How did you decide on a goal weight?

AsellusReborn

So, my stats - 5'3 and currently 144. I started at 196...well, 196+.

I have changed my life in the past year and a half...done things that were impossible. I started running. I have run four half marathons, am training for a 5th and a full marathon in the fall...my body is so different.

When I was in HS due to poverty, my weight ranged between 120 and 140 (at one point my weight hit 100, but it was far too low). So I picked 120 as my goal weight when I started...and realistically my goal weight didn't really mean anything when I had that much weight to lose.

But as I get closer, I realize that 120, while technically healthy for my height, wasn't healthy on my frame.

At 144, I'm almost in the "healthy" bmi range, but that's a technicality - my body is really healthy here and I'm happy with how I look. It's not perfect, my tummy and arms are still soft so I'd like to lose more body fat, but I am much more muscular than I was the last time I was at this weight and my 144 body at 30 is much much different than it was at 16 - even with the leftover pooch from two c-sections I'm much happier with how I look than I've ever been.

So...how do I pick an end point? How do I know when I'm done? Is it like porn and I'll know it when I see it, or do I need to pick a point and try to maintain for a while to see how it feels long term? Or does not knowing mean I'm not really done?

ETA: I should clarify - I ask both because I know I'm getting close, and because my husband and my best friend both think it's time for me to go to maintenance mode, that I'm healthy and they don't want to see me go too far. I worry that their view is distorted because it hasn't seen me healthy in so long, but I also worry that mine is for the same reason. I don't want to settle for better enough - I want to -be- better - but at the same time, I know my head isn't quite into the game yet, it's still like looking at someone else's body.

He1loKitty

I don't really know what my goal weight is or what it should be at my age (32) and height (5'6). I was 135 pounds and a size 8 when I graduated from high school at age 18. Is it realistic to be the same weight I was as a teenager and in high school? I'm not sure. At age 23, I ran a marathon, was a size 4 and weighed 126. When I got married two years ago at age 30, I was in great shape due to lots of lifting and boot camp, but weighed around 150, but I was wearing a size 6 (note that's 15 pounds heavier than my high school weight but a dress size smaller!).

I think different stages of life determine what your goal weight should be at that time. What is right for you now may not have been right several years ago, or may not be right for you several years from now. Personally, I'm trying to get back down to a weight that allows me to fit into a size 6/8 again. I think I'm about ten pounds away. And when I get to that point, I'll reassess whether I need to continue to my "goal" weight of 135 (that's the weight on the bottom end of my ticker).

I guess after all this musing, I'm not really sure if there is an endpoint for us! Life is constantly changing, as are the demands on us and our bodies respond accordingly. It sounds like you have reached a very healthy, happy weight and are doing well maintaining. So while you may believe that you "should" be down to 120, is this realistic? Is it necessary for you to push yourself to lose another 24 pounds? Are YOU healthy and happy with where you are now? Also, keeping the weight off is a challenge and an accomplishment in and of itself, so congratulations to you for losing and keeping it off!

Beckilovespizza

I picked a 22 bmi which may have not been the best decider for goal weight. I realised I was still chubby for my frame so dropped my goal weight with the thought that I will probably gain some muscle weight as I tone. I just wanted my clothes to fit well and feel healthy.

Chezzie84

I have just picked a weight that is roughtly in the middle of my healthy BMI range that allows me to work out 1.5lb loss a week :-)
However it is only a guess and when I get to a weight where I feel good, look good and I am healthy, I will stop there.

EDIT - This is why I have chosen pounds lost rather than pounds to go on my ticker.

tmaryam

Interesting question because will we ever be 100% happy with ourselves? Many of us will always see room for improvement even when we reach our goals. I initially chose my goal weight based on what I normally weigh without trying and without overeating. But I'm older now and I'm okay with having more body fat that I had 20 years ago, and I think I'd look a lot better with more muscle weight. So my goal weight needs to change instead of picking what's on my drivers license. :happy: But I'll have no idea what that goal weight is until I see it in the mirror, and I hope to have a healthy body image to know it when I see it.

MinnieInMaine

Is it like porn and I'll know it when I see it,

LOL!

Yeah, I think so. Some people are obsessed about getting to a certain weight or size. Some people are more scientific and go by body fat percentages. And some of us just go by how we feel.

I've been through several phases. Originally I picked 158. I was in WW at the time and this not only meant that I'd be at the highest end of their healthy range for my height but it meant I had to lose exactly 100 pounds from my starting weight with them. When I joined MFP, I think I went one pound less - 157. More recently, I decided I changed that again to 150 because I figure I want some wiggle room in my goal weight.

But honestly I'm in no rush. Pretty much everyone in my life could care less (including my doctor). They're all thrilled about my progress not just with the weight loss but fitness and general health. So because there's no external pressure, it's got to come from me and like anyone else, my motivation ebbs and wanes. Right now it's on the fence and I'm sure after I get back from my vacation in a couple weeks, it'll kick in again. I'll keep logging and making an attempt but mostly maintaining with the occassional loss is pretty cool with me right now.

kuolo

I have a goal size and I know roughly for me what that correlates to weight-wise, but I'm more interested in the size than the weight. Some people's goal weights terrify me as I know I would be ill at that weight, I guess everyone is different, so just find what works for you. There's no point in going too low for your body type as maintenance becomes very difficult.

Maybe bodyfat % is the best thing to go on, as that's probably one of the biggest determinators of health? And it's not subjective, it's an objective number so your mind can't play tricks on you with that one.

StaciMarie1974

I haven't - not really. Started at 178 aiming for 150, and now that I'm closer to 150 I'm aiming for 140. I still have a good bit of extra belly/butt/thighs so all I know is I'm not 'there' yet.

cwolfman13

BF%

Vune

I chose an adult weight at which i felt good and energetic. At 5'6", I was 110 lbs when I was on dialysis. That wasn't the greatest. After my kidney transplant (and the end of major dietary restrictions), it took two years for me to gain 5 lbs. I want paying attention because you don't really do that when you're thin, but i was complimented on how much healthier i looked. And i felt good!

I haven't seen that weight in ten years now, and I've never felt our looked so good. If say if you're running half marathons regularly, you're in a pretty good spot. When i feel more energetic, I'll start tweaking my goals. Until then, I'll keep shedding the fat.

chloeealicee

I have a goal size

^this

deksgrl

I no longer have a goal weight. I have a body fat % goal. I don't care what the number on the scale is any more.

Jarahal

I just figured I would get to it and see how I feel about it lol.

SnuggleSmacks

I started out with googling "goal weight calculator" and went through several to get an idea of a number to shoot for. Then, as I progressed with getting more fit and gaining a bit of muscle, I threw that out the window and I'm concentrating more on a bodyfat percentage (22-25%) and when I get close to that, I'll reassess and see how I feel/look.

I think the most important thing is to be flexible and willing to change your goalpost as you attain more information. It doesn't so much matter what goal you start with, as long as you're willing to reassess every so often.

smushymushy85

I just picked a weight I do not make weight goals or dress size goals I make fitness goals
you can only estimate a finishing goal and if it isnt achieved it acts as a downer the point is to be healthy so i personally stick with non weight related goals

AsellusReborn

Thank you all for your responses.

To clarify I am no longer aiming for 120...I think it would be too thin for me. I am already thinner and fitter than I was at the high end of my normal weight from when I was younger, I don't think I could get to 120 in a healthy way right now.


I don't have a way to measure my bf %.

I just still feel like my stomach and arms are a bit squishier than I'd like, but I do wonder how much of that is having had a baby 7 months ago and how much is fitness. I'm not really sure. I may get to 140 and try maintaining until my son is a year old and see where my body settles. I'm loving my fitness goals, just not sure where to adjust my weight ones.

deksgrl

You can get an estimated body fat % from taking measurements, and/or using a digital scale that shows body fat %. These methods are not entirely accurate, but close enough for you to track downward trends. i.e. if you are continuing to lose inches, then you are losing fat, even if the weight is not going down much. You don't have to have an exact scale goal as long as you are in a healthy range.

smbecht78

When I started this journey, I picked 115lbs as a goal weight. But, like you, as I get closer I realize it's not a realistic goal. I found this site that helps calculate lean body mass, percentage of body fat and helps calculate a realistic goal. While it's not an exact science, it helps.

http://www.bmi-calculator.net/body-fat-calculator/

-Shan

kk_140

It has been a journey picking a final point for myself. Initially I thought I wanted to go all the way to 130 lbs. But at 140 I was very pleased with how I looked and felt. I am still trying to figure out maintanance, I have lost a few mor pounds since 140. But I think everyone should stop when they feel best. Bmi is crap lol.

brminor

I originally said 160 (I was 190). Now that I'm close to 160, I could probably go as low as 150, but I don't want to look too skinny. I have a lot of curves so for me it's not so much about the number but how I look and feel.

hill8570

I picked a round number that was within 10 pounds or so of my "fightin' weight" back when I was racing heavily. Since that was a couple of decades in the past, and I'm sure my body composition has changed,I figured once I got there I'd get a real body fat measurement taken (not BMI -- BMI is such complete crap that it's basically useless) and take it from there.