how did you set you goal??

I'm 5'7" and I chose 150 as it's right at the top of the normal BMI range... but at my followup appt with my surgeon yesterday I asked him this very question and he said 160-165 was his goal for me. That would still leave me in the overweight category, something I'm not interested in "striving" for after having had this surgery and working so hard on what I put into my mouth (and what I don't put into my mouth!) and all of the exercise I do every day.

If that's just where my body won't budge from when I get to that point, then so be it. But lord knows my personal goal isn't going to be anywhere *near* the overweight or obese categories on the charts.

I initially chose the weight that I was at when I was extremely fit (190 lbs).  But, as I approached 190, I knew that I was still way too fat.  I had forgotten that when I weighed that amount, I was running 5 miles every day, lifting weights 3 days a week, etc.  I was also 16-26 years old then (I was 65 when I had my surgery).

I revised my goal to the higher end of a normal BMI level.  That was 170 pounds, and I reached that goal (I am 5'10"" tall now, down 2 inches from my youth due to age and having two compression fractures in my spine).)

Your goal should be to reach a weight at which you are NOT overweight or obese.  I would bet that 175 pounds for a person of your height is still in the obese range.  Why choose a goal at an unhealthy weight?

Yes, this seems incredible to you NOW.  But, I can tell you, getting to a healthy weight is possible, and as you approach it you WILL feel a real sense of accomplishement and self pride.

175 would be jsut barely overweight.....168 is the highest end of normal weight for me...so perhaps I will shoot for that.

I just picked a number - 140.  Once I got there, I thought I'd like to look at the BMI and get to the normal range (136).  I made it to goal on June 1.  I am 135 today.