Are you afraid to set your goal at a normal BMI?

Just read an article that got me thinking about back in the weight loss phase how much I struggled with setting my goal weight.  At first I told the doc that I wanted a normal  BMI.  But secretly, I felt there was absolutely no chance of that.  Just prior to surgery I thought it was hopeless, and was just praying the surgery would work well enough for me so I could move around better.  Or at all for that matter.  After a few weeks post op I realized that I was afraid to commit to the normal BMI goal.  Too many failures in the past.  Finally a little further out it just hit me one day.  Why would I set a goal for myself that wasn't really what I wanted?  Sure- it was safer.  I could tell myself that "I made goal" even if it was not what I truly wanted.  So, I hit a point that day where I felt that I could fully commit.  It took some time post op for me to believe that the sleeve would work, and that I indeed had a fighting chance. And more importantly, that I now had the tool and mindset and enough positive success that bred the determination that I needed to make goal.  

If you are a newbie or just thinking about getting the sleeve- Go after your goal!  It is possible and it can happen for you!

Thank you for the inspiration!

The psychologist I had my pre op appointment with actually had the VSG surgery from my surgeon and so she was not only able to speak as a professional but also as someone that had first hand knowledge of what a person goes through with this surgery. One of the interesting things that she did was to stop her weight loss prior to hitting a "normal" BMI.  She actually stopped perhaps 20 to 25 pounds above that point.  She told me it was about feeling good where you are and not go for anything because of what is expected of you.

The funny thing about that is in hindsight I wished that I had stopped slightly above "normal" myself.  I have been trying to put some weight back on and today it looked like I have put on a couple pounds.  I am still below the middle of that "normal" range but I freaked out.  I freaked out because I put weight on and yet I have been wanting to put the weight back on.  I am really struggling with that.  I am actually going to rewrite this part of my response because I would like to get some thoughts about this and I don't know how many people will respond within your post ... plus I don't want to hijack your post ... that wouldn't be nice ... lol.

No problem hijacking- I think it is entirely relevant!

I think you need to identify a weight that is good for you- not what somebody tells you unless it is a medical professional that recognizes some type of health concern that is resulting from weight.   

It is kind of weird now to put on a few pounds.  I have not done it on purpose, but I do play around with a 5 pound range and don't like it at all when I am at the top of that range.  

I couldn't agree more with you! Great statement for an newbie!!

I totally agree with you on this one.  I am 10 pounds away from my surgeons goal, but that is not a normal BMI.  I am 20 pounds from a normal BMI.  I have decided to make a normal BMI my goal.  I don't care how long it takes to get there.  For me this isn't a race it's a life.  

On another note, I see that something you said weeks ago has been dredged up for this weeks self promoting circle jerk.  It's kind of funny really. 

Missed the dredging (sigh) but I bet I can probably guess the content.  

I set my goal at a normal BMI. I cannot actually even fathom myself weighing 130 lbs. But somehow I'm going to get there.

I set my "goal" at 130 but that might below what I should expect, I haven't weighed that since I was 18 so we will see how things go. I've always been chunky and weighed 130 in 5th grade and stayed that way til I was 18 n got pregnant n gained 70 pounds. So I'm looking forward to clothes shopping

So true and GREAT post!!!