General guide to finding a good goal

NykkieC

Thank you for your awesome posts!

lgolden

Thanks so much. I appreciate you taking the time to share your wealth of knowledge! :flowerforyou:

healthiesthappiestme

thanks for this. Just yesterday I was trying to figure out what my goal body fat % should be- and viola! here it is.

StiringWendel

I'm glad to see a healthy way out here, too many women in particular out there stressing over 10 pounds that they really don't need to lose, etc.

This is a sentiment I've seen expressed in this thread a few times now. I think it is unfair to present those people who are trying to lose 'the infamous last ten pounds' as doing something counter to a 'healthy way', or, as was stated by another poster earlier in the thread, only looking to become a stick figure based on society's representation of what is attractive.

This is from the original post, and I completely agree with this statement:

How can we accurately judge our health? Well, first by how we feel (obviously), but also by how we look in the mirror, and by that I don't just mean our shape, how does your hair look, do you have bags under your eyes, is your skin blotchy, dry, oily, jaundice? Do you have defined shape to your muscles?
Body fat is another great way to tell, because even people with very little adipose (body)fat can still have too much intramuscular fat or visceral fat (fat surrounding organs), or cholesterol. All of these things are far worse for your health then body fat.

It is entirely possible that in order to be optimally healthy, some people are better off losing the last ten pounds. This may have nothing at all to do with ego or obsession, and may instead actually have everything to do with how they feel, their body composition, etc.

The range for my BMI is 35.5 pounds. I'm 5'2". I effect of 35 pounds on my frame (I'm small-boned) is actually very significant. I have been at both ends of the spectrum, and I definitely feel the weight very negatively when I'm still in a healthy BMI range in places like my knees, my feet and my ankles. The weight, while considered 'healthy' by BMI standards, also impacts my ability to workout effectively. Attempting to reach a better weight for my frame was not an obsession over a number. I was doing it because of how I felt.

I've recently lost 37 pounds. I started this journey at slightly overweight according to BMI (a BMI of 26.2). I'm currently on the other end of the scale with a BMI of 19.8. I cannot even begin to describe the positive effects losing this weight has had on my body (including the 'last ten pounds'), and I don't mean in how I look. I'm 44 years old....I'm not looking to become a supermodel. The most incredible difference for me has been in how I can exercise, how much more energy I have, and, most importantly at my age, a complete disappearance of perimenopause symptoms (which is the reason I decided to lose the weight in the first place). I feel SO much healthier. Not everybody would at the BMI I am at, and I totally understand that because not everybody has my frame. But that doesn't mean my losing weight while in the healthy BMI range wasn't done because of health concerns and hasn't had a positive impact on my health....because it has.

I actually agree with everything in the original post because SHBoss didn't say that losing weight while in a healthy BMI category wasn't something that people shouldn't strive for. He indicated that, at that point, how you feel/how healthy you are is a more important assessment. And, for some, again, that means losing that last ten pounds....regardless of whether it appears to others whether the weight needs to be lost or not.

arewethereyet

:flowerforyou: tagging an bansky as usual

lyla29

I'm glad to see a healthy way out here, too many women in particular out there stressing over 10 pounds that they really don't need to lose, etc. I set my goal weight at above the "recommended" weight for my height because I've always had a lot of muscle. When I get to my goal, then I can tweak and play with the numbers... but the main point is I want to be HEALTHY whether I look good in a bikini or not!

Great Post.

I chose a number based on my past experience with weight loss. At my lowest adult weight, I weighed 130 lbs at 5'6", which is in the middle of my healthy weight range, and I looked way too skinny. So I put in 140 lbs, which I know is a good weight for me, and is still in the healthy range. I am not as concerned with the number on the scale as much as being healthy and being more toned.

Mom_To_5

on my way outside to sit by the fire, will read when i come back in.

SHBoss1673

I'm bumping myself shamelessly again, cuz I can, and for the week enders who missed it on Friday.

Mom_To_5

ok, finally got a chance to read this, great info!!
Just need to find out what my BF% is now, however i still want to lose the last few lbs as i still don't feel just "right' at this weight yet

Thanks again Banks.Shboss for the great info!!

arewethereyet

fianally got to read this today, in full.

I am looking in the mirror and am very happy with what I see. I have def made myself healthier.

But, there is something else. I still have a layer of fat covering those magnificent muscles I have worked hard to build up. I can see the shadow of a bicep/tricep cut...........but the fat takes the eye away.

So after reading this post I wonder........does my liver, heart, kidneys, lungs have a shadow of fat around them???

Today I am committing myself to 6 weeks of a certain schedule. I am the type of person who needs finite...beginning and end!!

So I thank you Steve, yet again, and again, for helping me to see more clearly what my goal shall be.

arewethereyet

I'm glad to see a healthy way out here, too many women in particular out there stressing over 10 pounds that they really don't need to lose, etc.

This is a sentiment I've seen expressed in this thread a few times now. I think it is unfair to present those people who are trying to lose 'the infamous last ten pounds' as doing something counter to a 'healthy way', or, as was stated by another poster earlier in the thread, only looking to become a stick figure based on society's representation of what is attractive.

This is from the original post, and I completely agree with this statement:

How can we accurately judge our health? Well, first by how we feel (obviously), but also by how we look in the mirror, and by that I don't just mean our shape, how does your hair look, do you have bags under your eyes, is your skin blotchy, dry, oily, jaundice? Do you have defined shape to your muscles?
Body fat is another great way to tell, because even people with very little adipose (body)fat can still have too much intramuscular fat or visceral fat (fat surrounding organs), or cholesterol. All of these things are far worse for your health then body fat.

It is entirely possible that in order to be optimally healthy, some people are better off losing the last ten pounds. This may have nothing at all to do with ego or obsession, and may instead actually have everything to do with how they feel, their body composition, etc.

The range for my BMI is 35.5 pounds. I'm 5'2". I effect of 35 pounds on my frame (I'm small-boned) is actually very significant. I have been at both ends of the spectrum, and I definitely feel the weight very negatively when I'm still in a healthy BMI range in places like my knees, my feet and my ankles. The weight, while considered 'healthy' by BMI standards, also impacts my ability to workout effectively. Attempting to reach a better weight for my frame was not an obsession over a number. I was doing it because of how I felt.

I've recently lost 37 pounds. I started this journey at slightly overweight according to BMI (a BMI of 26.2). I'm currently on the other end of the scale with a BMI of 19.8. I cannot even begin to describe the positive effects losing this weight has had on my body (including the 'last ten pounds'), and I don't mean in how I look. I'm 44 years old....I'm not looking to become a supermodel. The most incredible difference for me has been in how I can exercise, how much more energy I have, and, most importantly at my age, a complete disappearance of perimenopause symptoms (which is the reason I decided to lose the weight in the first place). I feel SO much healthier. Not everybody would at the BMI I am at, and I totally understand that because not everybody has my frame. But that doesn't mean my losing weight while in the healthy BMI range wasn't done because of health concerns and hasn't had a positive impact on my health....because it has.

I actually agree with everything in the original post because SHBoss didn't say that losing weight while in a healthy BMI category wasn't something that people shouldn't strive for. He indicated that, at that point, how you feel/how healthy you are is a more important assessment. And, for some, again, that means losing that last ten pounds....regardless of whether it appears to others whether the weight needs to be lost or not.

Darlin, after reading your profile, I pray you are are writer!!

Well put. You got your point across perfectly without ruffling any feathers.

I too am 5'2" with a petite frame. Although I am at the top of the healthy BMI, I am going to lose another 10 (then another 10 if I feel like it!) for the INSIDE of my body.

Thanks for the post!

mumsanutter

Thank you for this post. I have tagged it so that I can refer back to it and changed my goals.

Thanks :drinker:

SHBoss1673

fianally got to read this today, in full.

I am looking in the mirror and am very happy with what I see. I have def made myself healthier.

But, there is something else. I still have a layer of fat covering those magnificent muscles I have worked hard to build up. I can see the shadow of a bicep/tricep cut...........but the fat takes the eye away.

So after reading this post I wonder........does my liver, heart, kidneys, lungs have a shadow of fat around them???

Today I am committing myself to 6 weeks of a certain schedule. I am the type of person who needs finite...beginning and end!!

So I thank you Steve, yet again, and again, for helping me to see more clearly what my goal shall be.

Just so you know lady, the answer to your question is: Probably not, in general we usually lose intramuscular fat as we get in better shape, and we usually lose visceral fat before we lose much body fat. I doubt you have much fat surrounding your organs.