What "real life" goals do you have OTHER than pants size and weight?

For me... I wanted to do the following:

Weigh myself on a standard scale (achieved)

Not be over the weight limit for a folding chair (achieved)

buckle a seatbelt without a struggle (achieved!)

fit into movie theatre seats easily (achieved!)

cross my legs comfortably

sit up straight with my knees together WITHOUT feeling like my stomach was forcing them apart

Look straight down and see my feet (achieved)

Go up a flight of stairs without losing my breath (achieved)

Touch my elbows to my knees while doing a crunch (achieved)

wrap a normal sized towel around my body

carry heavy loads without having to stop because my back hurt/to catch my breath (achieved)

fit in student sized desks at school (achieved)

To be just "regular" fat as opposed to "HOLY MOLY" fat (achieved)

Be able to shop at "normal" plus sized stores (as opposed to just Catherine's and Avenue because you need a size 30... you know the ones that carry plus sizes 14-24) (achieved)

(I had actually achieved ALL of the above goals when I was down to 175... NEXT TIME I'm there.. I'll never go back again)  Only those of us who have had a bunch to lose could relate :-)

I want to shop in regular sized stores again.

And maybe get rid of my asthma.

(And, secretly, I want my classmates to say "OMG. Didn't she used to be fat?")

I didn't know this thread was gonna be about size though - I was all primed to say "pick a specialty in time for residency applications" and "finish organizing my house someday".  ;)

Ugh.  My name is Moly (pronounced 'Molly').  So when I read "Holy Moly", I read it as "Hole-y Molly" and get myself confused.

My general goals;

1.  To be able to fit in my fiance's jeans (achieved)

2.  To make a habit of drinking water instead of teas or sodas (achieved)

3.  To not waste my days off on the computer or sofa (achieved)

4.  To not have to go broke buying extra fabric for my wedding dress to cover my ass (in progress)

5.  To eat at least 1200 calories without feeling yucky (in progress)


As for number 5, I came from a family where dinner was whatever you could find lying around the house, and it was usually old canned vegetables and Pepsi, so I'm used to getting all of my calories from soda and not feeling full all the time.  As soon as I got a job I started eating better, but not quite 1200 calories.  Now that I'm out of my parent's house, my fiance and I have been trying to eat better, and I do eat more often now, but it's still small meals and small calories.  I'm trying to write out a meal plan that coincides with my budget, school and work schedule, and taste.  Give me another hour and we'll consider number 4 "achieved" by tomorrow.

I want to know that there's something in my closet that I can wear that actually fits.

I want to be able to buy a shirt that doesn't have to hang over my stomach and sides to hid my muffin top.  

I want to know that when I walk into a room people aren't saying OMG she's gained weight. 

I don't want to panic because I know someevent is coming up and my concern is - no money to buy new - how do I hide the fat.

I want to wear a tank.

However, simultaneously I want to finish this Masters Thesis.  I need to concentrate to write my LSAT.  I want to enjoy reading good books.  I want to enjoy my wonderful friends.  I want to fly kites with my kids, and catch frogs, and garden, and be amazed by the spirit of people, and life everyday. 

Incidentally, I would love to have sex with my husband without being embarrassed as his hand runs across my stomach which is probably touching the sheet as I lay on my side, I would love to be able to be on top with the lights on.  LOL......hope that's not too much information......

I have the following goals:

• Breathe without oxygen
• Live without pain
• Shower without a shower chair
• Shop without a scooter
• Have a clean house daily
• Fix a family meal 5 out of 7 days
• Step on a bathroom scale without it saying "ERROR"
• Put a seat belt on without difficulty (achieved)
• Be able to play racquetball again
• Be able to ride a bike 20 miles again
• Have peace in my family
  

I want to:

1. Be able to wear a cropped teeshirt and not be ashamed of my belly.

2. To be able to show off my legs. (Kind of acheived!)

3. Wear the cutest damn dress ever to the Christmas party at work.

4. To officially not be 'fat'.

1- be able to have my picture taken without dreading how it turned out (note..i understand this is more of a self-esteem related issue than a weight one)

2- finish my degree in the next 2 years

3- tone up my arms

4 finally finish writing my novel that's been in progress for 3 years

Hi! I'm new here by about a week so I haven't really achieved any of my goals yet, but .....

1. To feel better and know that I take care of my body

2. To like exercise

3. To shop with my friends at normal clothes stores and not have to only look at earrings and shoes

4.  Have people tell me I'm wasting away

5.  Have a guy's girlfriend feel threatened because I am talking to her man, but i'd never steal... ; )

hmmm....real life goals other than pant size and weight..

1. This coming academic year, be more content, patient, and peaceful.  (I was a bit agro last year.)
2. Submit funding proposals to the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health and actually get funded without riding on my advisor's coat tails.
3. Publish at least 2 peer reviewed articles in mid to high impact journals by July 2008.  (co-authoring counts towards this goal).
4. Read 50 books and 50 journal articles related to my research and/or discipline by June 2008.
5. Fully comprehend those 50 books and 50 journal articles.
6. Advance to candidacy by July 2008.
   
7. One long term goal - One of the biggest conferences in my discipline attracts over 16k people ever year and one of my goals is to be the key note speaker at that conference one day.

And well - this technically doesn't have anything to do with "pant" size, so I get to throw it in.  I had the "get in the pool" goal last year that wasn't achieved.  The above mentioned conference is held at a resort hotel with an amazing pool.  My goal is to keep working towards a rockin' body so by next summer I'll be ready to get in the pool!

1. Be able to wear a bathing suit - a real one-piece bathing suit with a very small skirt portion (I don't do bikinis at any weight), not my "regular" swimwear, which is a dark T-shirt and long shorts.

2. Make some costumes that I feel GOOD about wearing

3. Tighten up my thighs

4. Tighten up my upper arms

5. Lower my body fat percentage by 2 more points

6. Get a date with an attractive man, preferably before October

Awesome! I have a few of these in my profile already. I love that you posted this, texasteach. Sorry to repeat some!

Some of mine are:

1)Be able to play active games with friends without being out of breath (acheived)

2)Feel comfortable wearing shorts

3)Be able to enjoy swimming

4)Shop in a regular clothing store

5) Be able to cross my legs at the knee

6)Be able to wrap a normal size towel around me

7)Be able to dance without jiggling everywhere and looking ridiculous

8)Be able to wear a tank top without feeling like I'm offending people with my arms showing

You get the idea! I'm with ya!

I like this thread, because there really are so many more reasons to lose weight besides a number on a scale or a pant size.

to help my knee pain and eliminate the possibilty of surgery (in the works)

to be able to wear a real bathing suit to the beach and feel good about it

to walk a flight of stairs without knee pain (done;)

to comfortably fit on the Kumba at Busch Gardens

to ride a standard horse, not the ones for "big" people (in the works)

to shop in victoria secret and feel like i belong there

This is my first post...

to be able to fly to the travel destinations of my choice

to be able to walk around those places when I get there

to be able to go to the baseball stadiums and theatres and fit in the seats

to be able to ride a bike again

to be able to walk down the beaches when I get there

to be able to participate in life

to have all those experiences that I was giving up for food

to be able to go to the theme parks and water parks and play

to be able to wear a seat belt

to be able to keep up when walking with others

and so many more reasons!

* i want to open my skinny box, to wear not to sit and cry

* to be able to walk into a room feeling good about myself

* to no longer feel the need to suck it in

* to look into a mirror and smile

* to get accepted into college

* to finally get a job :P

I rarely participate in internet forums because to me most of them seem more about saying rather than listening... (don't believe me? try one of those dating forums, like PoF ) however I am glad I clicked on this thread... I find it amazing... you can feel a distinct warm positive vibe of people losing their fears... the worst of those being a fear of being less than perfect... typically less than perfect by someone else's (media, celebrity image, neighbour's opinion, etc.) fake standards... you know this is so wonderful! I love you, people!

The reason why I am here at calorie count is not because I desperately want to lose weight. At about 18% bodyfat I feel quite comfortable. I can see my toes without having to bend over. I can tie my shoelaces and I don't have to meticulously count every bite I eat. I don't need a power-truck to move me around and local grocery store doesn't run out of food on my grocery day.

My specific goal here is to be able to see my abs. Not a belly but those nicely shaped abdominals I have always wanted that come out (they say) at about 10% bodyfat. Again, not because I think I have to. And not because some exercise guru tell you you can't unless you have good genetics (what a bunch of bs!). And not because I want to impress someone. Ok, I am lying! The only one I want to impress is my own self! But there's also this terrific feeling of self-transformation that you get when you reach for your goal! Doesn't that make you feel alive? Doesn't that make you feel great?

I want to see my abs. I know I have them. I just want to see them. And I know I will! I know I can do it. And I know I will!

I love threads like this!

Since I've been doing the "getting healthy" thing for 18 months now, I have already achieved many of the initial goals I had set for myself.   But the ones that I am still working toward would be:

- Being able to wear a shirt tucked in (with nothing over top like a sweater or blazer) and not look like a muffin (almost there.)
- To achieve goal weight and stay there - and most especially, never having to buy clothes in the next size UP ever again. (Goal weight in about 25 more pounds, hopefully by early 2008.)
- To be able to wear a dress that actually accentuates my body and doesn't hide it (probably there now but not brave enough to try yet! :P)
- To be comfortable in my own skin, proud of my body, and able to look at it and see the good, and NOT immediately zoom in on every little flaw (working on it.)

Some of these responses really made me tear up, and all of them were amazing.

My goal is to change my habits completely, so I don't have to lose weight every spring, so I don't have to 'get in shape' all over again. I want to lose weight and keep myself at a happy place. I have several times now dropped a good amount of weight, decided I was happy, and then relaxed my dieting and gained it all back.

Not weight related goals are: write my wedding thank you cards, finish unpacking my apartment, apply to law school, and most of all, be a good wife to my new husband. 

1. To feel healthy, to be healthy
2. To get off bp medicine
3. To be able to ski and hike
4. To be more limber and flexible
5. To get rid of my belly fat.
6. To see a photo of myself, and see a slim person.
7. To say to my cousin - see, your advice on losing weight really did help me.

Goals:

To be at a healthy weight (BMI 24 or less) before I get pregnant: working on it

To eat and live a healthier lifestyle: daily goal

run  a half-marathon: currently started training

Graduate with my undergraduate degree: Achieved

get my CNA license: achieved

get a CNA job at a hospital (so that I will have hands-on experience hours to apply for PA school with): achieved

To spend time in the Word of God (Bible) daily: daily goal

To sleep normal at night: working on it...need new mattress

My goals are...

Have space between my thighs so I can comfortably wear skirts and dresses.

Run a 6 minute mile (currently at 10 minutes)

Graduate with a 3.8 or above in physics and math so I can get into a good grad school.  (currently 3.75)

Make more friends by reaching out instead of assuming people don't want to talk to me.

Save enough money to be able to pay half of the down payment on a condo when we buy one in a couple of years.

Be a good role model when I eventually have kids.

Weigh less than my boyfriend (think it's about 15 more lbs before that...not sure though)

To become the person I dreamed of when I was 8.

Wow - some fabulous goals here. :)

I'm older - middle-aged - so my goals are slightly different from some of yours - for instance, after 4 C-sections, I could never wear a shirt that shows my tummy, no matter how thin I was.

I just want to:

be healthier, I'm at the age where I need to think about that

have a lifetime food plan that I can follow - NOT a diet

to get into the routine of exercise. I've never been a routine exerciser in my life and would like that to be a daily part of my life. I've been walking for 2 weeks and although I have to force myself, every day, mentally it feels wonderful

fit into 'regular' clothes. I can fit into large regular pants, but am busty so always have to wear a Plus size top. I need "the girls" to be a lot smaller

to have only two chins instead of 3 ;)

to have one person say "you're not fat, a little chubby maybe, but not fat" and have it be true

to feel comfortable with me 

I have realistic goals, this time, at this age. I've only been fat for about 5 years and according to most charts, I should lose 80 lbs. but I'll be happy if I lose 50 or 60. Maybe I will re-evaluate it later but for now, I'm being 'easy' on myself. That way, I might actually get somewhere. :)