How do you choose your goal weight?

Rubie81

I'm 5'4 and 124.5 pounds right now (gosh, I really didn't think I could make it here), my goal is for 120 but I might shoot for 115 and 115 would be the very, very smallest I would want to weigh. I'm here to be healthy and have a fab body I don't want to wilt away. Looking like a cadaver is not sexy.

TrainerRobin

I don't have a goal weight- rather, I'm more concerned with getting my bodyfat down to a certain percentage, regardless of how much I actually weigh. For me, my goal is to simply look and feel a certain way and that's really it.

I also place NO value on the BMI statistic either- according to my BMI (32, btw), I'm considered OBESE, which even Stevie Wonder would confirm as being BS. The BMI is a statistic devised to calculate the "overall health level" of an entire population. Since bodyfat is difficult to measure, not to mention do so accurately, the BMI formula was devised to help researchers and scientists create a statistic that was calculated with only a few measurements- height and weight. As a result, it fails to account for individuals with higher levels of muscle mass or conversely, people without a healthy level of muscle mass. It also give all of us a "one size fits all" approach to health and fitness, which is incredibly unrealistic, not to mention narrow-minded.

Agreed. My personal goal and my goals for my clients has everything to do with body fat percentage (not BMI) and less to do with weight. Although generally, when my gals get to the desired body fat/composition, they're pretty closed to the basic rule of thumb (general, and everyone is different) of, for women, 100 pounds for the first 100 pounds, and an extra 5 pounds for every inch of height over 5'.

Hope that helps.

amberpaigee

My lowest weight was around 9 stone 3lbs (129lbs) and I remember being really happy with myself then so it is my first goal! But I would love to be 9 stone (126lbs) so when Christmas comes it doesn't matter if I pile on a couple of pounds! :bigsmile:

:flowerforyou:

Barelmy

My goals are to be healthy and to gradually become more athletic. So what does this mean?

- Becoming more athletic, well, that's something you can do at any weight. Many activities become easier the lighter I am, so yeah, it goes along with weight/fat loss, but I wager this goal will continue to translate into a series of increasing fitness goals regardless of what weight I'll be at.
- Healthy, that's where things get dicey. What we know is that statistically, a BMI > 30 is associated with increased health risks. But it is very hard to show in studies that a "healthy" (="normal") BMI is actually better than a slightly overweight one. BMIs between 25 and 30, while overweight, aren't inherently unhealthy. Indeed, even one very highly publicised story that DID show an optimal health on the average for BMIs between 20 and 25 also showed a) that 18.5-20, while "normal", was less healthy and b) that for some groups, like female former smokers (ME!), the optimum health was in the BMI range of 26-27 or so. So for this goal, I first focussed on getting out of the "obese" range, which I am -- 175 pounds was that limit. Now I will continue to work on shrinking while paying at least as much attention to my waist circumference as to my weight. The waist should first get below 35" (right now: 37") and then below 32". That would get me out of the ranges of statistical associations with heart disease.

But what weight will that be? I have no idea. I think that as a next step, getting into the 150s (and to about 70 kg) and then reassessing will be good. Things will slow down, and from now on, there's no real hurry.

I was listening to a Freakonomics podcast the other day which discussed whether or not having a high bmi was actually bad for you. iirc, they couldn't really reach a conclusion either way.

MinnieInMaine

My goal is the weight at the top of my healthy BMI range. However, I know that's not the be-all end-all of judging a long-term healthy lifestyle and that's what I'm trying to focus on this time around. Not just cutting carbs or taking "magic" pills or working out a certain way because that's what worked for someone else but eating mostly healthy foods and throwing in the occasional treat like pizza or chocolate and working out as consistently as I can.

I haven't been anywhere near a healthy weight since I was 17 (that was almost 20 years ago), I'm much more muscular now and definitely have a big-boned structure going by that fingers around the wrist test - so who knows. Maybe that top number will be perfect, maybe I'll be able to lose another 10 or be healthy at 10 over. Once I get there, I'll see how I feel and see what my doc says and pick a maintenance weight then.

cupcakecarnivore

People look at me like Im crazy when I tell them I want to lose weight. I picked my goal weight by a weight that I used to be when I was happiest with how my body looked:) I started at 135 and my goal is 120ish....but I might end up stopping sooner depending on how my body fat percentage is!

LemonSocks

I used to be 140lbs and pretty happy, but I did need to tone up and lose a little weight on my hips and tummy. So because of that I want to hit around 134/135lbs. It might be nice to drop a few more pounds after that but I won't need to push myself further than that.

yvfitness1

I chose 150 as my goal weight based on what I remember myself looking at 160 when I was in my teens. At the same time, if I get to a body shape I am comfortable with before getting there, I will stop. Its just an idea for me really.

+ 1

ybba12490

I just have a general area where I want to be: 170
The last time I was there I felt super healthy and just loved the way I looked.
I agree with others saying just take it 5 lbs at a time... its overwhelming to look at a large number.
I'm also not super concerned with "I have to lose 10 lbs in EXACTLY a month." If I don't make it, I have more time to catch up.

Just keep your journey fun, otherwise exercise and dieting becomes WORK.
And no one wants to go to work.
Don't overthink, just do

SabrinaJL

I researched my BMI range. For me at 5'4" my BMI range is 117 to 145 pounds. To figure out where in that range I wanted to be I considered my age (as Im in my 40's) and my bone structure.

Bone structure guideline: wrap your index finger and thumb around your other wrist
if it does not touch you are big boned
if it "just" touches you are medium boned
if it overlaps you are small boned

I'm never sure if i'm doing it right. If I wrap my hand gently around my wrist, my fingers don't touch. If I squeeze a bit, I can get them to touch. If I squeeze more, i can get them to overlap a tad.

According to a chart I found my range is 118 - 155. I went with 134 just because 100 lbs sounded like a good number.

CanToGirl

Many, many moons ago when I lost weight, I got down to 169 and I looked and felt good. But as life goes on, I gained it all and then some back. So when I lost weight again, I got down to 220 and same thing. I felt and looked good. I enjoy having curves and my husband was happy with them too. So as my first goal I would like to get down to 220 and see how I feel about being there and if the time comes where I want to lose the rest, I will go down to 160, where my BMI says is a good weight for me. Its all in how you feel.

Sarahr73

My goal weight is just an estimated guess of what I will weigh when I get to my goal pant size. I say 145 lbs, but it might be closer to 150. And it might even be more if I gain a bunch of muscle. But, I do get people that think I am crazy for wanting to lose that much weight. But, they think I already weigh 130...goes to show how well I carry it!

lphoenix129

I chose my goal weight based on a weight I used to be. I'm 170, and my goal weight is 130. I was very happy with my body before I started putting on the pounds. Even though I have a goal weight in mind, I focus on how I ultimately want to look because I know in gaining muscle mass, I may not hit that goal weight but still be happy with the look. I hope this helps. And just remember your goal is for you. Everyone will ultimately have thir opinions, but this is for you and at what weight you'd feel more comfortable at.

SueInAz

I chose 120 because it's the weight I was in college and again after the birth of my son (21 years ago!). Really, my goal is just for all of my pants to fit again. My measurements matter more than what the scale says.

BrittanyGQ

I chose mine based on the "best" I've ever looked, then subtracted roughly 15 pounds because I know I still had some chub on me to lose even then! :laugh: I don't like BMI, either, but my current goal puts me in the healthy range. Once I get there, though, I'll see if I need to lose any more! My friends are the only ones who say I "look good the way I am," but my family agrees with my desire to lose weight... lol

melham

I'm referring mine back to the time I was skinny.
My goal weight is anywhere around 95-105 lbs.
And just talk to your doc about it to make sure it's okay for you.

That is just crazy, I am sorry. To each their own, I know but that is not a healthy weight for anyone unless you're 4'10".

I respectfully beg to differ. I'm 5'1", currently at 104.5 and feel better than I have in years. Furthermore, I'm looking to maintain at 102-103. That's still within a healthy BMI, and I was told by a registered dietitian that I would be perfectly fine at 102.

Crazy.

Coco_Puff

I really don't know what my goal weight will be, I'll decide when I get to the size clothing I'm aiming for! I'm just not interested in having some cookie cutter chart tell me what I should weigh.

emchamberlain

When I was my very smallest, in my 20's and pre-kids, I was 137. I'm guessing I'll hit maintenance around 145-150 this time around. I will switch to maintenance when I know it's time. My goals are more fitness-related: 5k, 10k, lower body fat percentage, etc.

baisleac

That! *points up* That's what I looked like 6 short years ago... or is it 7 now? Summer of 2004. I weighed 140 lbs with 20% body fat. That's how I picked my goal weight and target exercises.

robin52077

I'm referring mine back to the time I was skinny.
My goal weight is anywhere around 95-105 lbs.
And just talk to your doc about it to make sure it's okay for you.

That is just crazy, I am sorry. To each their own, I know but that is not a healthy weight for anyone unless you're 4'10".

I respectfully beg to differ. I'm 5'1", currently at 104.5 and feel better than I have in years. Furthermore, I'm looking to maintain at 102-103. That's still within a healthy BMI, and I was told by a registered dietitian that I would be perfectly fine at 102.

Crazy.

Yes at 5'1" you are fine at 104.5, and CAN be healthy at 102. I am 5'2" and 106 and feel better than I have ever been in my life.

However, that other girl, at 5'3", would NOT be healthy at 95 lbs! She said 95-105 and should probably be aiming for 105 the LOWEST. Remember, its approximately 5 lbs per inch, and that girl is 2 inches taller than you so "should" be about 10 lbs MORE, not 15 lbs LESS than you.

(not arguing what is or isn't a healthy weight, to each her own, just pointing out the difference 2 inches can make...)

donicagalek

When I was younger I met a girl about my height. She wasn't thin, but she was much thinner than I was. Before I got WLS, they asked me what my goal weight was and I just used that girl's weight.

Still working on it.

april_denise

My goal is based on my height mainly. I'm 5'0" and slightly big-boned, so I'm aiming for 120 right now, then I'll see how I feel when I get there and see if I want to lose any more. I actually used MFP's BMI Tool also to help me decide my goal weight as well, and it tells me that my healthy range is 94.7-128.

Like someone else said, now if I could only GET there. =] I've actually never been that small, always seemed to have a little more meat on me, so I'll be really excited once I reach my goal.

shannonshock13

I chose 140 as my first goal, cos if i kept looking at that ticker and having it say 50+pounds to go i was gonna cry. I find setting a more reasonable goal first works best for me although ideally i would like to get to 125-130