Have you ever changed your ultimate goal?

So I have been very dedicated to calorie count since Jan. of 2008 and have lost 48 pounds so far. My goal has always been to get to 125. Now I am only 8 pounds away from that and feel like I might want to get down to 120? Has anyone else changed theirs goals once they have gotten so close?

Yes.  I originally set my goal to 130.  Then I looked at my bodyfat% and realised that might be unrealistic so upped it to 140.  Now that I'm at 147, I'm wondering if I should move my goal back down to 130 - or at least 135.  (For me, 130 = BMI of 22 and 140 = BMI of 25, but I'm pretty muscular and definitely not small framed.)

Congrats on your progress so far! I'd recommend when you reach your original goal you maintain there for a little bit - let your body get used to it's new size, and let your mind get used to it too. Then, if you still feel like you want to be 5lbs lighter, you can try for it then. You might also find that those last 8lbs will take FOREVER (they did for me) and you will be sick and tired of trying to lose - and if you've already reset the goal to 5lb lower, you'll be even more frustrated.

Also, have you been weight lifting - that can help firm you up if you like your size but feel like you are a little softer than you want.

48 pounds good for you, I'm right there with you, just hit the 50 mark.  I used to say my goal weight was 120, now even though I'm about 100 pounds away from that I'm starting to think I'll look sick at 120, now I'm thinking lets get to 160 and see where to go from there.  I think we all set a number in our heads but unless we've been at that number before it might be kind of a suprise to see what it actually looks like.  The last time I was under 200 pounds I was in the 7th grade so thinking about 120, I just have no idea what I'd look like at that stage in the game.  160 it is.....for now.

My goal right now is 150... about another 20 lbs to go.  I have a feeling though that I'll be lowering that to 135/140 once I get there.  I've lost over 30 lbs, and really still dislike the way I look, and doubt only 20 lbs is going to make a big enough difference to make me happy.  We'll see tho!

My goal was always always 147lbs, im currently 171lbs, i've lost 10lbs.  I do feel a million million times better n my clothes look better but im just like, 147=chubby me.  So im thinkin go for 140lbs at the very least.  So like 30lbs to go, disheartens me abit n have said to myself i'l keep check by clothes etc n with toning with weights at the gym the scales may not show that much loss...with muscle weighing more than fat etc.

I dunno it is a guessing game i spose, im just thinkin to myself, il know when i see it lol.

Thing is will i lol.....i was 144lb before when i was 19 n i still thought i was massive lol.

Difficult but i think try not to focus too much on the number n go with how you feel  and look and your clothes.

Well done by the way guys!!!!  Its a long road but were doin great :0))

Congrats on the loss everyone!

I think you should wait until you get to your goal before changing it. It's too easy to keep saying "just another 5 pounds." Each pound makes such a big difference, especially when you're already that close to your goal.

Have you ever changed your ultimate goal?

oh, i will.  if i ever reach it!

reaching the goal is one thing but being able to maintain is something very different. in general there are some people who have automaticall attached other values to the goal weight such as 'beauty, success, partner' etc but of course we know loosing weight wont do anything but loose weight in that sense. i hope you understand what i m trying to say- its hard to explain in politically correct way.

figuring out how to maintain and getting used to that can be a new challenge and may not be that easy. i think it is very good to think about it ahead of time to avoid pittfalls like 'oh i lost weight i can do it again OR oh its jsut 5 lbs up'. 

you have lost a hell of a lot of weight , congrats!

update: yes, i was one of the 'some people' i mentioned and yes, i have changed my focus from just weight to fitness & health

I orginally wanted to get down to 145 lbs.  Before my health problems I maintained at about 143 without effort, and I know what I look like there and like it.  

Then I actually adjusted up to 155 because 159 puts me in a healthy BMI and I was thinking that it might be easier to maintain... obviously I don't maintain at 143 any more.  LOL. 

I've revised again... I'd still like to get down to 145 because I do like how I looked then and I do know I can do it.  

But I've also revised how I'm going to get there.  At 155 I'm going to start very slowly upping my calorie intake to maintance.   I'm talking really slow, adding like 100 calories to my calorie goal once a month.  This will slow my weight loss and help me figure out where I need to be to maintain with out gaining. 

Then keeping a very slight deficit, like 200, I will switch my goal from weight lose to toning.  Figure out working out and replacing fat with muscle.   This way I can focus on how I feel and look and not worry about numbers.  

I'll figure out where I'm happy, somewhere between 155 and 140, where ever I'm happy and my body seems happiest.  I'll get rid of any deficit and focus on balanced nutrition and keeping tone.   I have no danger of taking it too far, I hate how I look under 140, my collar bone starts to stick out, and my boobs start to dissappear.  Soooo not what I consider attractive.  So in the end it doesn't matter what the number on the scale is.

Maybe you should consider something similiar.  Rather then changing your goal weight, change your focus.   When you hit 125, start working on toning, and exercising the great body you have.   1 lb of muscle takes up less space then 1 lb of fat.  So if you trade fat for muscle, you can still weigh 125 but look a lot slimmer. 

congrates on your wiehgt lose and the great work that you've done so far.  Don't forget to enjoy what you've accomplished!!

yeah i changed my goal also. i dropped to about 105 lbs. looked horrible, had no energy to exercise, obsessed over my eating and weight. eventually i got sick of it.. threw away the scale, learned to eat naturally/in moderation without cutting out any food or counting calories, began exercising and focused on being healthy & happy. i'm now maintaining between 115-120 lbs and couldn't feel better.

Yes.  My original goal was 135 but my doc tells me to shoot for 150 and I should be good to go. 

The problem is I just can't seem to get any lower than 170!!!!   

I was aiming for 118-124 for my ideal range weight but I really wanted to get down to 115. I got to 117 and my friends & family kept telling me that it was a bit too much (I was down from 160).. Now I'm at 125 and feel happy with that weight, I'm still trying to get in that range but I'm now aiming at 122-123 (the weight I was when I started CC a year ago...)... So my advice: go with the flow... if you think you're good at 125, then be it! Good luck and congrats on the 48 pounds...

I started at 226 with a goal of 180.  I met the goal and put the weight into CC just to see what the coach would say.  I was expecting fireworks but all I got was "you reached your goal on [insert date]".  Bummer.

So I have revised my goal to 154 and I am currently at 162.  Eight pounds to go.  My BMI is currently at 26 and BF at 28%.  I'm feeling pretty good at 162 and imagine that I will feel even better at 154 but I don't think I am willing to go any lower. 

I'm 5'6" with a large frame.  Currently fitting into a solid size 8.  Much better than 226 and a size 18!