Something on my mind...

After reading through the weightwatchers forums, the bloggers journals and talking to people about weightloss in general, I have decided that the term 'Goal Weight' has become rather foggy.

As a registered weightwatcher, I set myself a goal weight of 66kg that at the time seemed rather unachievable yet it was within the healthy weight range of someone my height (167cm) and seemed reasonably far enough away that to get there would be a challenge. So 66 is my number, my GW, a number I think about a lot, probably too much.

But then came another number. 63.5. Now that one has taken up residence in my head. But I wonder why? Why couldn't I stay at 66? Well for me, 63.5 happened naturally as my motabolism was still adjusting and during my 6 week maintenance I followed the books and lost some more, then gained some and then stabilised at 63 - 65kg. So I count is as more of a re-assesment of my weight than a decision to go less, but I then realised that I can gain up to 2kg at TTOM so sitting on goal may see me constantly trying to 'lose' as opposed to learning how to maintain properly.

So here's the thing. I used to think that it's odd that people who have not experienced weightloss set 2 goals at the beginning of their weight watchers journey, but now I've worked out why and I'm a bit appalled since it seems to be a bit of a marketing ploy or something. I'm talking specifically about the ww program now. I think that by only having a 1kg 'buffer' zone between being considered 'at goal and 'not at goal' is rediculous. Weight watchers acknowledges that 'normal' stabalised weight can fluctuate up to 1-2 kg, particularly for women at TTOM. So why 1kg? Is it simply to get that extra $14.95 whenever the opportunity comes along?

I think that only having the 1kg is the reason for people setting 2 goal weights at the begining. 1 goal they think they can mantain and 1 goal that they really want to be. It's concerning me too, that people who (like me) only set a single goal and realise they probably have to lose about 1-5 kg more in order to avoid paying at the monthly weighins. It's bloody hard trying to ensure your weight does not go over your goal by 1kg when you are at your goal. Does this make sense?

I think it's really bad of ww not to see that having such a strict limitation can see people getting obsessed about their weight.

I, like most, have decided that my 63.5 "PGW" gives me enough room to move if I have a big weekend or am sick or am too busy to exercise. Basically, I would go nuts trying to 'maintain' my ww Goal weight if I was satisfied with 66.

All that said, what do you guys think? Do any fellow weightwatchers actually 'maintain' at their WWGW or do you all deliberately hover under it?

I'm also curious about the other girls who are still to reach your ww goal - to you actually want to be less but have set the number with a saftey zone?

Would love feed back on this post.

Thanks. Cath.