When do I go into maintenance mode?

csatemp

I am trying to figure out what weight I should set my goals for and maintain and I am not sure which is healthy according to my body size. Is there a way I could calculate which weight is good for me?

sollyn23l2

Look at the BMI chart for your sex, age, and height.

AnnPT77

If you have a fair amount to lose, don't worry about it until you get close. Once you do get close you'll be able to feel and see that you're near, and you can make a better estimate of how much more you want to lose.

Even then, you can just keep losing until you decide you're where you want to be, as long as you don't have a severely distorted body image.

Ifyou're just starting, or on the way but not close to any potential goal weight, know this: What you input as your goal weight makes zero difference in the calorie goal MFP will give you. It asks for that, but just uses it in motivational messages or progress charts. You can change your mind about goal weight multiple times along the way, no problem.

The only point goal weight really matters is the moment you decide you've lost enough, so it's time to add back calories to stabilize at that weight.

One tip: If you're not certain about a good goal weight, but are getting close and need advice, talk to your doctor or similar health professional, not friends/family. Friends/family IME often think we've lost too much even before we reach a healthy weight, because they're so used to how we looked before, and get kind of freaked out by the weight loss.

springlering62

Keep an open mind, too. And open eyes.

When I started, I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d reach my first goal. It my second. Or my third goal weight.

As nutty as it sounds, I was so amazed and just smitten by my own awesomeness at succeeding, I got greedy. I thought my final goal ought to be my wedding day (mid 1980’s) weight of 125.

I got as low as 127 before my trainer, who’d been worried, had the gumption to say something. Actually, what she said was “you’re too thin. Knock it off or I’m dropping you.” She followed up with a couple of photos she’d taken when I wasn’t looking, and the shock of seeing myself snapped some sense into my head.

Weight sits differently on us after many years, or even just being heavier and losing a large amount. It’s going to rearrange itself and sit where it wants to, and it’s not going to look at all like it did 30+ years ago.

I’m now sitting at about 149, but have built a lot of muscle. That’s another thing. Muscle is heavier than fat and can skew your BMI numbers. I sometimes run within three or four pounds of “overweight” BMI if I get sloppy. But even then, I’m still wearing most the clothes I wore at 127 and remain a consistent size 4. I’ve jettisoned a few clothes with too tight sleeves or thighs simply because they don’t fit comfortably over muscle. And btw, you’d never know I even had those muscles unless I strip down to workout gear. I’m not PopEye.

That’s 20 pounds “heavier” than I was when I got too low, and still a similar size

All this to say, as you get close to what you think is your goal, be mindful you may need to adjust up or down for health and/or appearance reasons There’s no harm and no foul in making that adjustment. You do you , booboo, as one of my favorite instructors says