question about goal weight..

shonovo

So, my goal weight is 140, I am 5" 3'. I have been overweight my entire life and the last time I weighed 140 was when I was 14 years old, do you think it is possible and realistic for me to get to 135-140? My nutritionist was telling me that it wasnt so realistic because the last time I was there was when I was 14, but I feel like my body is changing and the last time I was at the weight I am at now was when I was 16-17. She said it might not be realistic to maintain that weight, but that is the highest healthy weight for my height range.. do u think its realistic... anyone have a similar situation? would love feedback! thanks so much!

kulchic72371

Set a goal weight that is realistic for you but isn't out of reach that you will feel defeated and fall back into old habits.

ChitownFoodie

You were 14 only 7 years ago, that isn't that long ago. Plus thats the highest end of normal BMI for you. I am thinking that's a good goal, and realistic. I would be concerned if your goal was 110.

lunnay

It sounds realistic to me. Just be sure to celebrate mini-victories until you get there. It will take longer to drop the last pounds, but be sure to keep motivated and work towards your goal.

glenette1

I think that's certainly realistic. If you weighed 200 pounds at age 14, would that not be a realistic goal weight either? The whole age factor makes no sense - it's based on height and body type.

lc971

My best friend is your height, 48 yrs old, and weighs 136 lbs. She looks fantastic.

shonovo

You were 14 only 7 years ago, that isn't that long ago. Plus thats the highest end of normal BMI for you. I am thinking that's a good goal, and realistic. I would be concerned if your goal was 110.

thank u!! thats what i was thinking, but she was concerned and was wondering if i really was being unrealistic...

Mistyblu08

You were 14 only 7 years ago, that isn't that long ago. Plus thats the highest end of normal BMI for you. I am thinking that's a good goal, and realistic. I would be concerned if your goal was 110.

THIS

VorJoshigan

You can maintain a weight in the healthy range, but after being overweight, it might be more difficult than somebody who's never had that issue. I say go for it, and if it's too much of a hassle, let it creep back up to something more doable. I'm still 70 lbs away from just being overweight, but I'm definitely shooting for a much lower number than that. I've never been a "normal" weight, so I don't know what it's like. I'm just going to go for it and see what it's like for a while.

chivalryder

If you're 5'3", 140 is completely do-able. I know BMI isn't the best way to figure out how much you should weight, but 140 at your height is barely scraping the "healthy" range. You can probably even go lower.

I'm 6', and I originally thought that a medium-range BMI would be impossible for me. Then I dug deeper, and found out about BF% and how important it was. I want to become extremely fit and active, so a low BF% is what I set my goal to (8-10%). With my current lean mass, that would get me down to about 155-160 lbs (I'm currently 220ish). I'll probably gain a decent amount of muscle between now and then, so that number is subject to change. However, I could be perfectly healthy and weigh that little without exercising. It would put me at a BMI of 21. I'm sure you could do the same, it'll just be a lot harder.

For now, make 140 a goal to reach. It doesn't have to be your final goal, but certainly something attainable.

sunnyside1213

There are people on this sight who have lost hundreds of pounds. You are already 1/2 way there. Go for it.

shonovo

It sounds realistic to me. Just be sure to celebrate mini-victories until you get there. It will take longer to drop the last pounds, but be sure to keep motivated and work towards your goal.

thanks so much!!!!

shonovo

You can maintain a weight in the healthy range, but after being overweight, it might be more difficult than somebody who's never had that issue. I say go for it, and if it's too much of a hassle, let it creep back up to something more doable. I'm still 70 lbs away from just being overweight, but I'm definitely shooting for a much lower number than that. I've never been a "normal" weight, so I don't know what it's like. I'm just going to go for it and see what it's like for a while.

i feel the same way!! im definitely willing to go for it

thescrumisfun

Woah, weird. I am 5'3" and I also started at 192. Right now I'm at 175. I'm aiming for 20% body fat, and not necessarily a scale number. It's a better indicator of fitness. My "goal weight" should be about 146 pounds with the BF percentage I have now.

http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/ibw/

I don't think 140 is unrealistic at all. It may take a while, but keep up the great work you've been doing. You've already lost 27 pounds...who is to say you can't lose 25 more? :flowerforyou:

melissafaith24

Im 5'3 as well and looking at your pics, it seems we have about the same build/structure. I personally set my goal weight for 145, just because I dont recall ever seeing that number since my late teens/very early 20's. Im now 31 and have had a child. The lowest I got last year (doing hcg) was 162 and I still thought I was enormous

If/when I ever get to 145, I'll reevaluate to what I want to be lower than that, but for now thats what Im shooting for. Everything I see, it has my "normal range: being anywhere from 113-143.

Good luck on your journey and I ditto a previous poster to break it down into mini goals so its not so overwhelming!

shonovo

Woah, weird. I am 5'3" and I also started at 192. Right now I'm at 175. I'm aiming for 20% body fat, and not necessarily a scale number. It's a better indicator of fitness. My "goal weight" should be about 146 pounds with the BF percentage I have now.

http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/ibw/

I don't think 140 is unrealistic at all. It may take a while, but keep up the great work you've been doing. You've already lost 27 pounds...who is to say you can't lose 25 more? :flowerforyou:

that is weird... my highest weight was 212 but i started MFP at 192. We have very similar stats!! Thanks so much!!

shonovo

Im 5'3 as well and looking at your pics, it seems we have about the same build/structure. I personally set my goal weight for 145, just because I dont recall ever seeing that number since my late teens/very early 20's. Im now 31 and have had a child. The lowest I got last year (doing hcg) was 162 and I still thought I was enormous

If/when I ever get to 145, I'll reevaluate to what I want to be lower than that, but for now thats what Im shooting for. Everything I see, it has my "normal range: being anywhere from 113-143.

I feel huuuge at 165 (where i am now).. its so tough the self-image stuff... i just keep lying to myself and telling myself i look great... maybe one day i will believe it. I woud love to see the 150s even, and then 140s and take it from there...

lcphipps

My goal weight is 135-140. I am 5'3. my starting weight was 206. and I'm now 154#s. I am GOING to make it to my goal. I am determined to reach it, and I can visualize myself maintaining that weight if I stay focused.
You can do anything you want to do.

beersrod

I'm the same height as you and am at 155ish right now. A few years ago I lost the weight (and obviously got lazy and here I am....) however when I lost it I was 130 and looked great, totally not to thin I had meat on my bones and muscle....so 140 is absolutely realistic and doable. Keep it up you can do it!!

tigerlinly

i'll tell u what i was always told the best weight to set as a goal weight is the last weight u felt healthy and happy. for me that is 120-125 the weight iw as when i got pregnant 25 years ago. its about mid range in my where i should be (94-130) i had maintained that weight from age 11 to 22 when i got pregnant i was happy i was active and felt like i could conquer the world. so if u set 140 got for it. (I'm 5'0 amd a small frame)

Pookylou

I am 5'3" too, and I started at about 172 (I may well have been more!!) and I weighed in at my goal weight of 125 this morning! It has taken a long time, I started losing weight November/December last year, but it is very do-able, just got to not get discouraged when the scale stick - it is hard to lose when you are short!

rml_16

I'm 5'3" and at 140 I definitely have room to improve. But that is at the high end of the healthy BMI scale and if you have a larger frame, you should be OK there.

Your nutritionist's statement doesn't make sense. What if you were 300 pounds when you were 14?

Anyway, my advice is aim for 140 and then reassess when you get there if you want or need to lose more.

DoomCakes

I think that's realistic. You're a shorter person, so 140 is pretty resonable. Just make sure you lose it healthy and incorporate some weight training so you keep muscle on your frame. But if you start noticing that you look "too thin" in your opinion, focus on your health and not the number on the scale.

meggonkgonk

It should be more than realistic. My best suggestion is to kind of take stock every 5lbs or so as you get down near your goal weight. I got as low as about 128, and that was just too low for me (saw a little bit of rib bone in the mirror one day!). My goal was 140, then 135, then 130. I found that I was most comfortable with my body between 132 and 136 (I know that sounds odd, but when you hit a range you like, you really will know it) which is where I'm trying to get back to now (It's been a craaazy summer).

I suggest taking pictures at the beginning or ending of every month to compare and give yourself a chance to evaluate a bit objectively.

rml_16

Im 5'3 as well and looking at your pics, it seems we have about the same build/structure. I personally set my goal weight for 145, just because I dont recall ever seeing that number since my late teens/very early 20's. Im now 31 and have had a child. The lowest I got last year (doing hcg) was 162 and I still thought I was enormous

If/when I ever get to 145, I'll reevaluate to what I want to be lower than that, but for now thats what Im shooting for. Everything I see, it has my "normal range: being anywhere from 113-143.

I feel huuuge at 165 (where i am now).. its so tough the self-image stuff... i just keep lying to myself and telling myself i look great... maybe one day i will believe it. I woud love to see the 150s even, and then 140s and take it from there...

My highest was 166. I was a size 12. I'd been 110-120 and between sizes 3 and 6 (which felt huge to me) most of my life. I definitely know how you feel. Just the difference in my face at a lower weight is amazing.

wrbiii

So, my goal weight is 140, I am 5" 3'. I have been overweight my entire life and the last time I weighed 140 was when I was 14 years old, do you think it is possible and realistic for me to get to 135-140? My nutritionist was telling me that it wasnt so realistic because the last time I was there was when I was 14, but I feel like my body is changing and the last time I was at the weight I am at now was when I was 16-17. She said it might not be realistic to maintain that weight, but that is the highest healthy weight for my height range.. do u think its realistic... anyone have a similar situation? would love feedback! thanks so much!

This is a horribly pessimistic way to look at it... but: Doctors don't want you too sick or too healthy. Too sick and you are too much work, not sick at all, and they don't make money off of you.

Do what works for you, and try to be as healthy as you can.

rml_16

So, my goal weight is 140, I am 5" 3'. I have been overweight my entire life and the last time I weighed 140 was when I was 14 years old, do you think it is possible and realistic for me to get to 135-140? My nutritionist was telling me that it wasnt so realistic because the last time I was there was when I was 14, but I feel like my body is changing and the last time I was at the weight I am at now was when I was 16-17. She said it might not be realistic to maintain that weight, but that is the highest healthy weight for my height range.. do u think its realistic... anyone have a similar situation? would love feedback! thanks so much!

This is a horribly pessimistic way to look at it... but: Doctors don't want you too sick or too healthy. Too sick and you are too much work, not sick at all, and they don't make money off of you.

Do what works for you, and try to be as healthy as you can.

Did you even read her post? A nutritionist is not a doctor.

alison0511

I agree with people who said it's reasonable to shoot for 140 since it's the top of your "healthy" range, and then reassess when you get there if it's a good weight for you, or if you would be comfortable going further or backing off a little.

I'm 5'4.5" and my goal weight is also 140. The top of my BMI healthy range is like147 or 149... (I'd have to look again to be sure), but anyway, I decided to shoot for a little lower, because I was about 145 in high school, and I remember my body then being pretty fit from sports, but still with some problem areas... so I think I could stand to go past that. But I will also re-evaluate my body when I get down that far, because I can't determine exactly how that will look or feel until I get there! Mini-goals are great though... just last week I got my BMI from low-end 'obese' into "overweight" and was pretty happy about that! I also set goals for upcoming vacations, holidays, and things like that to see if I can reach them. Good luck!

DrMAvDPhD

It is realistic, but you will probably have to work constantly to maintain that once you get there. Losing weight is hard, but keeping it off is harder if you are lighter than your "comfort zone".

wrbiii

So, my goal weight is 140, I am 5" 3'. I have been overweight my entire life and the last time I weighed 140 was when I was 14 years old, do you think it is possible and realistic for me to get to 135-140? My nutritionist was telling me that it wasnt so realistic because the last time I was there was when I was 14, but I feel like my body is changing and the last time I was at the weight I am at now was when I was 16-17. She said it might not be realistic to maintain that weight, but that is the highest healthy weight for my height range.. do u think its realistic... anyone have a similar situation? would love feedback! thanks so much!

This is a horribly pessimistic way to look at it... but: Doctors don't want you too sick or too healthy. Too sick and you are too much work, not sick at all, and they don't make money off of you.

Do what works for you, and try to be as healthy as you can.

Did you even read her post? A nutritionist is not a doctor.

Yes, I did. I realize a nutritionist isn't a doctor. Same principle applies. Why would the nutritionist want her to do everything perfectly? If she did, why would she need the nutritionist anymore?

There is little money in a cure, a lot of money in treatment.

inkandsheep

While it is true that our body changes as we get older, I can't see why you shouldn't be able to get to that weight or even lower again!

I'm just under 5ft3 and was 141 when I started, now 125. I haven't been lighter than this since my teens either (I'm 29 now) but I think it's perfectly possible for me to get to a lower weight than this now. For what it's worth, I know I'm now eating a much healthier diet than I was in my teens, so for that reason alone, it's pefectly possible!