Goals!!!

Anyone who has ever had a dream of accomplishing something knows that setting goals can be one of the keys to success. I have known this intellectually for a long time, but have never had great success in the weight loss dream. I've always had this obscure number in my head of what my ultimate goal weight should be, but without setting smaller goals in between, it just seemed unobtainable. 

This time is different. This time, I have not even set my ultimate goal weight yet. Oh, sure I have an idea. There is a range for my height that tells me where I should be. But without actually being at goal weight in my entire adult life. Ever. I don't have a clue what that number will look like or feel like. 

So instead I am setting smaller goals along the way. Right now, my goal is to get below 200. My next goal is to reach 35 pound weight loss (because I get a sticker for it).  Yes, I am just a child at heart. I love stickers. I started giving myself stickers last week for days when I exercised. It's so exciting to see my tracker fill up with smiley faces. Maybe it's the teacher personality coming out in me, but it's so rewarding to have a visual reminder that I worked for those 2.6 pounds last week. 

I also have goal clothes. My next goal item is my pair of size 12 Levi's that I first wore when I got married in December of 2001. I have only fit into these jeans twice in my married life. Once we got married, the pounds I had lost came right  back on within less than 2 months. I think I literally wore these jeans while we were in our honeymoon and then retired them as soon as we got home. Sad, I know. 

The second time I was able to wear these jeans was right before I got pregnant with my daughter in late 2008. That year, I lost roughly 35 pounds from June to September on a doctor prescribed dose of Phentermine. That time the weight stayed off until the holidays hit. I think I was around 175-180 when my brother came to visit me for Thanksgiving. There are a lot of pictures of me in these jeans at that time. I'll have to find some to post. By the time I found out I was pregnant, I weighed in at 187. 

I vividly remember the day I had to retire these jeans again. We were moving into a townhome in February and we were painting the baseboards before moving in. I remember kneeling on the floor to paint at almost 3 months pregnant when I noticed that the waist was really tight. That is the last time I wore those jeans. They have been sitting in my bottom drawer for over 4 years. 

And guess what?

I was able to button them today!

Yay!

Now, obviously there is a lot more to go before I can where them in public, but just a month ago I couldn't even get them over my huge round bottom, let alone button them. So here's to exercise and making smart choices about food. 

And goals. 

What are your goals?