd love to be at a "healthy" weight. It's just a weird mental thing with me lol. I really want to put my info in a BMI calculator and see "healthy" come up.
But realistically, I will be happy with 170. But at this point, I'm trying to just focus on mini goals like the ones in my signature. If I think of 160-170, it kind of depresses me because it's so far away.

Originally Posted by wickedlady:
I mean that I think it's important to find a way to be happy with yourself TODAY, no matter what your current status is. It's not settling. It's about self-esteem. Goals are great, but what's the point if you can't enjoy the progress you make along the way?

Having an end goal doesn't mean I can't be happy with my progress. Of course I'm happy with my progress! I'm glad I'm no longer 225lbs. But I'm not happy at 208. I'm not happy with my weight, doesn't mean I'm not happy with myself.

When I said I wouldn't be happy in my first comment, I meant it in the sense that I'd be dissapointed that I gave up, and didn't reach my goal. It's quite possible and realistic for me to be 135, so why should I settle for 160 or 170 etc etc.

And the bit about self-esteem, I dunno, I think it's different for different people. Some people can have high self esteem and still be overweight. I can't. I'm not happy with this body and I don't think I'll ever be. I don't see anything to be happy about. I mean, I know it works and I know I'm blessed to be alive etc etc (so obviously I don't mean it in that sense) but I've not been appreciating it, so how can I be happy with it when I've been treating it so badly?

For me, it's a matter of if I'm going to work this hard and make all these sacrifices to be healthy, then I want the benefits of it. I don't want to work hard and still be chubby or fat. I want to be normal. I'm not aiming to be super model thin, that's unrealistic, but I think anyone who works to be healthy deserves to not be overweight nor unhappy with their body.

re:
 

I don't know what perfection is. It's different for everyone I suppose.

I don't expect to have a perfect body at my goal at all. I pretty much picked that number arbitrarily as it seemed right in the middle of a healthy BMI. Healthy BMI is my goal and not necessarily a number.

I'm with those though who want to hit that goal purely to prove to myself I could do it. It would feel like I'm giving up if I don't. I can't allow myself to ever feel like giving up, because if I do the weight will no longer come off no matter what it says that day on the scale.

I tell you one thing, after seeing Sontaikle's arms in her new picture, I think I'm pretty inspired to add 'awesome arms' to my goal.

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I think that one of the reasons is because we are a weight loss forum so it attracts people who want to "really go for the big weight loss goal." I used to post in college application and makeup forums and they all wanted 4.0 GPAs and perfect skin etc. But when I talk to most people in real life, they want to be a little less overweight, pass a class or buy some skincare products.