How do you know what your final weight goal should be?
Hanfordrose
Posts: 688 Member
This morning I weighed in at 173.2 pounds. I haven’t been that weight in 48 years!
I was 21 years old, when my body was this small; and I didn’t stay at that weight for very long. Now, I am 69 years old; and my body has really changed over those years…years of self-inflicted abuse, carrying around huge amounts of fat. My average weight during all those very fat years was somewhere between 240 pounds and the high 280’s. I stretched my youthful skin so much that my new body looks more like droopy sacks of fat hanging over thinning framework of skin and bones.
I’m not crazy enough to think that I will ever have the money to surgically removing the hanging, stretched out skin from under my arms, between my thighs and sliding down from my now flattening belly. I consider that a vain waste of money. My old hubbie likes ‘my not so perfect body’. He even says that my sagging, “little butt” looks cute. I am sure glad that his vision isn’t so good. :laugh:
However…in recent weeks, I have been questioning my current end goal that I set up on my MFP ticker. I arbitrarily chose 145 pound as my end weight, back when I was about 200 pounds. I don’t even know why I chose that number. Now, that I am getting closer to the 160’s, I am beginning to question exactly where the rest of that lost weight will be come from? Besides the flab under my arms, between my thighs and under my belly, I am down to a fairly lean body for this old girl. Even my sagging boobies have little left to give. I am far from the 46DD's that I was back lugging around, when I was in the high 280’s.
I can see and feel my ribs. My thighs are thin, and I can feel the shape of the long, narrow muscles and femur below. In fact, the muscles in my butt are now so thin that it hurts to sit in a hard chair. I am sitting on bone, not meat anymore.
So, back to the question…am I actually getting to a point, when I should be considering ‘a maintenance weight’…maybe in the mid-160’s? Should I even be trying to get into the mid-140’s? Is that number too low for an older lady who can’t get the excess skin cut off? I don’t want to just keep losing weight to reach some ideal number that is more suitable for a younger, fitter body and perhaps not healthy for me.
The ideal weights on the medical charts don’t seem to really reflect the bodies of older people. I have been asking a lot of women about their weight. I am shocked to find that many women are my weight or more who I think look very attractive and healthy. I was actually surprised to find out that I weigh less than any of the adult women in my church, including the ones in their 20’s.
I would sure appreciate some ‘kind advice’. I don't need or want 'put downs'...just considered words from people who may be able to help me. Please don’t start talking about BMI or any of those other letters that mean almost nothing to me. Just tell me how you made your choice of a goal weight. I would especially like to hear from some of the ‘old girls’ (over 50) on MFP. I think that you may understand the question better, because your body has aged like mine.
By the way…whatever my final goal weight, I will still continue to work out, in the hope that I can still tighten up some that hanging flab…with or without additional lost pounds. I am not looking for a way out of doing exercise to tone up what I have left.
I was 21 years old, when my body was this small; and I didn’t stay at that weight for very long. Now, I am 69 years old; and my body has really changed over those years…years of self-inflicted abuse, carrying around huge amounts of fat. My average weight during all those very fat years was somewhere between 240 pounds and the high 280’s. I stretched my youthful skin so much that my new body looks more like droopy sacks of fat hanging over thinning framework of skin and bones.
I’m not crazy enough to think that I will ever have the money to surgically removing the hanging, stretched out skin from under my arms, between my thighs and sliding down from my now flattening belly. I consider that a vain waste of money. My old hubbie likes ‘my not so perfect body’. He even says that my sagging, “little butt” looks cute. I am sure glad that his vision isn’t so good. :laugh:
However…in recent weeks, I have been questioning my current end goal that I set up on my MFP ticker. I arbitrarily chose 145 pound as my end weight, back when I was about 200 pounds. I don’t even know why I chose that number. Now, that I am getting closer to the 160’s, I am beginning to question exactly where the rest of that lost weight will be come from? Besides the flab under my arms, between my thighs and under my belly, I am down to a fairly lean body for this old girl. Even my sagging boobies have little left to give. I am far from the 46DD's that I was back lugging around, when I was in the high 280’s.
I can see and feel my ribs. My thighs are thin, and I can feel the shape of the long, narrow muscles and femur below. In fact, the muscles in my butt are now so thin that it hurts to sit in a hard chair. I am sitting on bone, not meat anymore.
So, back to the question…am I actually getting to a point, when I should be considering ‘a maintenance weight’…maybe in the mid-160’s? Should I even be trying to get into the mid-140’s? Is that number too low for an older lady who can’t get the excess skin cut off? I don’t want to just keep losing weight to reach some ideal number that is more suitable for a younger, fitter body and perhaps not healthy for me.
The ideal weights on the medical charts don’t seem to really reflect the bodies of older people. I have been asking a lot of women about their weight. I am shocked to find that many women are my weight or more who I think look very attractive and healthy. I was actually surprised to find out that I weigh less than any of the adult women in my church, including the ones in their 20’s.
I would sure appreciate some ‘kind advice’. I don't need or want 'put downs'...just considered words from people who may be able to help me. Please don’t start talking about BMI or any of those other letters that mean almost nothing to me. Just tell me how you made your choice of a goal weight. I would especially like to hear from some of the ‘old girls’ (over 50) on MFP. I think that you may understand the question better, because your body has aged like mine.
By the way…whatever my final goal weight, I will still continue to work out, in the hope that I can still tighten up some that hanging flab…with or without additional lost pounds. I am not looking for a way out of doing exercise to tone up what I have left.
0
Replies
-
Do you feel healthy? Does your Doctor think you are healthy? That is what I think matters not a number on the scales. And I have a feeling you are at a lower weight your extra skin probably weighs more than you think . Go get a check up have the Doctor run your blood work and go from there.0
-
Congratulations on your weight loss!! If i were you, I would probably go into maintenance phase now and let yourself settle in to this new lower weight. Concentrate on maintaining your new, much healthier self. Even a 10 percent weight loss is so very beneficial, and look how much you've lost! Maybe you can do some low impact strength and aerobics classes to keep your bone density in check.0
-
Do you feel healthy? Does your Doctor think you are healthy? That is what I think matters not a number on the scales. And I have a feeling you are at a lower weight your extra skin probably weighs more than you think . Go get a check up have the Doctor run your blood work and go from there.
I have been under doctors and surgeon care for the past few years, as I began losing weight with the goal of getting knee replacement surgery. That surgery is now complete, and I actually have an appointment with my GP in the morning. My blood was don't again during this past month, and I will definitely be asking for my GP's opinion tomorrow. I know that she is very proud of my effort and persistence in my sticking with my food plan, my weight loss, my work outs and my willingness to follow all the orders from her, the surgeons, my physical therapist and even a nutritionist who may need to see again real soon.
I do feel healthy. I just don't know what would be a good normal weight for me.0 -
Hi,
Seems that with your doctor's advice and how you feel should tell you what is best for you. I know I have put 150 as my goal weight but if I feel great and looking good it may end up being higher. I have lost 90 lbs before and put it back on, I was 175 .lbs at my smallest and felt good then. Really a personal matter. And I know about the loose skin, was like that the last time I lost. Now I already see it starting again with just 18 lbs lost so not looking forward to that part. No exercise will get rid of it all, but like you, I have a loving husband that loves me however I am.0 -
I am paying no attention to the charts. I have some adorable size 16's with rhinestones that I want to fit back into. In the meantime my 20's will do.
I am a full 6 feet tall. I will be overjoyed when I reach 198 and then it's all just coasting. We all have different goals and I respect them all and the effort it takes.0 -
So, back to the question…am I actually getting to a point, when I should be considering ‘a maintenance weight’…maybe in the mid-160’s? Should I even be trying to get into the mid-140’s? Is that number too low for an older lady who can’t get the excess skin cut off? I don’t want to just keep losing weight to reach some ideal number that is more suitable for a younger, fitter body and perhaps not healthy for me.
The ideal weights on the medical charts don’t seem to really reflect the bodies of older people. I have been asking a lot of women about their weight. I am shocked to find that many women are my weight or more who I think look very attractive and healthy. I was actually surprised to find out that I weigh less than any of the adult women in my church, including the ones in their 20’s.
I would sure appreciate some ‘kind advice’. I don't need or want 'put downs'...just considered words from people who may be able to help me. Please don’t start talking about BMI or any of those other letters that mean almost nothing to me. Just tell me how you made your choice of a goal weight. I would especially like to hear from some of the ‘old girls’ (over 50) on MFP. I think that you may understand the question better, because your body has aged like mine.
By the way…whatever my final goal weight, I will still continue to work out, in the hope that I can still tighten up some that hanging flab…with or without additional lost pounds. I am not looking for a way out of doing exercise to tone up what I have left.
Congratulations on the weight loss! I've followed your story like a lot of other people and am so happy you've gotten your mobility and health back. What a wonderful husband you have.
I'm age 59 and 5'3". I weighed somewhere in the 180s when I started to lose weight last spring. I went down to 135 by the end of summer. I probably should weigh about 125, going by my stomach, but the weight loss is wrecking my skin. My neck looks wrinkled now where I didn't have any wrinkles before. I can't see myself getting a facelift... that seems so expensive and vain (how many starving kids or cats and dogs could I rescue with that money?). Other than that, I look and feel great. I pulled my goal weight, the figure 130, out of the air. I've never reached it but have been maintaining at 135 for 4 months now with very little exercise because of winter (I walk outside). 135 is well within normal for my height. I decided I will be happy as long as I stay in the 130s.0 -
I wonder the same thing. My stomach looks big and gross still.... but now that I'm down to sacks of loose fat hanging in droopy envelopes of skin that fall to the side when I'm lying down to reveal very pronounced pelvic bones and ribs sticking out, I don't know how realistic it is to expect another 25 pounds to come off without it being muscle at this point because I'm pretty sure the "big gross" stomach is really mostly excess skin now. I do know that under some circumstances some excess skin removal can be covered under msp in Canada, though. So if through some miracle that might apply to me I want to make sure that I've gotten to ''ideal'' weight for my height and stayed there for at least a year as well as having done all the ''right'' toning exercises etc so that I don't get to an appointment to ask about that and have them tell me ''well, we want you to try this, that, or the other thing before we'll consider surgery". So even if it ends up not being a healthy weight for me, I'm all for hanging out at a weight that's too low for a while if it'll get me to that end goal. I mean, I've never had any illusions that my body would be such that it would ever allow for wearing a bikini, but at this point I wouldn't even be caught dead in a shorts and t-shirt, so I'd definitely take the surgery if I could. I hate that I have to cover up more now than I ever did when I was fatter.0
-
I have a goal weight in mind but have NOT settled on it. I want to feel comfortable and happy and I want my tummy to be smaller and right now that's the only reason I'm still trying, because I'm good with everything else. But that stubborn tummy fat has got to go at some point. I refuse to set my goal weight based on all that. Just go till your comfortable and stop when you think your there. If you find you really aren't happy there then you can pick up and lose some more, your already a pro at it if you've gotten this far and can maintain:happy:0
-
Your amazing!
I think its where you feel comfortable and your healthy
I don't know that I personally want to feel like I a struggling every day to keep my goal weight just because I arbitrarily chose a number months prior.
I have a lot of weight on my stomach that needs to go and I worry every day about the skin and the hanging fat pouches. My arms and the inside of my upper thighs are already starting to look really deflated and saggy
That being said, I know that as I get close to goal the only people who will really see any of that is my partner... and in clothes i will look a million bucks! 0 -
My initial goal weight was come to with my doctor and I having a honest discussion, I am 45, 5'2" and based on my age and body type we decided on 175, I started at 244.
I was okay with that and when I told a good friend on mine she commented - and when you get there you may want to continue, that comment was hard to take and so I deceided to change my goal to 150, in my 20's I was 130 so I think this is reasonable in some ways
When I reached 175, surprisingly I was told I looked good and should consider stopping, I have been told that by several people that I trust but I am not ready to stop just yet. I understand the skin issue, since aging and losing weight have come simultaneously it's a lot going on. I'm single and though I don't want to stay that way I am not excited about the other option
I hope with time some of my skin will tone up.
I think you should try maintenance and with a healthy diet and an active lifestyle you will ultimately be the happiest.
Congratulations on your weight loss.0 -
There is no harm to maintain for a bit, let the skin bounce back as much as it can, and then re-evaluate your goals! I came to decide my goal weight (150lbs) based on the BMI and figured it was a nice number as I started at 250lbs! I plan to re-evaluate at 150, perhaps lose another 10lbs and then start focusing more on body recomposition and hopefully gain another 10lbs in muscle.
Great job on the loss!0 -
Congratulations! You've done amazing things.
First, everything you've done has made you healthier. If that's your goal, you could stop.
There are healthy weight ranges you can find at the NIH. http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/index.html
But a lot of guidelines say basically you should weigh what you did when you were 21 - full adult height. You're there!0 -
I don't have an answer for you as I will eventually have the same issues so I'm interested in the responses you get. I did want to say that you look beautiful and wanted to congratulate you on getting healthy.0
-
Congratulations on your loss so far!
What is your height? I know you don't want to know about BMI calculations but they are a good way of finding a weight range that is healthy. Extensive research has been done and found that (at the population level, anyway) people who have a BMI of 20-25 (roughly) have fewer lifestyle related diseases and lower mortality.
I chose my goal weight based on this and decided on the upper range of 75kg/165lbs. I've been this weight before, my body seemed to "settle" at this weight and I felt and looked great. I will reassess when I get closer, however, and see if things have changed since then. Talk to your GP, get her to work out your BMI and go on how you feel when you get there. I don't think the excess skin will be a problem when calculating your goal weight, I'd worry more about visceral fat deposits because they have greater health implications.
I wish you continued success and many healthy years with those you love :flowerforyou:0 -
Congratulations on your loss so far!
What is your height? I know you don't want to know about BMI calculations but they are a good way of finding a weight range that is healthy. Extensive research has been done and found that (at the population level, anyway) people who have a BMI of 20-25 (roughly) have fewer lifestyle related diseases and lower mortality.
Yes, I did forget to list my height. I am 5' 4" which is short.0 -
Haha I love your frank candor!! The number on the scale is less important than we make it out to be. I suggest you transition to maintenance and start lifting weights to raise your metabolism and protect your bone density if you are happy with your weight as it is.
CONGRATS on your success!!:flowerforyou:0 -
I know you are so proud of yourself. I am going to be 40, so I know that maybe you think I don't have some of your aging issues, but I have lost 80 pounds three times (almost, working on that last 80 still). I joke that I look a bit like a shar pei at this point, but last time I went to see my GP, I was 178 (I'm 10 pounds heavier now), and she told me I should be done. She said "anymore weight would just be insurance for you. Your build and musculature wont let you get much thinner than 160 or so." I am 5"7" and wear a size 10 at 178...
So the whole point of the story was you have to stop when you feel that you look and feel your best. At your age the newer goal (I think) should be how much muscle mass can you retain to keep up bone density and avoid falls due to poor balance. (God, I hope that didn't sound as offensive as my mind made it sound). So maybe switch to maintenance and begin to work on core strength more? What ever you choose to do, I wish you the best!:drinker:0 -
Amazing work!! Just amazing!
I tried to calculate my bf% and my lean body mass, made the assumption that I would retain most of my lean body mass then back calculate what weight I would be at to have a bf% of 21. That came up really really low, like into the unhealthy bmi range) so I figured 140 lbs would be good and I can work on a recomp then.0 -
I would consult a surgeon about having a body lift. 3 of my older aunts in their 60's have done this & gotten rid of huge amounts of excess skin. They are much happier now....0
-
It depends on how muscular you are, but as a rough starting point aim for the weight that puts you in the range for a healthy BMI. If you work out and are more muscular at all, then add at least five pounds to that since BMI is only a rough estimate and not very accurate if your body fat is lower than the average.
Weight alone is not the best indicator of fitness, though. Get a skin fold caliper to get an estimate for your actual body fat percentage. You can pick one up on eBay or amazon for about five bucks and they do take a while to learn to take accurate measurements, but you'll still get a good ballpark estimate by measuring a few spots. Once you set a reasonable body fat goal for yourself, it's basic math to figure out where you are now and what weight range your target would put you at.0 -
Congratulations on your loss so far!
What is your height? I know you don't want to know about BMI calculations but they are a good way of finding a weight range that is healthy. Extensive research has been done and found that (at the population level, anyway) people who have a BMI of 20-25 (roughly) have fewer lifestyle related diseases and lower mortality.
Yes, I did forget to list my height. I am 5' 4" which is short.
At 5' 4" your BMI is 29.7 (in the overweight category) at your current weight of 173 pounds. Your original goal of 145 pounds puts you at a BMI of 24.9, on the higher side of a normal weight. I think the best thing to do is discuss it with your doctor and decide between yourselves which is the best thing for you
.0 -
For me, my ideal weight for forever, is what I weighed when I was 19.
But the answer to your question is, you're ideal weight should be whatever you feel comfortable with! I think it would be wonderful to go into maintenance mode now if that's what you want. I actually lost more weight at the beginning when I transitioned to maintenance.0 -
Sue, I agree with you about how maybe the charts shouldn't apply to all ages across the board. I also agree with whoever said that some of your weight will likely the weight of the excess skin.
I am the same height as you, and don't know yet what my goal weight will be. I do know a couple of things, though... when I was in my 20s, 145 looked and felt heavy. When I got down to that weight again in my 40s, I looked and felt much slimmer. Not sure why... just body composition changes, I guess. Now, I am in my 60s, and my main goal is to just look "normal"... and not any more wrinkly than I have to. I have a feeling that I'd look more gaunt than I wanted, if I attempted to get to 145 now. I'm thinking of 160-170 myself... but will know better when I get there. It partly depends on how much I'm able to tone up my muscles.0 -
I agree, Sue. It is a real struggle to decide where to come to a stop. I have been so focused on losing weight for the last 4.5 years that I have a hard time saying.. "Enough is enough." I, as well, can see my ribs, hip bones and collarbones, however, I am still at 185#. It feels like failure to stop losing when the BMI calculator says you're still overweight. However, I would need to weigh 159 in order to crack into that Healthy BMI range. Knowing I have a minimum 10-15 pounds of excess skin after losing 200+ pounds, I cannot imagine getting down to 159 on the scale. THe number wouldn't be accurate for me with the excess skin factored in. I am looking to 175 as a stopping point right now. I guess I will see how I feel at that point. Oh, and I am 5'7" 0
-
I have had the same dilemma as you. I have been maintaining now for almost 3 months, but still struggle with whether I should lose another 5 pounds or so, because I didn't get down to my original goal weight. I have been maintaining at 163 give or take a couple pounds. I am 65 years old and 5'6" tall. I am wearing size 6 or 8 in skirts and dresses and a small in most tops. I have the same loose skin issues as you have, and it doesn't seem to bother my hubby at all. lol I am large framed and since I have been doing strength training for over a year now, I have some pretty good muscles inside all that extra skin. I am wearing the same size cloths as my 28 year old daughter who is a couple inches taller than me and about weighs 5 or 10 pounds less than I do. Everyone I tell that I am thinking about losing 5 or so more pounds tells me I don't need to lose any more. My blood pressure is now normal and my cholesterol numbers are really good now also. I feel so much better, and have recently started jogging some, which I never thought I would be able to do at my age. So, all that considered I am thinking that maybe I should just be happy where I am and stop feeling frustrated that I didn't reach my "goal". Maybe I just didn't have a realistic goal in mind to begin with. Another consideration is choosing a weight that we will be able to maintain reasonably.0
-
Congratulations on your loss so far!
What is your height? I know you don't want to know about BMI calculations but they are a good way of finding a weight range that is healthy. Extensive research has been done and found that (at the population level, anyway) people who have a BMI of 20-25 (roughly) have fewer lifestyle related diseases and lower mortality.
Yes, I did forget to list my height. I am 5' 4" which is short.
At 5'4" I'd say a good goal is 140-1500 -
I have wrestled with the same question. At one point I had a goal of 165 which would have just put me under the overweight category on BMI. Now I am trying to maintain around 175.
My focus has switched from weight loss to body recomposition. I am battling sarcopenia by lifting weights and eating enough to help me improve my strength without gaining weight. It is an interesing balancing act.
I agree with others that you should try to maintain weight for a while. But what do I know about it? I'm a guy.0 -
When you look in the mirror and you're like 'DAMN SHE FINE!'0
-
I initially chose 140,which is where I was in my low 20's. When I got there, I still saw lots of areas to improve, because under the fat wasn't muscle. I dropped my goal to 130. Same. Dropped it to 125. Stayed there for a while ( I am also 5'4"). I still don't see myself as thin. I am dead center of the BMI normal numbers. I still see the saggy skin and the muffin top that I never had before I had kids. My back fat roll is gone though! I can still feel lots of fat under my skin. I dropped my goal again, this time to 120 although I would still like to get to 115. I would like to build up muscle but it is really hard unless I want to do the gain weight/bulk then lose weight/cut thing. While I still have a lower weight number in mind, I am more paranoid of gaining fat than anything else, and have running goals now. I am signed up for a 5 mile trail run in April (I recently discovered trail runs are much harder on the knees down than road running), and a 10 mile race in October. So while I would LOVE to get rid of this fat and sag and mushiness, I want to do well on the running.
I guess my "goal" has changed from a weight goal to a fitness goal.0 -
I have been told that meeting the bmi will make me look like a drug addict and I think that maybe true for older people. Our skin is thinning and like you said, it makes it tough on the butt bones. I would go with a weight that makes you feel comfortable. No one knows your body like you do. If you feel it is time to maintain then do so. Go with your gut. My doctor told me to go with what my body tell me. He said BMI and government weight charts are for a general guide line. But we are not general, we are all specific only to ourselves, and we know when we feel good and that is not necessarily when the charts say we should. I am so happy for you and I wish you nothing but the best.0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 426 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions