5’4” - 5’5” females; what is your goal weight range?

gallicinvasion

Hi friends! I started MFP in May 2018 and it truly helped me build some amazing habits. My view of food has completely changed, not to mention I’ve lost about 75 lbs (229 down to 154).

Now that I’ve slowed my weight loss rate to .5 lbs per week on MFP, I’m wondering what similar-built women consider their goal weight range. BMI calculators seem to put the healthy range at 110 to 150 lbs, and ideal weight calculators seem to put the target around 125.

125 seems too low! Maybe my view of my body is skewed, but I feel like at 154 I look “skinny” and I honestly wouldn’t mind looking like this for my adulthood. BMI calculators still put me at overweight, which for my frame honestly doesn’t seem realistic.

I’m hoping to continue to lose, little by little, and then maybe just naturally arrive at maintenance by keeping my calories the same. Maybe that will give me an idea of where I want my body weight to be. But I’m wondering what your personal ideal weight ranges are, just for reference!

TavistockToad

i am currently maintaining, because i cant be bothered with being hungry all the time, my range is 133 - 135lbs.

i'm more bothered about bodyfat than scale weight, but at my current weight i am doing a little recomp to get my bodyfat down a little bit. (i'd estimate i am at something like 24ish% maybe)

Cassandraw3

At 5'4", my initial goal was 145. I'm ok with where I am at, but I would like to lean out a bit more. I'm working to get into a maintenance range of about 140-145, but for the last few months I've been between 145-150. My biggest thing is I would like a lower body fat percentage (currently ~26%, would like to be below 24%). Currently on a very slow cut (about 1 lb/ month)

Personally, I don't like all the "ideal weight" calculators. 154 isn't too far out of the healthy range. If you are comfortable at that weight, nothing says you have to lose more. It is possible your body image is skewed (nearly everyone's is), but if you weight train, 125 very well could be too low. But, every body is different with differing aesthetic goals so everyone will have a different ideal weight.

corysmithsmail

BMI are based on grouping or according to population trends. I think they are better suited as a guide than something definite. People can look differently at the same weight even at the same height. I'm 5'5 and at what I consider my goal/maintenance weight of 165 (I'm 163 technically) and am considered "overweight." But I couldn't imagine being any or much smaller personally. I am trying to lower body fat which inevitably means that I'll lose more weight....but I am not purposely aiming for that.

kimothyschma

I’m 5’5” medium frame and usually maintain between 129-132 (trying to loose a few extra lbs from the holidays but that’s another story). I once got down to 127 but I felt unusually hungry and felt I was looking a little skeletal in the chest area. So you’re not alone in thinking 125 is low. That used to be my goa but I don’t think I really want to get there anymore. At this size a few pounds can really make a difference.

kellycz

I’m 5’5”, female, age 48, aiming for a final range in the low 130s. (I actually set my initial goal at 129 just to see if I could get there since I haven’t seen that number since college, but I look and feel my best around 132). So I think I’ll set my range for 130-134. Currently at 141.

tammylgroves

I’m starting over again since Christmas gain. My goal is 135 my current weight is 209.
But I’m going to see how I feel and what I look like as I go. My overall goal is to have a BMI
Under 30 so I can get breast reduction surgery. Once I can achieve that I will see where things are.
I’m always looking for friends and support on here so I welcome friends requests.

cheryldumais

I'm 62 and 5'5". I started at 251 and ended up at 145 - 150. My original goal was 135 but my weight loss ground to a halt in the 140's. I hadn't been 135 since I was 16 so decided although I am at the high end of normal I would settle where I am. You'll know when you get there.

kimny72

I'm 5'4 and 1/2" Currently settled into the 125-130 range. I'm fine here, but still some tummy and some extra softness I think 5 more lbs would help, so my pie-in-the-sky goal is 120ish. But I also think putting on some muscle will help, hence I'm sitting in this range for awhile trying to decide!

As a possible factor - I was never actually overweight, I just got up to the top of the healthy weight range (145ish) and felt heavy and sluggish so I lost 20 lbs. I have a slight build (tiny wrists and ankles, narrow shoulders) so I'm sure that affects what weight I'm comfortable with. I think it would make sense that how much a person weighs for an extended period of time affects how they see themselves and where they are comfortable, so someone who was 250 at their highest and someone who was 150 at their highest would be comfortable at different goal weights.

And remember, you don't EVER have to pick a weight. You can take an extended break, lose 10 lbs later, decide it was too much gain back 5. It's a moving target!

JBanx256

I'm ~5'5" or a smidgen shorter, and currently sitting right around 150. Pretty low BF% but wanting to do a solid cut, not really sure on end goal bodyweight as it will be a moving target as the cut progresses. I'm thinking roughly 135 though while maintaining as much muscle mass as possible.

RunnerGrl1982

First off, congratulations on your weight loss! That's great!

My story very closely relates to @kimny72. I'm 5'4 and currently 126-127. My starting weight was 148 pounds. Getting to 127-128 was the original "goal weight" range I wanted to hit, and I did.

It took me roughly.....7 months to get there, losing about 3lbs/months. That being said, I'm aiming for another 5ish lbs to put me in the lower 120s.

I'm perfectly happy at my current weight, so I don't have a time table for losing the few extra pounds. Whenever I lose it, is fine.

As others have said, you'll know when you are content with your weight. At the end of the day, It's not always the number on the scale that ultimately matters, but at whatever healthy weight we feel confident in our own skin. (I hope that makes sense...)

Edited for formatting.

juststartedrunningagain

You see I’m 5 ft 5 and ten stone two pounds but look chubby yet my bmi is 23.... so I guess it’s not just in the weight!

born_of_fire74

I'm 5'4" 130+/-2lbs although mostly on the + side since the holiday season hehe. I'd love to get down to under 125lbs some day but that's just a number. I'm currently recomping with the goal of lowering my BF% from ~23% down to ~20%, scale weight be damned! I've been recomping for a while now and have managed to drop a bit of BF, maybe 1% from 24% to my current 23%, while coming up a few pounds from my all time low of 126+/-2lbs.

gallicinvasion

Thanks so much for all your responses! I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one that sees 125 as a little skinny for their frame. Nothing wrong with some padding to keep me warm 😂

gallicinvasion

I really commend those of you doing bulking and cutting cycles. That’s a lot of planning and dedication!

Kyralene

I'm 5'4 and lowest I ever got was 130 and I felt like I still had a belly. I would aim for 120.

rose_drops

My goal is 144. If I was skinnier, I would look very odd.

jennifermi

I don’t have an answer for you but reading this gave me hope. I am 5’5 and started out at 230 3 weeks ago and now at 222. You show me it can be done. Thank you

TexasChic1998

I’m 5 4. 20 years old and my goal is 150.

Mangallegos

I am 5’4”, 45 yrs old, currently 157, almost my heaviest. I feel my best at 135, but haven’t been there for years. I think 125 is too skinny for me. As you get older your face looks older if you get too thin. At this point I will be happy to get into my 140’s. I seem to be having trouble staying motivated. 😜

ItsAJourny

I am 5'5", 60 years old and I also don't know what my goal weight is. I thought it was 128, which I really just picked somewhat randomly, but now I don't know. I started at 169 pounds in early August and I am now 132. I lost the weight by just changing to much healthier foods, listening to my body, and more exercise (no diet or weighing of foods). I feel great and I am going to let my body decide (to a point) what my goal weight is. I am going to keep eating healthily and see where my weight plateaus. If it drops too low, I will work on that but since I have never been too skinny, I don't expect that to happen. The weight is just a number and I think we all have to be comfortable with how we feel and if we can maintain our goal weight. I agree with Kimny who said our goal weights can change over time. I think that's very realistic as our lifestyle changes. Certainly when my kids were young, I could not maintain a weight in the low 130's. It was too much effort along with work and family demands but now as an empty nester it is much easier to take better care of myself and prepare foods that I like and are good for me. Society places so much emphasis on how we look that I applaud each of you for choosing a goal weight that you feel comfortable with and can maintain.

whitpauly

Mangallegos wrote: »

I am 5’4”, 45 yrs old, currently 157, almost my heaviest. I feel my best at 135, but haven’t been there for years. I think 125 is too skinny for me. As you get older your face looks older if you get too thin. At this point I will be happy to get into my 140’s. I seem to be having trouble staying motivated. 😜

This, I'm 45 and started at 157 my goal at first was 130 but I remember being that weight 6 years ago and I looked older! Skeletal too and people would comment on it,I'm at 136 now and I feel OK but need to start weight training more cuz things feel "sludgy" on me

hazellori

I'm 5'5 1/2", 55 yrs. old and currently range between 134 to 137 lbs. For me, the more important numbers are my lean body mass and body fat pounds, including % body fat. Last year my focus was on maintaining my lean body mass while dropping my % body fat. I dropped 9% body fat and gained 1 lb of LBM. This year I am focused on increasing my LBM by 5 lbs. while maintaining my body fat weight at or near 25 lbs. (which means I will weigh in somewhere around 140 lbs). I use scale weight as an indicator of hydration and trend changes. The combination of the tape measure and scale are my go-to tools.

Congrats on your weight loss! In my opinion, your ideal body weight is whatever amount you are healthiest, happiest, and most importantly able to participate and enjoy your life pursuits.

isabelk

I'm 5'4", 160. I used myfitnesspal to lose 20lbs about 8 years ago and maintained that for a few years, and now I'm regretting letting the numbers climb back up and back on it. I injured my back, and that was all the excuse I needed to gain it back.

Last time I weighed this much, I thought 140 was a good target for me, so I'm aiming for that again. I'm down from 165 at the beginning of the year. That seems pretty realistic for my age, which is 46. I was 120 when I finished college, and it was too skinny for me. I looked terrible, and somehow my knees were really fat! So, based on my last experience with myfitnesspal and my lowest adult weight, I don't plan to be any lower than 135.

Roro_H

I’m 5’5. I’m at my heaviest right now weighing in at 124. Never seen that number before! Ive been under a lot of stress and eating larger portions + snacking non stop. I’ve always weigh in at 117. I know I have a smaller frame. Maybe that’s why I’m naturally lighter. This just goes to show, everyone is different.

itsyboo15

5'5" here, sw 209.6, gw 150. Really would like my bmi to just be under 25. We'll see when I get there CW 176.6

csplatt

my goal is 135, but historically i find it difficult to stay below 139. we'll see. i can already tell from 153 to 142 that my back-fat situation is improved.

christeenah89

I’m 5.4 and my goal weight is 154. CW 206, SW 216. I can’t even imagine being below 154! But that could all change the closer I get towards my goal *fingers crossed*

katiegoidich

Y'all are fantastic. 😄
I'm a smidge under 5'5" and have a medium frame. I've been as low as 135lbs, but that was at 19yo and fresh outta bootcamp, so lots of lean muscle and youth on my side. I was about that weight/build again at 30yo. Both times it looked like a healthy weight for my body. I just didn't know a thing about maintaining it! Now, at 40yo and after kiddo, I'm aiming for 135-140lbs.

reflectionofme

I'm 5' 4" and my starting weight was 270 lbs and my goal weight is 135 lbs.

Girlheidi

5"4' was 183, now 154, over 8 months..... feeling much better for it.
Would like to be at a BMI of 25, which is 145......will keep going 😀