Weight Numbers I Should Aim For?

zamphir66

My stats:
39/M, 165 lbs, 5'8", always been skinny (as a teen I was "heroin skinny")

My goals:
Right now, lose weight. Eventually, build muscle. Probably not like extreme bodybuilder type muscle, but I do want to "look good naked."

My question:
So obviously, right now, I'm in the lose weight while preserving muscle phase. I'm eating around 2100 calories a day, exercising 5 days a week, eating lots of protein and watching my other nutrients, etc. What I'm not sure of is the number on the scale where I should say, "Ok, time to up the calories and resistance work." And then, when to stop doing that and ... you get the idea. My completely uneducated estimate is to stop shedding at about 140-145. Then work back up to about 160. But I just don't know.

Thanks!

kimny72

zamphir66 wrote: »

My stats:
39/M, 165 lbs, 5'8", always been skinny (as a teen I was "heroin skinny")

My goals:
Right now, lose weight. Eventually, build muscle. Probably not like extreme bodybuilder type muscle, but I do want to "look good naked."

My question:
So obviously, right now, I'm in the lose weight while preserving muscle phase. I'm eating around 2100 calories a day, exercising 5 days a week, eating lots of protein and watching my other nutrients, etc. What I'm not sure of is the number on the scale where I should say, "Ok, time to up the calories and resistance work." And then, when to stop doing that and ... you get the idea. My completely uneducated estimate is to stop shedding at about 140-145. Then work back up to about 160. But I just don't know.

Thanks!

The healthy weight range for your height is 125-163 lbs. Obviously this is a generality and not a rule, but it gives you an idea. When to stop losing is really up to you. How you feel, how you look, how easily you can eat the calories and maintain the activity required to stay there - they all play a role. How much muscle you carry will play a role too: two men of the same height and weight but one at 15% BF and one at 23% will look and feel different. Getting a physical with routine bloodwork and discussing your health with your doctor is important too.

As far as determining when to bulk/cut, I have no experience there so can't help you there.

JBanx256

kimny72 wrote: »

The healthy weight range for your height is 125-163 lbs. Obviously this is a generality and not a rule, but it gives you an idea. When to stop losing is really up to you. How you feel, how you look, how easily you can eat the calories and maintain the activity required to stay there - they all play a role. How much muscle you carry will play a role too: two men of the same height and weight but one at 15% BF and one at 23% will look and feel different. Getting a physical with routine bloodwork and discussing your health with your doctor is important too.

As far as determining when to bulk/cut, I have no experience there so can't help you there.

OP - I'm FEMALE, 5'4" (so a little shorter than you, but not drastically), and this is me at just under 140 lbs. So unless you're aiming to be "skinny fat," my PERSONAL OPINION is that your weight goal is pretty freakin' low. As @kimny72 said, people with different builds can look drastically different at the same height/weight, but 5'8" at 140 lbs for a male leaves pretty much zero room for any sort of muscle on your frame. My $0.02 is start lifting heavy, start building some muscle, don't sweat your weight too much at the moment; dial in your diet a bit and you'll potentially be gaining some weight even as you lean out (eg, + muscle and - fat). Once again, that's just my perspective on it & above all else, it's your body so the choice is totally yours. Just throwin' that out on the table.

acedawg96

@JBanx256 this is super inspiring for me. I am 41, 5'4" and coming in at about 138. For the past 5 weeks I have gotten back into my fitness routine (started with 45 min cardio, light weights 6 days a week for four weeks and dropped 8 pounds to 135. Now for the past week have gone to heavier weight training and light cardio 6 days a week and gained 3 pounds!) and was struggling to not see the pounds shred off the scale. My clothes fit amazing, I look and feel great, but the scale had my mind twisted. Your photo is the reminder I needed that the scale is only to be used as a guide and to use the changes in my body as proof of the hard work I am putting in. Thank you!