Are my goals feasible?

[MrsDRock]

Hello!
I have made some rigorous goals for myself, but I just wonder if it's too rigorous?

Just to give some background... I was chubby most of my childhood. I was a consistent size 6 when I was a teen. When I went off to college, I did gain a lot of weight, with my highest weight around 148-150 lbs.

After college, I started eating low-fat/watched my diet and working out consistently, which brought me down to 115 lbs.

I am now 30yo, and have gone back to my highest college weight at 151.2 lbs. YIKES.

I feel as though I once was (not too long ago- even as recently as 2 years ago) 115 lbs, so why wouldn't I be able to go abck to that weight again... right?

I will be a bridesmaid in a wedding at the end of August, and I did purchase the dress in my pre-fat days (I know, I know, probably wasn't a good idea... if I needed to, I can purchase another dress, but I don't want to if I can try!)

Please let me know (from your experience) if my goals are attainable. I am DETERMINED to stay at doing this lifestyle change.

[not2late]

Re: Are my goals feasible?

Instead of focusing on your weight as a goal, why don't you focus on your dress size instead? Since your goal is to fit into a dress.

I found during my weight loss that my poundage didn't correspond with my dress size. In fact, when I was got down to 200 pounds, I was a smaller dress size than I was when I was at 200 pounds and on my way up the scale. That's because as I exercised, I traded muscle for fat. Since muscle takes up less space than fat, I was a smaller size.

[APanthesilia]

Re: Are my goals feasible?

Hello, welcome and I hope you are doing well so far! As far as goals go, I find it better for myself to not have set weights that I want to be at certain times (as you have done above) because I don't want to get discouraged if I don't hit them. Sometimes your body just doesn't drop the weight as quickly as you want it to but you're still losing. And sometimes for me, I am not losing pounds but I am losing inches so telling myself I have to be a certain weight by a certain date doesn't really give me room to lose the way my body wants to lose. I have found that before when I've given myself goals like that and I don't hit them I am just so discouraged that I go off plan and I would hate for you to do that. When I know I am doing everything the right way (eating, exercising, etc) then I try not to worry about how quickly I am losing- I find it better for myself to have an eventual end goal and mini goals along the way without fixing them to specific dates. But it is totally up to you and they could be real motivators for you to do everything by the book! If you do it though, I would take a set of measurements on those dates, too. And just know, if you are doing all you can do then don't obsess and get discouraged about hitting weights on specific dates- you will get there eventually!!

As for whether or not your goals are realistic, it really depends on your body. We all lose differently depending on a variety of factors. But I don't think 46 lbs by October is unrealistic! Good luck!!

[Desertthorn]

Re: Are my goals feasible?

I agree with Megs, on Atkins and other low carb diets, the pounds don't seem to want to cooperate as much as dress sizes do. Focus on inches lost instead of pounds. Focus on adding more exercise. Focus on how healthy you feel and adding nutrients to your meals. Don't focus on pounds

[MrsDRock]

Re: Are my goals feasible?

Thanks guys, your advise is so true!
I did take a set of measurements (chest/back, waist, hips, thigh) and am thinking I should take some measurements on my upper arms too?

Either way- my goal is to fit into this dress by August.

As long as I am losing clothe size, I'll be THRILLLLLLLED!

[APanthesilia]

Re: Are my goals feasible?

You can do it! I use the measurement chart from the six week exercise challenge just as a guideline so I have an idea of where is good to measure, but I think you can measure just about anywhere!

Here is the link so you can see the 6WEC measurements: How To Measure For The 6WEC ,

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/six-week-challenge-exercise/56031-official-6wec-rules-where-measure.html

[judyintn]

Re: Are my goals feasible?

About two pounds a week is about the most I plan to lose realistically. You may lose more right at first, or you may have weeks that you don't lose anything. I need to lose 57.5 more pounds, and at a rate of 2 pounds a week, mid July is the earliest I can hope to attain that if all goes well.

Just stick to the program, and don't set yourself up for disappointment!!

[cani]

Re: Are my goals feasible?

Also remember if you concentrate on your scale numbers, your weight loss won't always follow a pattern of stringency you have set out, especially if you start working out and lifting weights.

A good thing to also be doing is to start lifting weights, i know many people don't like starting this until after they are at or near some goal but seriously, while muscle weighs more than fat, it also helps lose inches and it keeps your metabolism going, especially when combined with cardio and/or HIIT.

I agree with others, work on your sizes and only use the scale for reinforcement with a realistic concept that it fluctuates and doesn't always accurately follow what you have planned for the numbers.

cani