Goal weight - how do you decide?

MaggotPig

How do you decide what your goal weight is?

I've been gradually shrinking since January 2014. I'm a 6'0" female of I'd say large/broad build (I have quite broad shoulders and wide hips). I started out at 25st 6lbs (356lbs) and am currently 17st (238lbs). I've always said that my initial goal will be 15st/210lbs (which I never In a million years thought I'd achieve but is rapidly looking like I'm going to get there) and then I'd re-evaluate.

Weight loss resources/professionals are scarce where I live. My GP is aware of my weightloss as it's caused a few health issues along the way, and all she keeps asking is whether I'm still losing weight (yes!) and seems surprised that I am.

In order to reach the upper end of a healthy BMI, I'd need a goal weight of 13st (182lbs). I know that goal weights are largely arbitrary really, but I feel like I need to have a target, and end goal, to work towards. I currently struggle (and think I will continue to) determine visually when I'm happy with my weightloss. Besides the fact that I have abused my body over the years and it shows, I also still see myself as big as I was when I started out, so I can't really rely on the visual side of things.

Any thoughts/ideas/suggestions welcomed

Sued0nim

I chose the upper limit of my BMI but thought I don't mind if I'm slightly above it...I'm large framed judging by my wrist measurements

I was happy when I got to upper BMI and went to maintenance but kept dropping trying to find my maintenance amount and I'm now maintaining around 5-10lbs under my maximum BMI so have a BMI reading of around 24

Goals are something you aim for ...but you can re-evaluate as you get near

MaggotPig

rabbitjb wrote: »

I chose the upper limit of my BMI but thought I don't mind if I'm slightly above it...I'm large framed judging by my wrist measurements

I was happy when I got to upper BMI and went to maintenance but kept dropping trying to find my maintenance amount and I'm now maintaining around 5-10lbs under my maximum BMI so have a BMI reading of around 24

Goals are something you aim for ...but you can re-evaluate as you get near

Thank you for taking the time to reply

I have several goals, scale based and otherwise. I also have a fat-bucket list of things I want to do where previously I wasn't able to due to my weight. One goal is to be able to walk into any standard highstreet store and be able to buy clothes. Top half is good, achieved that, but my bottom half is still huge!

Sued0nim

May I suggest a progressive heavy lifting programme

Books: strong curves or new rules of lifting for women

Online programmes: stronglifts 5x5, starting strength, ice cream fitness

Seriously, absolutely totally worthwhile in getting your body tight as you lose weight

999tigger

BMI for me not because its perfect, but its just a standard. As you lose weight then you start to see what it looks like and where its coming off, then you cna re-evaluate. What rabbit said about lifting as it will give you a better shape and help make your weight loss more effective by preserving muscle. For people putting on muscle then its challenging to stay within BMI.

middlehaitch

You haven't said whether your upper limit weight was one that you have held for a long time.
What I based my goal on was the weight I had held for a good number of years before my weight gain.
I felt like me at the previous weight, and once I had got back there, I felt happy in my body once again.
Actually I feel better. The better us due to, for the first time in my life, doing structured exercise programmes. I look slimmer now than I did previously at my weight. If you can, do some resistance work.

Cheers, h.

MaggotPig

middlehaitch wrote: »

You haven't said whether your upper limit weight was one that you have held for a long time.
What I based my goal on was the weight I had held for a good number of years before my weight gain.
I felt like me at the previous weight, and once I had got back there, I felt happy in my body once again.
Actually I feel better. The better us due to, for the first time in my life, doing structured exercise programmes. I look slimmer now than I did previously at my weight. If you can, do some resistance work.

Cheers, h.

I don't ever remember being this weight/size. I've always been very overweight, so I don't really have a previous weight to aim for.

I do resistance/weighty stuff at the gym and have recently discovered group classes. Going to kettlebells on Monday evening and really hoping I enjoy it. Until recently, exercise has been a chore, but I'm actually starting to enjoy it now!

middlehaitch

Ok, then I do understand how you don't know what to aim for.
Your 210,for an initial goal, is a good one to aim for, maintain for a couple of weeks, then decide where you want to go from there.

210 will put you in the 'overweight' BMI range. And you may find you want to reach for something like 185, which, I think, takes you into the 'healthy' range.

You have come so far already, are exercising well (glad to see you are incorporating a bit of resistance work), losing at a steady pace, and if you find that right now 210 is right for you, stay with that and continue with the healthier lifestyle you are developing.

Well done on on your achievements so far.
Cheers, h.

MaggotPig

middlehaitch wrote: »

Ok, then I do understand how you don't know what to aim for.
Your 210,for an initial goal, is a good one to aim for, maintain for a couple of weeks, then decide where you want to go from there.

210 will put you in the 'overweight' BMI range. And you may find you want to reach for something like 185, which, I think, takes you into the 'healthy' range.

You have come so far already, are exercising well (glad to see you are incorporating a bit of resistance work), losing at a steady pace, and if you find that right now 210 is right for you, stay with that and continue with the healthier lifestyle you are developing.

Well done on on your achievements so far.
Cheers, h.

Thank you

It's weird that I don't see it myself, but people are commenting on my weightloss, even my antisocial neighbour who I've never actually even spoken to before (I've lived here 2 years!) has commented. I think having a numerical goal is going to be important in knowing when I'm there.

The fact that I could realistically get to an "overweight" BMI is quite something in itself. I started out at super-morbidly-obese! Thinking about it logically, I'm still I eating 2000 calories a day and losing steadily, that's before factoring in exercise which I've just decided is actually quite fun, so going below the initial goal of 210lbs should theoretically be quite doable.

We've set a date for our wedding after I went to a wedding as a guest and for the first time ever, felt that I looked ok. The dresses I like will have a requirement for me to get my curves under control so I've got that as a goal as well

MaggotPig

Interestingly, the photo on the left just popped up on that time hop thingy on Facebook, taken 3 years ago today. The photo on the left was 2 weeks ago

Sued0nim

That's a great difference

Well done

healthkickkath1

Wow you look fabulous . Great job! Congrats on the upcoming wedding

Machka9

First I chose a number I used to weigh 4 years ago ... within my BMI range, but near the top end.

I hit that, took a short break, and now I'm aiming for the middle of the BMI range.

MaggotPig

healthkickkath1 wrote: »

Wow you look fabulous . Great job! Congrats on the upcoming wedding

Thank you - wedding is 2 years away (October 2017) as both fiancé and I have some shrinking to do. I figure that gives me just over a year before needing to think about dresses!

Kalikel

I've never really had a number carved in stone. I didn't plan or dream of losing all this weight. I cleaned up my diet and weight started coming off, so for the longest time, I was like, "Cool! How awesome is this? I wonder if I can drop another size?!" It was along the way that I was like, "Whoa. I can get to thin if I want." So, THIN has been the goal.

When people ask how much I plan to lose, I say, "More." It's always just more. I will know I'm done when I get there. Either I'll be looking how I want to look or the weight will just get too hard to lose and I'll say, "Well, this is good enough!"

I've been reevaluating how much I want to lose. My loose skin is becoming an issue. I can't get too much more or I'll actually need surgery, which I don't want.

I think I'd like to lose about another 30 pounds, but will just have to see how it goes. It's really an "I'll know it when I get there" kind of deal.

Francl27

Middle of healthy BMI for me, but I'm maintaining 3 pounds over right now (too hungry as a whole to go under).

jms5137

My current goal weight is a weight I got down to about 2 years ago and was happy with. I had a very active job at that time, so I'm not sure if it is a practical weight to maintain for the long haul, but I'll worry about that when I get closer to that number.

mymodernbabylon

My goal weight was a range that I'd be happy to maintain for the rest of my life while enjoying the food and drink that I enjoy. I looked at the TDEE of my goal weight for the amount of working out that I would realistically do over the next few years - if it was too low, then I wouldn't do it (for me, that would be at 5'6" under 140 lbs).

KrisiAnnH

My first 'goal weight' is just the highest healthy range for my BMI. I know BMI isn't an exact science but it seemed like a good starting point My plan has always been to get to a 'healthy' BMI and then see how I feel about losing more, I'm currently 13lbs away from my first goal and I know I'll want to lose more, but I may focus more on the fitness aspect once I'm there I think goals are always going to be changing/flexible though no matter if you're losing or in maintenance

MKEgal

Talk with your doctor or dietitian.

I started aiming for the top of a healthy BMI range.


Then I changed to 10 lb under the top.
When I get there, I'll see how I feel & look.
I might go as much as another 15 under that (so 25 under the top), which would put me squarely in the center
of the healthy range. But I can't imagine going lower than that.

I'm almost to a healthy body fat % as well. If I eventually get into the 'fit' or 'athletic' category, that's a bonus.


Also, the search function is your friend.
This has been addressed many many many many many times already.
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/search

Lounmoun

Past experience and BMI.
As an adult, I have weighed everywhere from the lowest end of the healthy BMI to just crossing the line into obese. The weight I felt best at in the past was the middle of the healthy BMI range.
Initially, I wasn't very confident so I set my weight loss goal high but have since lowered my goal weight.
It is okay to set smaller goals or change your goal.

rockmama72

I also selected a healthy BMI as my first goal. It's still quite a bit higher than the weight I always thought was my magic number, but I'm getting older and I'm afraid I'll look too wrinkly in my face! I will reassess when I get there.

kshama2001

The Frame Size (Wrist) Calculator gives me a Large frame and my current goal weight puts me in Overweight according to BMI, but it was the weight I was when I was a full time yoga teacher 11 years ago, and I felt good at this weight.

We'll see what happens when I get there.

BekahC1980

Wow congratulations !!

minties82

I don't care about BMI or being 'skinny'. I just grabbed a number...60kg (about 135lbs).

I've been around 100kg+ for so many years...at least 11 years that I can recall. I was 115kg (253lbs) at the start of this year, which is rather enormous on a 4'11" female. I'm 77.9kg as of this morning and feel pretty good about myself.

My mother in law is my height and weighs 68kg and I can fit her clothes, so I feel like I look good for how heavy I am, if I am more than 10kg/20lbs heavier than her but fit the same size. My body frame size is large by wrist and elbow so I'm never going to be a delicate wee thing. I love weight lifting and want to be strong and fit and happy.

I think my goal of 60kg is a bmi of 27 for me.

P.S you look beautiful!

zyxst

MKEgal wrote: »

Talk with your doctor or dietitian.

I started aiming for the top of a healthy BMI range.


Then I changed to 10 lb under the top.
When I get there, I'll see how I feel & look.
I might go as much as another 15 under that (so 25 under the top), which would put me squarely in the center
of the healthy range. But I can't imagine going lower than that.

I'm almost to a healthy body fat % as well. If I eventually get into the 'fit' or 'athletic' category, that's a bonus.


Also, the search function is your friend.
This has been addressed many many many many many times already.
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/search

Where's that chart from? BMI charts I see have me (5'1", 150.8#) at 28.5 BMI (overweight). Yours says that's "healthy". Can I use your chart from now on?

OT: I picked the highest weight for "healthy" on BMI for 5'2". Then I found out I'd shrunk an inch and would need to lose an extra 8# to be "healthy". I'm having enough trouble getting to 140, so 132 is right out.

middlehaitch

MaggotPig wrote: »

Interestingly, the photo on the left just popped up on that time hop thingy on Facebook, taken 3 years ago today. The photo on the left was 2 weeks ago

You look wonderful! Double congrats, a wedding happening too.

You are approaching your goals in a reasonable manner, so just keep on doing what you are doing.

As a matter of interest I just plugged your stats ( guessed at a number of things) into a TDEE calculator and you would be able to stay at the 2000 cals even if you wanted to drop lower than 210, your loss would slow as you neared maintenance.

Play with your numbers at iifym.com and that should help you find a goal with the calorie level that is sustainable for you.

I think it would be better to be consistently a little overweight than spend years to yoyo-ing because you are not happy on a lower calorie. The BMI range is just that; it addresses the mass, not the individual, even though it is a handy guideline.

Cheers, h.

MaggotPig

middlehaitch wrote: »

MaggotPig wrote: »

Interestingly, the photo on the left just popped up on that time hop thingy on Facebook, taken 3 years ago today. The photo on the left was 2 weeks ago

You look wonderful! Double congrats, a wedding happening too.

You are approaching your goals in a reasonable manner, so just keep on doing what you are doing.

As a matter of interest I just plugged your stats ( guessed at a number of things) into a TDEE calculator and you would be able to stay at the 2000 cals even if you wanted to drop lower than 210, your loss would slow as you neared maintenance.

Play with your numbers at iifym.com and that should help you find a goal with the calorie level that is sustainable for you.

I think it would be better to be consistently a little overweight than spend years to yoyo-ing because you are not happy on a lower calorie. The BMI range is just that; it addresses the mass, not the individual, even though it is a handy guideline.

Cheers, h.

That's interesting - I'm just following the MFP suggestions as I go. I can easily drop by a few hundred calories - some days (today for example) I've been eating more calorie dense foods in order to make up the numbers. My main aim is to eat a healthy, balanced diet. I'm vegetarian, and some days it happens that my calorie intake is naturally low despite eating a large quantity, but I make it up to my goal amount with a bit of grated cheese here or a dollop of peanut butter there. And like I say, I've recently discovered exercise as well - tomorrow, my day will start at 5am and finish at about 10pm, including a 12 hour shift at work, 3 dog walks and an exercise class. I've already planned and prepped 4 meals and 2 snacks within my 2000 calories, without even touching the exercise calories that I'll earn. When I'm on track, I'm very on track. When I fall off the wagon, I do it spectacularly! (Usually head first into a vat of ice cream!)

fishshark

i chose the weight I was when I was a competitive swimmer... I was lean and maybe my weight was lower but i was STRONG and thats how I want to be again. I am to young to get tired walking up a hill.

pstegman888

You look fabulous, and having your fiance losing with you should help keep you both motivated and on track. Congrats!

Liftng4Lis

Excellent work going on there!