Course correction
August 20th, 2008 at 9:50 am (Goals)
In my efforts to break past the 300-pound mark without totally freaking out, it occurs to me that I might need to adjust my big-picture goals a bit.
Originally, my goal for evading weight-loss surgery was to weigh under 300 pounds by the end of 2008. There it is again — the big three-oh-oh. With so much riding on those three digits, it’s understandable that my mind and body connection could fabricate a metaphysical traffic jam and, once again, prevent me from crossing into a new century.
Well, yes. My goal was to get there by the end of 2008 but guess what? If my graphs and charts and trend-lines have anything to say about it, I’ll cross that mark by the end of September. For the first time in my life, I am a person who sets and achieves goals. And, the thought of achieving a goal and not knowing where else to go makes me feel very, very uncomfortable.
All of this is to say that to (1) depower the 300-mark and (2) continue sanely along this journey, I am revising my end-of-year goal:
By the end of 2008, I want to weigh 289 pounds or less.
This means that I will have (a) lost approximately 70 pounds and (b) have only 100 pounds left to lose until I cross into my “normal” BMI range.
100 pounds left has a nice ring to it. I think 289 also gives me some leeway in case I need some latitude during the holidays (though, I don’t anticipate needing more than 2 or 3 “free” days and now that I know that chocolate causes my migraines, well… let’s just say it will be a very different holiday season all around). 11 more pounds in 3 months. 4 pounds a month. About 1 pound a week. That’s the course I’ve already been on, and I want to see if I can do it all the way through to the end of the year.
PLUS! Consider this: I am currently a candidate for weight-loss surgery to be paid in full by my insurance because I have over 100 pounds to lose. If I reach 289, I will no longer qualify for that alternative. It will be off the table and I will have nothing to do but acheive my goals the old-fashioned way.
