Question about goal weight

TrishRyan · September 2012

First off I have no idea where I should be posting this so I am sorry if is the wrong spot.

Anyway, I started living a healthy lifestyle just a little over five months now and I've lost almost 50 lbs total. My starting weight was 185 lbs and my current weight is 135.6 lbs. The goal weight I had set was 115 lbs but as I lose more I feel that if I were to lose another 20 lbs I would be almost unhealthy. My whole reason for started this healthy lifestyle 5 months ago was to be healthy but I feel like I am almost failing by questioning not getting to my original goal. I feel like I may be making excuses to not get to that weight.

I just don't know what to do... I do have some more weight to lose just in my stomach (that's where I hold most of it) so I know I want to lose at least another 10 lbs. My question is, should I change my goal weight? If I do how to I feel like I haven't failed myself? Or do I just try to get to 115 lbs and see how I look then and If I feel I need to gain more then do it?

I am 5'5" with a small body frame and this is the lightest I have been that I can remember so I really don't know what weight I should be at. 135 lbs is still too much for me only because It looks like a lot more then it really is and I still have a gut. UGH I just don't know what to do.... help?

126siany · September 2012

Goal weight is usually a "guesstimate". I think it's smart to reassess as you get into a healthy weight range.

How you look at any given weight in the healthy range is going to depend largely on if and how you exercise--i.e. your proportion of lean mass to body fat. I can be several different sizes at exactly the same weight, for example, based on body fat.

It sounds as though you are generally happy at your current weight, but want to reduce body fat. Try strength training and see if it produces the changes you are seeking. Ironically, your weight may even rise a few pounds while your measurements get slightly smaller!

BenderFitness · September 2012

We are the same weight and height. It sounds like maybe a bit of strength training would help you achieve the results you are looking for, instead of more weight loss. If you are happy with your weight that's great! Personally when I get around 125 I start to look way to skinny. I found a picture recently and I thought I looked weird.

sarahharmintx · September 2012

Im no where near goal but I just want to through this out there. Why dont you take a step back from the numbers (current weight, amount lost, final goal weight, etc) and think about how you feel. You said you dont like your current weight so maybe you should still try to lose more. No one has the magic number for you. I could tell you 120 but then you look too thin at that weight or maybe you could still lose 5lbs. I dont know. Just take a step back and think about how you look and feel vs the numbers on the scale.

LeenaRuns · September 2012

1'm 5'6" and weigh 113.5 right now. My goal is to stay between 115 and 120 (had a rough couple of weeks and lost too much weight).

Kjngrrl · September 2012

Per BMI, your healthy weight range for your height is 111.2 to 150.2. As long as you are in that range, you are considered at a healthy weight by medical standards. So within that, it's whatever you are comfortable with.

gaiareeves · September 2012

The "ideal" bodyweight for women is supposedly 5ft = 100lbs, and then for every inch over 5ft, you add 5lbs. Of course this is aimed at women who are reasonably small framed and not carrying a lot of muscle.

So for you, that would be 125lbs, which sounds about right.

But as you're a healthy weight now I'd focus less on the weight and more on inches/your appearance.

I'm 5'3.5", medium framed, and currently 127lbs, my original goal was 119, but I'm focusing more on inches than weight now.

mhankosk · September 2012

http://www.fat2fitradio.com/

There are some good calculators there. If you know your body fat %, awesome. If not, there is a calculator on there for that too. I added like 10 lbs to my goal weight cause i realized my body would have like 0 muscle mass if I wanted to be at my original goal. Good luck!

_stephanie0 · September 2012

i look better now at 138 (im 5'4) than i did at 123lbs..
i put on muscle...and i fit the same pair of shorts...

dont focus on the scale, focus on inches and GAINING MUSCLE... lift heavy!!

:flowerforyou:

chivalryder · September 2012

If you can, find your body fat percentage (or BF%). It will give you a better idea as to how healthy you are/how fat you are.

For women, if you are under 32%, and over 12%, you are within a healthy range. With how much weight you have lost, I'm sure you are within that range. From 24-32% is considered "normal." 18-24% is considered "athletic" and 12-18% is "elite athlete."

Now, do you want to be stronger, have more muscle definition, etc etc? If you do, you'll want to do strength training/more strength training, which will make you lose more fat (lower BF%) but your weight may not change, and might even go up!

Just food for thought.

kevin3344 · September 2012

There should be more to your goals than just weight. When I joined MFP I was pretty much at my goal weight, but fluctuated from 162 (training for a marathon) to 167 (which was my goal) to 172 (on vacation). I'm happy anywhere within that range.

However, like you I didn't just want to be thin, I wanted to be fit. So I started incorporating Jillian Michael's DVDs and circuit training classes to strengthen my core. I've probably lost an inch off my waist, but more importantly my endurance has improved.

Diet alone won't shape your body. You'll should also do some HIIT, circuit or weight training to supplement your weight loss efforts.

loretta6733 · September 2012

That happened to me ,... keep in mind weight is just a number.. if you are happy in the size u are in now.. and u feel good .. then you need to learn how to hold that new weight

areufnkiddingme · September 2012

115 would be very, very thin for 5'5". As far as altering your goal weight and not feeling bad about it, because you absolutely shouldn't, it would be helpful to remind yourself that this whole process has been a giant learning curve and you set that goal weight before you had all the information. Now, you're almost there and realizing that perhaps it was unrealistic to expect that much of yourself.

I think that once you reach your last ten lbs it would be helpful to focus more on toning and strengthening than the numbers on the scale. Of course you don't want to go up too much, but once you reach a healthy BMI and BF%, its all about maintenance and toning. You can expect to add a few lbs, sometimes, just because you plan on building muscle. You'll see the BF% go down, even if the scale goes up.

Good luck and don't be too hard on yourself- you've lost a ton of weight, and you should feel great about it!

corrinnebrown · September 2012

I can tell you that when I was 21 I was 119lb and I was SKINNY, I wore size 7 or 9 jeans (yes I still shopped in juniors) well after my first child I got down to 141 and I was skinny again and I wore size 8 jeans. I really think your body type determines it. As women everyone wants to be 125...well I can tell you my goal is now 145.

So, look at yourself do you look good? If you lost more would you look bad?

Lyra89 · September 2012

I'm also 5'5 and I started around the same weight (180lbs) and am now 128lbs, wanting to be 120 just to get rid of the little belly pooch! But I think 115 would be too thin for me personally, I want to look womanly...my little sister who is 14 is 5'6 and weighs 115 as she hasn't filled out yet, but she is as thin as a whip and I know that's exactly how I'd look (very boyish) because I had the same figure as her at her age!

So for me, 120 is the goal, but if I'm happy at 122/124 then I'll stop and try to maintain!

jkimmett · September 2012

I am 133lbs and 5'5". I am stopping here, I almost feel too skinny now. Now its time to start gaining some definition. I have a hard time seeing it though, although others tell me I look too thin all the time and are asking me if I am quitting losing. Take some pictures and compare them, sometimes that helps to look at yourself in a picture. Also, if you feel good then that is your answer. You do not want to go too far. You are right in the middle of a healthy BMI now, If you are happy where you are there is no shame in stopping, your original goal must have just been too much. I could not imagine being 115. I am a size 2/4 now, 115lbs would be way too skinny.

nxd10 · September 2012

What a good question. Might you cut back to half a pound a week calories and see what your body does with that? I think as you get closer to what your body thinks is ideal for you you lose slower and slower. If you stop losing and you're happy with how you look I think you're there.

It's also true that you can be the same weight but way different sizes depending on how much muscle you have. I keep hitting my initial goal weight and then bouncing up in weight but losing inches before coming down again. It's because I'm losing fat and gaining muscle.

So exercise and a higher weight will make you look better than hitting that low weight without the muscle.

Just food for thought.

nc90 · September 2012

I am 5'5" and my current goal is to get down to 130lbs (SW 150). You shouldn't feel like you've failed or let yourself down for changing your goals, but look at it as a reflection of how far you've come and a goal that is more realistic and suitable for YOU.

I think 125 would be ideal - but I agree with some of the above posters about focusing now more on lifting/losing inches and changing your body composition rather than the number on the scale! Congrats on your loss so far! :drinker:

TrishRyan · September 2012

According to fat 2 fit website my BF% is 25.1%... When I look in the mirror I am proud of how far I have come and can really see a difference but I'm not quite happy with my body... It's just my stomach I hate it... Thank you so much everyone for the advice it really does help. I think I'm going to adjust my goal to 125 lbs and then see what I should do from there

Question about goal weight

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