Question about goal weights

JennMairi

I have a goal clothes size rather than a goal weight - the size I want my bridesmaid's dress to be next summer!

Kevinkpcc55

My first goal was to loose 2 stone by end of May 2013, which i achieved, I have now extended that to another 2 stone by end of december 2013, i think its going to be a little tougher, but will stick at it and see where it takes me.

momzeeee

I see so many people have a goal weight they are trying to achieve and I'm just wondering how everyone finds that magic number? How do we know what number on the scales going to make us happy?

I started my journey at 122.3kgs (269.1lbs).. I have always been overweight.. Iv'e spent the last 6-7 years around the 116-119kg (255.2- 261.8 lbs) mark and I've so far lost 21.5kgs (47.3lbs) and I still can't manage to find myself a goal weight! At least not a final weight. I'm hoping to at least get to 80kg (176 lbs) which for my 5ft5 frame is still overweight but I can't get my head around me being any smaller then that because I can't remember weighing below 85kg (obviously I did when I was younger but I'm guessing I never weighed myself much back then)

So I'm just curious as to how people found their magic number. I want to have one of those OMG I did it moments when I get down to my final goal.. but I need to find one first!!

My goal weight was the weight I was on my wedding day, 11 years ago (135lbs). I remember feeling comfortable in my skin at that time and also being able to comfortably wear a size 8 jean. That was also the lowest weight I had ever weighed as an adult and it's also right in the middle of a healthy bmi for my height.

Well, hit that number in March and started transitioning into maintenance. Started walking/strength training and focusing more on a primal leaning diet. Fast forward to today and I'm now 10lbs under my goal weight and wearing a size 4 jean/size 2 shorts (125lbs). I now feel the best I ever have and I look good, even better than what I did in my wedding pictures :bigsmile:

I think a goal number is a good start to work towards, but to be successful at this long term you always have to have a new goal to work towards. I didn't intend to lose more weight but it happened on its own, as I started focusing on new goals Now I'm training for my first 5K and my size 4 jeans are getting loose, even though the scale is staying stable. I think my body shape will continue to change for a while yet and I'm cool with that!

MJ_Watson

If you know your current body fat %, Fat2Fit has a goal weight calculator that asks you your goal bf % and tells you what weight that would be. Easy enough to guess what % you'd like by googling pictures of women's body fat percentages. I looked at a couple of charts and decided which end of the normal range I wanted to be in (right smack dab in the middle ) and plugged it in to get my goal.

The weight it gave me seems a little on the high side, but I think that's partly a body composition thing (I wear a smaller size than most girls my weight seem to, as well). And of course it's assuming you lose /no/ LBM at all during weight loss - which would be awesome but not really likely. So for now I'm using it as a soft goal, then I'll re-evaluate when I get there and see how much lower I need to go. It did help me, because my very first goal was apparently way, WAY too low, and I'm glad I found that out now before I got fixated on that number.

Here's the address:

http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/ibw/

AubieMae

I've chosen my weight goal by going in between the range for a healthy BMI with my age calculated in.

JesterMFP

First of all, I don't think there is a magical number as such. I think for most people there's a range, and you won't really know until you get there. That's especially true for people who have always been overweight, but even those that were formerly slim and know how they felt at a certain number - even then, body composition changes so you can never be sure.

I picked my goal number by a combination of different things. Firstly, I aimed for the middle-ish of my healthy BMI range. Secondly, I knew roughly how much I had to lose to lose a dress size, so I estimated how much I would need to weigh to be the size I thought I'd look best at. (That's a bit of a rough way of doing it, because you can lose sizes differently the smaller you get but it actually worked out accurately for me.) Thirdly, I estimated my body fat percentage using the online calculators at Fat2fitradio. Then, looking at online pictures of people at different body fat percentages, I decided what % I would like to be, and used this calculator to work out how much I should weigh, assuming I lost no lean mass: http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/ibw/ Again, this is all a bit woolly because those calculators are only rough estimates.

Anyway, the three methods gave me roughly the same number, and was very close to a total loss of 6 stone (don't we all love round numbers?) So I just went with that. That's the number I hit, and have been maintaining (give or take a few pounds here or there) since November. I think it's about right for me. I ended up in the clothes size that I originally planned. Ideally, I'd like to lose maybe another 5 lbs, although it's not a priority right now. At the same time, the people around me tell me that I shouldn't lose any more, so I must be pretty much at the right place.

I don't know if you know MyBodyGallery, but it can be useful to get a general idea of what women look like at different height/weights. http://www.mybodygallery.com/ You need to bear in mind though (and that website helps you to realise) that there can be a vast difference in what 2 women at the same height and weight will look like because of different body compositions, as well as how people naturally carry fat. For example, if you are more muscular, you will look smaller at a higher weight than someone who is less muscular. Also, I am (or was) and apple shape. If I was more of an hour-glass, I'd probably have been happy to be a bit heavier than I am now. As it happens, all my extra fat gets stored around my middle, so that motivates me to be a bit leaner.

Britterboo22

Mines within health BMI range.

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generallyme2

I used to be one of those 'naturally thin' people. I ate well and a lot but I was also super active and sat at about 114 lbs without even trying. Then I messed with my hormones. I don't want to be quite that small again (and can't imagine I would be able to healthfully) but I tacked on 6-11 lbs to that and there's my goal weight. Not too scientific but I know what I look like at that weight and I know it's achievable and I felt good.

Achrya

Getting back to my military weight. I was at peak foxiness then.

Just gave this (http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/ibw/) a go and what do you know, my goal weight lines up perfectly with my goal body fat percentage. ...That said, I'm not surprised, lol. I was very aware of my weight and my body fat (Thanks Navy for being so hung up on that kind of thing.) three years ago so I genuinely know where I want to be and how I want to look when I get there.

Jennikitten

I chose my goal based on the weight that I used to be which suited me the most (not too big or too small)

That means that my goal is 140 lbs (10 stone) and I am 5ft 8. This should make me a UK size 10. I cant go much smaller than this without looking boney.

bluefish49

Started with a goal of 100 lbs lost, then moved it to 200 lbs lost. As I steadily approach the 200 and with a date goal by the end of the year, I'm starting to think about when I hit that goal to extend it to the upper limit of the US Army official weight for a person of my height and age and gender. That would make it 230 total.

toutmonpossible

I'm not overweight and I have a reasonable body fat percentage. I consider my goal weight range to be anything between where I am now and my lowest weight in college and in my 20s. It's not a firm goal, because it would be very hard to lose another 8 to 10 pounds and maintain it. I'm reintroducing exercise, so I'll see.

When I was young, people didn't routinely estimate their body fat percentage and the only method was calipers, which require expertise. My body fat percentage is usually around 19, and very rarely, 16. I would be delighted to get it down to 15 to 12, but I doubt that will happen. I would have to have an athlete's dedication and it's not worth it to me right now, and probably never will.

Francl27

I used BMI first, then got my body fat calculated and figured a healthier number using that (http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/ibw/), depending on how much body fat I want... My goal is still under the number it gives me but I can always adjust when I get closer.

SmartAlec03211988

I was my happiest at 125 lbs, so that's how I chose my goal weight.

yellowsnowdrop

Around 6 years ago I went from 210 to 141 in 6 months and people kept stopping me and asking if I was O.K. as I looked so thin. My next door neighbours husband just kept telling me to gain a few pounds as I looked dreadful. I am just 5'4. This time I've set my goal weight a bit higher and will decide when I get there if I want to loose any more.

vgirl21

I agree with the opinion that BMI isn't everything! I am at my BMI and I am still chunky around my mid-section and thighs. It is all about image and self esteem for most people who are in the healthy range. Yeah I am considered healthy, but I don't want to consistently buy jeans that may fit my thighs but are squeezing the crap out of my stomach!

My advice is to have realistic goals for your body, if your healthy awesome! If you want to get toned, go for it! Just cause a person may be 120 pounds doesn't mean they shouldn't consistently manage their weight and calorie intake. Exercise is forever, so find something you love to do and stick with it! Or change it up if you are bored. In the end, it's all about how good you feel about yourself.

sprale

I am 5'5'' and weight 217. I started at 237. My initial goal weight was 120. However, I went to a weight loss clinic and had a body composition test done. it showed that I had about 110 pounds of lean muscle. Upon seeing this, the doctor recommended that I set my goal weight at 150 instead. So 150 is my new goal.

You can do your own body composition test using a tape measure to find the 3 values you can enter on the check in page of myfitnespal. Here is a calculator site:

http://www.skinbodyfitness.com/bmr_bmi_bfp.htm

It is reasonably accurate for me compared to the test I got at the clinic. It also gives you an idea of how much you should try to lose, from which you can calculate a goal weight. It told me today I should lose about 61 pounds, which would put me at 156, close to the goal weight my doctor worked out for me.

EDollah

I got a reliable body fat measurement (via Bod Pod) done to find my lean body mass. I divided LBM by .8 to see my weight at 20% bodyfat (the top end of "healthy" for men). When I get to this weight I'll take another Bod Pod analysis and reassess if I want to shoot for 15-18 percent body fat pct.

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Tiff050709

I got my goal weight from the BMI chart which will put me in a healthy weight. Once I get near that weight I will figure out better what I want my weight to be. Its just a starting figure.

aszwarc

I set a goal of what a doctor told me years ago I should weigh for my height. It works out to be in the middle of healthy BMI range, but I'll reevaluate when (if) I get there. To be perfectly honest, though, I just want to weigh less than my sister, who made some very rude comments about my weight the last time I saw her.

aaasky

Like a lot of people, my first goal is the highest end of my healthy BMI and my final goal (for now!) is in the middle and was chosen pretty randomly since I've never been that weight as an adult.

I also found the Self magazine "happy weight calculator" helpful; you answer a few questions about your family's weight, your frame and height and it gives you a number. It might not be all that scientific, but if you're looking for a number to shoot for it does give you some guidance!

ncmedic201

My goal weight is based on a previous weight. It's when I felt my best and had the most energy. I'll reevaluate once I get closer, but I'll probably keep it close to that.

nainai0585

I know t.hat 130lbs on my 5'7" frame makes me looke anorexic and sickly (I floated between 120-130lbs throughout my high school career) and at 165lbs currently, I am not fully satisfied with how I look though my confidence has sky rocketed since beginning this journey at 192 lbs and 3 months post partam with my 2nd surrogacy pregnancy. So, the "magic" number for me is 155 lbs. When I reach this goal by August, I can no longer loose weight as I will be pregnant again with my 3rd surrogacy pregnancy. So this is how I have chosen my goal weight.

LolasEpicJourney

I have a target weight in mind (150-160lbs). I was that size in high school. Now most people say high school weight is unrealistic - however - I wasn't super skinny back then either.

Given said info - as I get close to my goal weight it will not be about a number, but about how fit I am and how good I feel



<edit> I am also 5'7 with a larger bone structure

Cindyinpg

I used this site here:
http://www.mybodygallery.com/index.html

I put in my height and looked at REAL women at a variety of weights. It was eye-opening in that I realized my initial goal weight was too low.

TheDarkestStar87

I picked my goal weight based on my pre-uni weight but I'm actually reconsidering now because all the exercise I have been doing has toned me up to an extend where I am actually relatively happy with how I look compared to the flabbier me 6 months ago. I don't think the number should be set in stone, if one day you look at yourself in the mirror and think "wow, this is paying off, I sure look fabulous now" then start thinking about a maintenance plan. It's just a number after all, it's how you feel that really matters.

dnunny70

When I was in college I lost about 60lbs. and felt great. I don't think I ever got below 160; I felt good. I am going for that same weight.

PandaCustard

I was big in high school and got fed up with it my senior year, so I dropped down to 140 (was 5'6" at the time, now 5'7"). I was pretty happy at 150; it's a bit higher on the normal side, but when I was 140, everyone commented that I looked too thin. It's not a 100%-set-in-stone goal, but I figured it's a good start.