How to determine goal weight?

maidengirl_

Hi all!

Quick run down. I've lost 48 pounds in a little over a year. I'm actually close to reaching my initial goal weight of 140 (I'm like 4 pounds away) but my stomach is still kind of big. I decided to change my goal weight to 130 (I'm 5'5). I'm at the lowest weight I've ever been in my adult life so finding it kind of difficult figuring out what my goal weight should be. Any tips on determining your goal weight? Did you just keep losing until you were satisfied with your weight? I don't want to get too thin.

lemonychild

I think when you reach your initial goal you should go into maintenance for your new 140- you have to learn how to maintain 50 lbs off .. once u have maintained for a while, it's easy to go into a cut again

TavistockToad

130 isnt particularly low for your height - its roughly my goal weight too.

as above, when you get to 140 you can always maintain for a bit, and then start losing slowly again.

neldabg

I've been overweight/obese my whole life, so I understand how it feels like to choose a goal. I ended up losing a couple more pounds after reaching my original goal weight before maintaining. I say go for what feels good as long as the goal falls within the recommended BMI range for your height and age.

VintageFeline

You're about where my initial goal weight is. My strategy is going to be like you, to reassess once I'm there. But I'll be switching to recomp close to that time too (small deficit, strength training) and slowly lose until I can see I am closer to where I want to be and then fully recomp by eating at maintenance.

I would also take pictures and try to be objective, sometimes we see things that in reality aren't actually there!

size102b

Go by measurements pick clothes size you'd like to be find the measurements go with that BMI is outdated I was a uk 12 at 167lbs 5 ft 2 if I went to my BMI of 24 I'd be 120lbs I'd look gaunt

rainbow198

Congrats on your progress!

I was overweight almost all of my adult life. I didn't know how I would look at a particular weight. I did have a goal dress size/measurement range I would have loved to be in though and I just wanted to be in the normal range of the BMI.

So I let my goal weight range pick me. I kept going until one day I was really happy with my size.

I eventually lost another size over the next 2 years of maintenance, but stayed the same weight (recomp), but for me looking back, it was great not stressing out over reaching a particular weight.

Makeitso39

Similar here. I'm 5'6, currently 136 pounds. My goal was 124, (I was that weight 5 years ago), but I now feel that'll be too skinny for me. So I've slowed to 250 deficit and started some resistance training to creep down to 130. Then I'd like to recomp.

Edited: congratulations on your weight loss!

mcraw75

I use this.
http://www.fat2fittools.com/tools/ibw/

maidengirl_

Thank you all for your suggestions!

JeanieWww

hmm I think I wouldn't go so much by weight but by how healthy you are and how you feel. If you feel you could lose a few more, then try for it. Also realize that we are our own worst critic. Do what you feel is best for YOU.

cwolfman13

Rather than setting an arbitrary number that is made up of many things, I'd take into account BF% and composition as well.

amyepdx

My first goal is to cross into normal bmi (5'5" - 149) which will be my lowest weight since 1995! I just crossed into overweight from obese today so I'm excited! One I hit 25 bmi, I'll tweak to figure a maintenance range that lets me wear a size 8. I'd also like to work towards 30% BF. Total loss so far = 93 lbs

__TMac__

I'm working toward a healthy body-fat level as my first goal. Then I'll get another (somewhat more accurate) BF test done, the results of which I'll use to set my maintenance range.

LiveLoveFitFab

I'm at 158, starting weight 168. I plan on getting to a healthy bmi at around 145 and then working on sticking to maintenance and lifting heavy for a few months. Just to give my body a chance to get used to eating at maintenance and to give me a little break. If after a few months I want to go on another cut, my hope is that I will have put on a little bit of muscle to make up for the muscle lost from eating at a deficit for a few months and then I will be able to lose the last 10 healthy and easily.

You've just spent a whole year - congratulations by the way!, cutting calories and getting to a healthy weight. Sometimes it's okay to give your body a break from calorie counting while working on fitness goals. Take it to the next level when you are ready. And don't worry about the number on the scale as an end point. I only know my numbers because this is new weight I've put on and I know what I look like at every number. Otherwise, I'd just be going on what I wanted to look like.

After all the work you've put in, you can finally ask yourself - how fit do I want to be? Once you can answer that question everything else will fall into place.

AbelMendoza

Instead of a goal weight, maybe a goal physique? I am on a cut and I usually don't have a goal weight, just kind of a range. Judging on how high my bodfat % is before the cut and what weight I think that I would look lean at.

cerise_noir

I chose my goal by looking at the BMI chart, pointed to the middle of 'normal' and decided that was the general area I was going to aim for.

AnnPT77

All of this is so individual - encompassing differences in our physiques, as well as personal and cultural preferences!

Personally, I just kept losing until I felt like my remaining fat was not conspiring with gravity to pull down (much) on the loose skin, in hopes that that would help let it shrink back as much as it might be willing to do at my age (61 now, 59/60 when losing).

I gradually reduced my deficit by upping calories a little at a time, so I was losing verrrrry sloooowly. Finally, I just woke up one morning - literally - and thought "this is it".

So, my advice would be: Trust yourself to know. Think hard, try to be dispassionate about it, but trust yourself. You can always change your mind later, if you decide you want to - either up or down.

nowine4me

Nice job! I too have been overweight my entire life, so at 5-7" I picked a number (150) that is within a healthy BMI. I hit that 6 months ago and have been maintaining and heavy lifting. I'll be happy if I stay at this weight, but realistically, I'd look much better at 135-140.

TonyB0588

maidengirl_ wrote: »

Hi all!

Quick run down. I've lost 48 pounds in a little over a year. I'm actually close to reaching my initial goal weight of 140 (I'm like 4 pounds away) but my stomach is still kind of big. I decided to change my goal weight to 130 (I'm 5'5). I'm at the lowest weight I've ever been in my adult life so finding it kind of difficult figuring out what my goal weight should be. Any tips on determining your goal weight? Did you just keep losing until you were satisfied with your weight? I don't want to get too thin.

Based on various charts available online, 130 would be okay, but 140 is also within the recommended range for your height.

Rocknut53

AnnPT77 wrote: »

All of this is so individual - encompassing differences in our physiques, as well as personal and cultural preferences!

Personally, I just kept losing until I felt like my remaining fat was not conspiring with gravity to pull down (much) on the loose skin, in hopes that that would help let it shrink back as much as it might be willing to do at my age (61 now, 59/60 when losing).

I gradually reduced my deficit by upping calories a little at a time, so I was losing verrrrry sloooowly. Finally, I just woke up one morning - literally - and thought "this is it".

So, my advice would be: Trust yourself to know. Think hard, try to be dispassionate about it, but trust yourself. You can always change your mind later, if you decide you want to - either up or down.

This is me as well. 5'4" and finally hit 130 for the first time in at least 30 years. At that point I decided it was time to work on some additional strength training and not worry about losing pounds. Feeling much stronger and better than I've felt in many years.

lulalacroix

amyepdx wrote: »

My first goal is to cross into normal bmi (5'5" - 149) which will be my lowest weight since 1995! I just crossed into overweight from obese today so I'm excited! One I hit 25 bmi, I'll tweak to figure a maintenance range that lets me wear a size 8. I'd also like to work towards 30% BF. Total loss so far = 93 lbs

Congrats! You must be thrilled. I have 3 more pounds until I enter overweight as opposed to obese. Can't wait!

cnbbnc

I'm 5'4 and had a goal of 125lbs. When I got there I felt the same as you, so I just kept on going until I hit a point I felt more comfortable with. I'm about 115 now.

Congrats on the progress you've made!

maidengirl_

amyepdx wrote: »

My first goal is to cross into normal bmi (5'5" - 149) which will be my lowest weight since 1995! I just crossed into overweight from obese today so I'm excited! One I hit 25 bmi, I'll tweak to figure a maintenance range that lets me wear a size 8. I'd also like to work towards 30% BF. Total loss so far = 93 lbs

That's awesome! I actually started in the obese category at 191 lbs. It took me a few months but once I hit 150 (healthy BMI) range, I was so freaking happy. Keep going! Your hard work will pay off!

Ming1951

Me too, didn't it feel great when your bmi no longer said obese. I recently moved into a "normal" range. Can't believe it!