Help me set a goal

[RichTeaCheddars]

I'm not very good at setting myself intermediate goals. I see the end goal and think well why would I settle for less. But, it seems so far away and unachievable. I need that part way there goal!

I've tried a 2lb per week goal before but that just isn't how I loose weight.

I'm 32, 12st 12lb, 5ft 2 and a size 14. I've been this big before but my shape is so much worse now post baby. I really feel awful. I want to be 8st 7lb / 8st. At this weight I'm a size 8, sometimes a 10 on the bottom.

I have lost all this weight before but due to long term injury I put it back on (well recovered now). I hadn't learnt how to maintain my weight. The way I see myself is an active sporty person but I'm none of those things atm. I just don't recognise myself. I eat my emotions and that just makes everything so much worse. The binging is still happening but it's so much better than it was (in terms of volume that I eat and I'm better at stopping after one instance rather than spiral into a whole week binge.)

I'm starting back at my sports club this week (2 years away) so this feels like a good time to pull my socks up.

What would be a good goal for me to aim for along the way?

I find half stone increments are good to aim for. Half a stone is very achievable, but enough to see and feel a difference.

I've binned the scales and decided to go with measurements instead.

My weight seems to fluctuate so much depending where we are in the month, so I figure weight loss leads to inch loss so I'm measuring that instead.

I was initially with the measurements but it's spurred me on no end.

I only started this on Monday so I'll see how I get on!

@ShadowInVain yes, half stone at a time does seem manageable. Do you set a time goal as well or literally just to chip away at each half stone?

@MaintainingPositivity I agree, the scales can be very disheartening. Oddly I find it less disheartening if I weigh in everyday. When I lost weight before it was more like a reminder of what I was doing each day. But definitey need to get back to measuring. An inch loss can be much more meaningful than weight loss.
How often do you think you'll measure?

Hi OP. I know you didn't ask for advice on it but I have found IF (Intermittent fasting) works really well for binges. I eat 16:8, so 16 hours fasting and an eight hour eating window. I do 11am to 7pm. I used to always binge at night. I now only drink plain water during my fasts so that now signals to me kitchen is closed.
The other big tip I can give you is DON'T HAVE IT IN. If it's not there, you can't eat it!
As for a goal ShadowInVain has a great idea. Or perhaps you could aim for 5% of body weight lost? I know that's a popular one too.
What ever you chose, good luck, and I hope you manage to fulfil your goals.

I just chip away. Post-menopause, weight comes off very slowly for me, so it isn't helpful to set strict deadlines for myself, I would just be setting myself up to fail. .

I was thinking once a week, it's my jelly belly which is my main problem area.

However I have just measured again, just for you, I am measuring where my belly button is and it is half an inch less than it was on Monday. Result!

I am measuring my thigh, helpfully I have a freckle/mole so using that as my marker, my hips and my belly button plus my waist but I'm not sure where that is so have 'waist' on my piece of paper

@73kittycat73 i haven't tried IM but I could give it a go. I've always avoided it because one binge trigger aside from emotions is not eating enough or being late for a meal. My body goes crazy and I eat soooo much food. All high calorie. But maybe if my body learnt it only gets food between certain times that might all even out? I certainly have nothing to loose.

@MaintainingPositivity ooh congrats on your half inch! I've always measures my belly button and my waist as well. The belly button measurement was always the best to see go down. You've motivated me to start up my measurements again!

@ShadowInVain I think you're right in that it's best to just chip away rather than set a date goal. I've never achieved a date goal. Also, as 73Kitty says I could also do 5% of weight as a goal

The books always say losing 5% or 10% of your body weight make such a massive difference to your health, 5% for you is 9lbs so you could do increments of that.

I always like to aim for the next stone down so in your case 11. 13. Its a big buzz, when you stop seeing 12 and start seeing 11. And then I go for 11. 9 because it's single figures.

I also like to see my bmi drop into the next figure, like 33.6 dropping into 32. This is a short term goal. Medium term would be going from obese category into overweight category of under 30. I love it when I'm no longer obese just extremely fat.

If I spent as much effort on dieting as I did on setting targets, I'd be Twiggy by now!

Also find some clothes you can't get into and use them as a motivating tool. No better feeling that being able to get into things you couldn't. Feels more tangible than weight on a scale. Also weight sometimes doesn't move on the scale but it does on your body. Of course when you're in them, you'll probably find you no longer like them!! Dieting is such a roller coaster.

I definitely agree that it's great seeing a stone less on the scales. It'll be awesome to see 11 stone something .

I have so many clothes I don't fit in, it'll be great to fit back in some of my lovely clothes.

Richtea, we can do this!!!

I really hope so!

I'm fed up for feeling uncomfortable and not liking what I see in the mirror.

I want to feel like me again, be fit and enjoy exercise again, and feel comfortable in my clothes!