Bmi and how you choose your goal weight!

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Replies

  • niniundlapin
    niniundlapin Posts: 327 Member
    I kind of chose my original goal weight (55 kg) based on BMI but also from my observation of people I know who are about the same height as me (166 cm). Once I reached that I found myself being able to go further (jeans size went from 8 to 6 to 4), and thus I no longer use BMI but my fitness level and my own visual satisfaction (how I look in certain clothes) as the guide to my goal.
  • richardgavel
    richardgavel Posts: 1,001 Member
    My initial goal is the midway point of BMI, but my more precise goal is more about BF %. I want to get around 15% on that. Once I get to midway BMI, I will reassess at that point and start doing some bulk/drop cycles.
  • amyk0202
    amyk0202 Posts: 666 Member
    Before I started losing weight I was thinking I would go down to around 125 lbs. I'm 5' 2.5" & was 39 at the time. I picked it because that's around what I was when I got married. After I started losing weight, I decided I was happy at 150 lbs. That is still in the overweight bmi range for my height. It is still my goal (I regained last year, so I'm back to losing). This time I'm going to get back there & focus on my waist measurement. If it is under 31.5", I'll stay there. If it's not, I will probably continue to lose until it is.
  • ElizabethOakes2
    ElizabethOakes2 Posts: 1,038 Member
    BMI says I should be 120, but I've always felt my best between 125 and 130. Right now, though, I started with a goal halfway to that- 150 (I started at 178), because I knew if I said, "I want to be 125!" I was going to get discouraged really fast.

    Pick a goal that seems comfortable and do-able for you, and if you get there, and want to lose more, you know how to do it. :)
  • tomteboda
    tomteboda Posts: 2,171 Member
    @Sukisumi I love that, picking a favorite number :smile: It's as legitimate as anything else, our "goal" weights (most of us) are completely arbitrary.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,162 Member
    I feel like a lot of us worry too much about picking the right goal weight right at the start. You can always change your mind, up or down, based on how you feel and how your body's behaving.

    I set my initial MFP goal about 5 pounds above a weight that felt good when I was 35 years younger (thinking a little more weight might be a Good Thing when old). But I always thought of it as a provisional goal.

    Sure enough, when I got close to that goal, I knew that it needed adjusting. I'm nearly done losing, with an "I'll know goal weight when I feel it" plan, but I'm almost certainly within 5 pounds. And I'm currently about 7 pounds below my initial provisional goal. (SW 183, initial GW 130, CW 123, ultimate GW nonspecific but very close. I'm 5'5", and 60 y/o.)
  • victoria_1024
    victoria_1024 Posts: 915 Member
    I picked a number that was at the top of a healthy bmi range for my height. It was also exactly 75 lbs to lose, which felt like a nice number. :) Once I got it, I maintained for a while and then decided to lose a few more because I'm still carrying more fat than I'm comfortable with around my stomach and thighs. I'm not in a hurry though at this point. I'm generally happy with myself and feel a million times better and healthier.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    I chose my initial goal according to BMI. Specifically, my initial goal was the top number of the healthy range, per BMI, for my height.

    My goal now is based on how many pounds I think it will take me losing in order to be rid of specific fatty areas.

    Yup me too ...I chose highest BMI then I got there, liked how my body looked switched to maintenance, kept losing so kept increasing calories finally settled 5lbs below my max BMI weight so have a BMI of 24 now.

    That said whilst my BMI remains the same, my body continues to change slightly cos of progressive training

    I'm good with that

    Goals are adaptable...start somewhere...check in photos and mirrors and clothes as you get nearer and decide what your own personal body ideal is...when you're there or thereabouts stop, whatever the number on the scale says, you can always start again if your mind changes
  • Sukisumi
    Sukisumi Posts: 96 Member
    tomteboda wrote: »
    @Sukisumi I love that, picking a favorite number :smile: It's as legitimate as anything else, our "goal" weights (most of us) are completely arbitrary.

    Exactly, so I may as well like the number I'm aiming for! Haha =)

  • misskarne
    misskarne Posts: 1,765 Member
    It's a mixture. My ultimate goal weight will put me in the middle of the ideal weight range for my height. It is also five kilograms lighter than my lightest as an adult, and I thought I was still fat then. (Oh, if only I could go back in time and tell my younger self...!) I will re-evaluate when I get to 70kg, that lightest weight, and see if I could still stand to lose a few more, or if that is fine.
  • samgamgee
    samgamgee Posts: 398 Member
    I chose 120 because I was around that before I started putting on unnecessary weight at university. It happens to be a 20.6 BMI so if I want to go lower I can safely lose another 10 lbs after than.
  • Jonna13
    Jonna13 Posts: 288 Member
    I chose mine because it's right in the middle of healthy, plus I haven't been in the 120's in over 10yrs! My goal is 129 at 5'5.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    Bubbalovegettinghealthy wrote: »
    Do you guys choose your goal weight based on what your bmi says or base it on a place you were and want to get back to how do you choose your goal weight?

    Both.
    The weight I felt best at in the past is my goal weight and it is also in the middle of the healthy bmi range for me.
  • Duchy82
    Duchy82 Posts: 560 Member
    Ninkyou wrote: »
    I chose mine based on the healthy range of my height/BMI.

    ^this^
  • findingtherealme2016
    findingtherealme2016 Posts: 7 Member
    BMI isn't reasonable for me since my body holds a lot of muscle. I chose my goal weight by the last weight (adult, not like high school or anything) where I really felt good and performed well in sports. Even when I am at my goal weight and healthy, I am still a good 5-10lb above the high end of the weight range for my height on the BMI scale. You need to know your body as BMI is supposed to be used for a population not for individuals.
  • toe1226
    toe1226 Posts: 249 Member
    my goal weight was chosen for the last weight I could do 8 pullups at (maximized strength to weight ratio) which was 137...however, now that I'm in the process of losing I realize I've built a lot of valuable muscle that I don't necessarily want to give up, so, I may go higher, 142+, just see how it all feels
  • SingRunTing
    SingRunTing Posts: 2,604 Member
    I chose a goal weight based on something mid range in a healthy BMI. But in all honesty, I don't really care what I end up weighing. I care far more about body composition and fat%. I have a goal body, not a goal weight.
  • Hell_Flower
    Hell_Flower Posts: 348 Member
    I've chosen the lower end of my BMI. I'm 5ft 5 and aim to maintain around 110 - 115lbs. Back up to 123lbs just now and I just feel a bit flobby to be honest.

    When I was at the top end, I looked really gross. Never worked out, had second helpings and really just did not feel good about myself. I wasn't technically over weight, but I definitely didn't look good.

    I feel a lot more confident at the low end. I'm pear shaped with big hips and it's the only way I look anything like in proportion. Hopefully I will care less about that at some point.
  • Farfew
    Farfew Posts: 3 Member
    joinn68 wrote: »
    Don't trust myself to know what healthy looks like. So smack dab in the middle of BMI range at 22.something. Although it seems I am large frame so top of range would be better for me but it is too close to "overweight" for my comfort.

    I did this too - smack in the middle. Gives me something to aim for but allows me some wiggle room depending on how happy I am with how I feel.
  • courtney_love2001
    courtney_love2001 Posts: 1,468 Member
    My first goal is to be out of the obese BMI. Then next goal will be a goal weight. I think the BMI can be such a crock, as at my thinnest wearing a size 4-6 I was near the upper end of the "normal" BMI. I am using it initially because my OB uses it to determine if I need a glucose test right away when (and if) I become pregnant and I realllllly don't wanna do the 3 hour test again!
  • shadowconn
    shadowconn Posts: 141 Member
    I chose mine based on where I was happy previously, which is 145. That's pretty much the middle of my BMI. I can go down to 135, but I risk looking like a walking skeleton at 5'9"
  • Shammah71
    Shammah71 Posts: 6 Member
    edited January 2016
    Rather than using the original BMI rating which is not that accurate for either short people or tall people (like myself at 6' 2") I used the new algorithm. The original BMI had an equation that did not take into account anyone taller or shorter than average. As a result, the orignal BMI calculated my ideal weight at like ~180 lbs, which for my larger muscular frame would make me look like a skelaton.

    After doing research I discoverd a newer more accurate algorithm at: https://people.maths.ox.ac.uk/trefethen/bmi_calc.html

    The new BMI equated me as overweight rather than obese which is more ideal and accurate. It presented my ideal weight at 205 lbs at the top-end which is more ideal form my size and frame.
  • whooRAWRowlbear
    whooRAWRowlbear Posts: 47 Member
    My "midpoint" goal weight is based on the BMI I need to be at for my healthcare discount (27.0, so 137-ish). But my final goal weight is one that I feel I will be happy with reaching, though I'm flexible about it. So if I'm happy at a slightly heavier weight (while still being healthy), then I'll start shifting to maintenance earlier.
  • ilex70
    ilex70 Posts: 727 Member
    Moving target here. First was under 200 (done), next is 185 to move out of obese into overweight. I plan for that to be my "ceiling" long term.

    Then 175 because that is what I weighed prior to a cross country move a couple of years ago.

    Then 165, which I could be honestly comfortable at long term. Been there before, felt good and could shop most anywhere.

    157 is the smallest I've been at my adult height...ever I think. But I didn't/couldn't maintain it in the past. I was my adult height and 200 pounds at age 13.

    Per some body fat calculations something in the neighborhood of 145 would put me under 25% body fat presuming I don't add lean mass.

    The last two are "stretch" goals at this point.
  • gkingbr
    gkingbr Posts: 292 Member
    i picked my weight goal off of my weight when i was 20 and was able to run/jog a 5 k without prepping for it.
    this is my initial number. once i get close to it i ma adjust it up or down a bit.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Initial target was my favourite adult weight (from 30 years ago!).
    Then made a series of small steps downwards over the next year or so based on how I looked, felt and my cycling goals.

    Maintenance range is 7 - 11lbs under my initial target and is near top end of healthy BMI range.
  • gramarye
    gramarye Posts: 586 Member
    edited January 2016
    I looked at BMI, but I don't feel like I can realistically maintain what's considered a "normal" weight for my height. I'd yo-yo and hate myself.

    Instead, I considered what I wanted to look like (as my decision to lose weight was always about vanity), looked at my estimated TDEE at various goal weights, and picked the one that seemed like it would both appease my vanity while allowing me to maintain at my preferred eating habits. (Which is 165, maaaaaybe 150 at the lowest if I get to 165 and decide I hate that.)
  • KatEmmaMarie
    KatEmmaMarie Posts: 64 Member
    When I first started out on my weight loss journey 4 years ago I set small goal weights. I started at around 196lbs and set my first goal to 160. Once I reached 160 I decided to set another 10 lbs and see how I felt. When I reached 150 I realized I was feeling amazing and that according to my height (I'm 5'1'') I still had some weight to lose so I set my goal to 130. After I reached 130 I decided to set it to 125. I reached 121-124 fluctations and maintained that as my "happy weight".

    Due to life style changes I gained about 15 pounds and have been maintaining at the 137 weight area and I've just felt gross and not so happy, especially since all my jeans don't fit comfortably anymore.
    So I am back here to reach that 121-124 range again, I am only about 8-10 pounds away now :)

    I say that as long as you're within your healthy weight/BMI range, just do what feels good for your body. If trying to reach the lower end of your BMI/weight range makes you cranky and unhappy because you feel starved, then adjust it until you're not miserable!

    Also, setting the short term goal weights really helped me reach my final long term weight.
  • thereshegoesagain
    thereshegoesagain Posts: 1,056 Member
    I've been overweight/obese most of my life. I was 55 years old, 5'6 and weighed 248 when my dr. told me I was morbidly obese. She told me to get to 165.
    3 years later I am finally at 164 and my new dr. told me to get to 160 and see how I feel. That still has me in the overweight category, but I'm guessing they both gave me those goals due to my history of being overweight for so long and not wanting me to have a goal that feels unattainable.
    I'm close to the goal and feeling fabulous, but am open to adjusting my final goal.
  • afatpersonwholikesfood
    afatpersonwholikesfood Posts: 577 Member
    Since the beginning, I haven't had a specific number in mind. I knew I wanted to be below specific numbers and out of the morbidly obese category. My doctor sat down with me and wanted me to choose an actual goal, so we discussed and came up with a goal that is actually in the overweight range of BMI. It'll give me a BMI of 28. Why?

    - I feel it's more realistic. I've achieved that weight before.
    - I can always reassess when I get there.
    - I'll feel more comfortable with my body having just a little bit more to it.
    - My original BMI was 55. Even if I stopped and maintained right now at my current BMI of 36, that's a world of difference and risk.

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