Pink Hair & Goals

Good morning all!  Thank you so much for all the comments on my last weigh in.  I've gotten the question "What size are you in?" a couple times now so I guess it's time to fess up.  Honestly, I'm in the same size I have been in for the last 2 years with minor modifications.  I'm still in an 18.  Truth be told, once I hit a certain weight I loathed shopping (I know many of you can relate).  I hated going to normal stores, unable to find ANYTHING and I loathed the options at the Fattie stores like Lane Bryant.  I've never looked good in florals regardless of what Laney thought.  So I stopped shopping unless I really had to.  That being said, I think most of my current 18's are pretty stretched out so they're closer to a 20/22.  Now, are my clothes fitting better?  Yes and No.  Some of my "smaller" 18's (women know what I'm talking about here) fit MUCH better and look nicer (see previous post about my old new shirt).  My "bigger" 18's are looking baggy and a little sloppy.  My 18W jeans are literally falling off me but I'm holding out until January to buy new ones because that's when stuff goes on sale.  OK so enough about my nonprogress on the clothes front.

Ask and ye shall receive...the PINK hair.  (disclaimer: I had no photographer so I took them myself so the angles are a little off.  Incidentally I have VERY short arms.  LOL)

I'm kinda digging the pink hair.  Very Kat Von D of me (anyone watch LA Ink?).  Anyhoo... I've been thinking a lot about goals lately.  I thought about joining the Holiday Challenge but I chickened out.  I know what my "I would be so stoked to be at this weight" goal is and I know what my "OMG! Can you believe I'm this freakin' skinny goal" is.  But I'm having a hard time picking milestones.  25 was a big one for me because it's been YEARS since I've lost more than 20 lbs.  The main issue I'm having is with deadlines.  I don't really like using the word "deadline" in relation to the weight loss because even if you don't hit your goal by a certain date doesn't mean that you're done and the task is over.  I guess what I'm trying to think of is what weight should I shoot for by, say, New Year's or my girls' cruise in January.  Truth is I have no idea.  The surgeon's office throws out that you should lose between 1-2 lbs a week. Hmmmmmkay.  At 2 lbs, that would put me at about 14 lbs by New Year's.  But it's the holidays and let's be perfectly honest, I've never not GAINED weight on the holidays much less lost it.  But I don't want to take a pass at losing weight during the holidays so I'm thinking maybe between 10-12 lbs by New Year's.  I don't know.  That sounds wishy washy.  Then I think, do I have to set mini goals?  Isn't every pound toward my ultimate goal an achievement?  As long as I'm making better choices and decisions and being more active each day attaining a goal in and of itself?  Patrick had an interesting goal setting post awhile back and basically it questions the validity of making goals.  How useful is it?  I think the general consensus (while there was definitely debate) was that setting goals is helpful as long as you actually work towards them.  Well, that was kinda the "duh" answer but I start thinking if I keep my eye on the big goal, then maybe it's not necessary to set little ones since I already know where I want to go.  I realize I'm babbling about this but hang with me for just one more thing.  I've also been thinking that maybe I'm better off thinking in terms of challenges.  This year's health challenge was to get banded (check!) and complete the Susan G Komen 3 Day for the Cure (almost there!).  Training for the walk has jump started my weight loss and has made me a little more fit.  So I'm thinking if I give myself another challenge for next year then perhaps that will be motivation enough. 

OK...I know I've rambled on and I appreciate you sticking with me.  To reward you for your efforts, I leave you with a joke...

Two boys, ages 8 & 10, were always getting into trouble. Their mother heard that a clergyman in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with the boys. The clergyman agreed, but asked to see them individually. So the mother sent her 8 year old to see him the following
morning, intending to send the older boy in the afternoon. The clergyman, a huge man with a booming voice, sat the younger boy down and sternly asked,“Where is God?” The boy’s mouth dropped open, but he made no response. The clergyman repeated the question in a even sterner tone,“Where is God?” When the boy made no attempt to answer, the clergyman got to his feet and bellowed,“WHERE IS GOD?” The boy screamed and bolted from the room. When his older brother found him hiding in his closet, he asked,“What happened?” The younger brother, gasping for breath replied,“We’re in BIG TROUBLE this time, dude. God is missing–and they think we did it!”