How did YOU determine your ideal weight?

ccgisme
ccgisme Posts: 239 Member
edited September 21 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi All,

The BMI charts are ridiculous when it comes to what I should weigh - I am 255 and "should" weigh 165ish - which I haven't weighed since middle school. So how did you all set your goal weight? Did you go get body composition testing, did you pick at random, did you go by past experience? Did you bother to pick a goal weight?

I don't want to get fixated on this - I'm really more interested in being healthy, reducing my waist to height ratio, and lowering my blood pressure. That said, I have this nagging desire to have a number to shoot for! :laugh:

Thanks,
Chris
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Replies

  • nsking83
    nsking83 Posts: 145
    Interesting question! I'm anxious to see what people say. I know the old "trick" was 100 + 5 lbs for every inch over 5'........which would mean I should weigh 135. YEAH RIGHT.

    I have a goal right now of 160......but honestly, I kind of pulled that number out of you-know-where :laugh:
  • jdcole67
    jdcole67 Posts: 108 Member
    I haven't set a final goal weight yet, but I did discuss this topic with my physician - she's not a big fan of the BMI since it doesn't take into account body type...while it may work as a general guide, some people are "big boned" (large frame) and some are not...personally, I used to be called "Fireplug" because I am short and square and solid...and the BMI wants me to weigh somewhere between 145 - 165 (which I weighed as a freshman in high school!)...not a realistic goal for me to get that low now without losing muscle mass (also not accounted for in the BMI), but if I get to a weight my doctor and I can live with, I feel better, have more energy, and my bloodwork looks good, that will be my "goal weight"...
  • ittybittybadonkadonk
    ittybittybadonkadonk Posts: 11,634 Member
    i was 120 11 years ago ... so i went 10 pounds higher than that to get my goal weight
  • ssmom
    ssmom Posts: 128 Member
    I am 5' 1" with a large frame--I can't even wrap my fingers around my wrist bone. I am also a somewhat muscular build--there's pounds of fat covering it at the moment, but I'm no sissy if you get what I'm saying. My BMI is anywhere from 97lbs to somewhere in the 120's. I have never been that thin. I remember being at one of my lowest points in high school and still being 128 lbs. So for me, I would be happy with 135. The BMI chart considers that overweight, but my friends and family know otherwise. I just go for what I feel I look best at and what others who care about me feel is right. I definitely am a girl who likes curves so I don't mind a little extra if it's in the right places. And with working out, it will be in the right places!
  • dragonflyjill
    dragonflyjill Posts: 94 Member
    I am interested in the answer to this as well. Has anyone just asked their doctor for ideas on this issue? I kinda pulled a number out of my butt based on BMI, and also I weigh people pretty regularly at work, and I know what some of my friends of similar height weigh, so I kind of based it on that. Also, I wanted to make it do-able, so that when I got to it I would feel like I had achieved something, but there is a nagging voice in my head that wonders if it will be enough.

    I recently re-read about the notion of small frame versus medium or large frame based on whether or not you can reach the fingers of one hand around the wrist of your other hand. according to this method I have a small frame and should weigh in the bottom range of my BMI which is about 125 pounds. My goal is 150.
  • angela75022
    angela75022 Posts: 100 Member
    I had to decide what made me confortable... my "Ideal weight" is 120ish... I'm actually shooting for 150-160... then see how I feel after that.

    Just pick a reasonable # that you are comfortable with... then once you reach it, decide if you want to go farther.:flowerforyou:
  • tkrall
    tkrall Posts: 109
    Well, I'm 5'2 1/2 according to my BMI I should weigh between 104 and 140. I picked my goal weight based on pre-baby (I know that doesn't help at all). But that is when I remember being the happiest about who I was and how I looked. My goal weight right now is 130. I started out at 164 (I'm almost there :happy: ). I don't expect that to happen overnight, right now I'm happy with how I'm making progress and how my body is starting to look. I would just shoot for something that is reasonable. Once you hit that, you can either keep going or try to maintain. I think it's really all about how you feel. If you feel good about your body and health great!! if not keep working on it :wink:
  • xtina11179
    xtina11179 Posts: 352
    I chose mine goal weight by choosing a number in the higher range of the Height/Weight chart. Nothing more, nothing less! Being that I am 5'11" and "big boned" as you say, it was a number I was comfortable with.
  • xtina11179
    xtina11179 Posts: 352
    Plus, when I was 195, my dr did say she'd like me to lose 20 more lbs. My goal is 5 lbs less. At least for now.
  • Holton
    Holton Posts: 1,018
    I am 5'7" of a medium frame and according to the charts should weigh anywhere from 118 to 159: I selected 140 as my goal and am just 4 pounds shy of reaching that since January. Have recently been to my doctor for an annual physical and she concurred that I was shooting for a realistic and attainable goal. Should mention I am over 50. My ideal weight (based on how I felt and looked) when I was younger (20's) was 124, but that just isn't realistic anymore. I think if you use your height and frame size as a starting point and just pick a weight in the mid point of the charts based on that information, you will have an idea of what your goal should be.
  • krazzybebe03
    krazzybebe03 Posts: 39 Member
    I am 5'7 and my goal weight is 129... I reached this weight 2 years ago and l looked the best ever, toned but still curvy. So I would like to return to that. If you have a ideal weight set and you reach it and still arent satisfied, make a new goal....its really trial and error.
  • KatieM7
    KatieM7 Posts: 588 Member
    I picked my goal weight based on pre-pregnancy but I have it in my mind that if I look good and feel good about my body before I get to that weight then I will be good with that. Going of the whole 100# plus 5# for each inch over 5ft that would put me at 115 and that is for me just ridiculous. I do have a small frame (can wrap my fingers around the wrist very easily). Go with what feels good for you.
  • sassyg
    sassyg Posts: 393
    10% loss. I don't really have an ideal weight, personally.
  • kah78
    kah78 Posts: 376 Member
    I still haven't picked mine! My first ideal weight is anything in the healthy BMI range. I'm 5'2 and just hit 136. I'd like to drop another 10 lbs, but at the same time, that may take more effort than my body or my brain can handle at this point to maintain. I'm 5/2, and my body seems to feel comfortable somewhere between 125 and 135, with a decent amount of exercise and watching what I eat--but nothing extreme. So, 130 would be where I'd start...it'd be great to get to 125 though. I can't even imagine what sort of exercise routine/eating routine I would have to have to get down to the lower end of my BMI range....don't think I'm up for that.
  • chessie11
    chessie11 Posts: 52
    I'm 5'7". Eight years ago and prior to that, before the birth of my second child, my weight fluctuated between 125-130. I was quite comfortable at that size, I felt good, and I loved how clothes looked on me. Now - I despise shopping for clothes. I purely hate it. :mad:

    So, that's how I chose my ideal weight of 130. At my age now, I know I'll have to work harder to maintain that weight since my metabolism is now much slower than it was back then. But, since I'd rather be healthier and feel better about myself - that's not a problem.:smile:
  • xtina11179
    xtina11179 Posts: 352
    I don't see the accuracy of the "finger around your wrist" test. My fingers are VERY long ("piano fingers", my grandmother always said), and I have very skinny wrists and I can easily wrap my fingers around it. I also have very skinny legs and ankles and no butt. However, I am VERY broad shouldered and large breasted. If the "wrist trick" means I am a "small frame", the idea of 135-148 is quite unrealistic for me. I'd look quite sickly if I were 135 lbs. I will still consider myself "large frame".
  • DarcieC2389
    DarcieC2389 Posts: 146
    I went with my ideal weight of 180, which is 6 lbs over the top of my weight range according to bmi and my height. I think I will be satified with that, and would get me into probably a size 8/10. I am tall and will never be petite. My dr. agreed even said she be satified if I got to 190. I don't think you can always put everyone into a chart, people have different body types and builds.
  • Sara1978
    Sara1978 Posts: 213 Member
    First post, heh...

    I weighed 115lbs in college. I felt awesome at that weight, but-- well, there was one silly drawback to it. I am blood type O, and knowing that and how in-demand my blood type was, I was always disappointed that I wasn't allowed to donate blood at blood drives because I would weigh in at just under their minimum weight. So, I set my target weight at 120lbs-- close to what I was in college, but above the cut-off line to donate blood. It's kind of a silly way to have determined my goal, but I'd be pleased at that number.
  • crazyjkgirl
    crazyjkgirl Posts: 123 Member
    Well, technically I haven't yet. I just want to not be fat anymore. Honestly, I don't think I'll ever be entirely happy with my body. So I guess for now, I will just keep loosing. I'm trying to not let it get out of control but I definitely know that I've been developing some eating disorder like behaviors/ thoughts.
  • LoveMy4Kids
    LoveMy4Kids Posts: 231
    My goal weight isn't what I "should" be, but it is realistic for me to achieve! I was my goal weight 10 years ago and felt great about myself and thats how I want to feel again!
  • Junisahn
    Junisahn Posts: 166 Member
    I chose mine based on past weights that I've been that I:

    a) Feel confident and healthy at
    b) Can maintain with minimal effort.

    Sure, I'd love to be 10 lbs thinner than my goal weight, but I find that to be an impossible weight to maintain without feeling very restricted. So, it's obviously not a good goal for my body!

    Best of luck figuring out where you want to end up!
  • mattnday
    mattnday Posts: 9
    Funny you ask

    I wear a size 52-54 suit jacket even at my new weight.

    I can lose all the weight I want but my shoulder width and bulk is never going to change.

    My BMI chart says I need to be 197 to be on the absolute top end of healthy for my weight. That is insane. I am 209 now and sub 20% body fat. I would have to get to 15% body fat to reach 24.9 on the BMI chart.

    With that in mind I chose to use body fat as my parameter. For a rough estimate I use my scale and for a more detailed estimate I was measured at the gym(by a trainer). Both my doctor and trainer said 210 was a good weight for me with 200-205 being the absolute bottom assuming I continued to strength train. I am shooting for 205 with a fitness level body fat which is 18%.
  • NNE16
    NNE16 Posts: 21
    I had no idea where to set it so I did not set it. I decided that I am able to keep positive focusing on weight lost per week and it will be clear when I am happy with my weight. I have an image, idea as a goal and not a weight, if you have motivation you get reminded constantly that every day, each thing you eat, each thing you do not eat, each exercise you do, you get more near to it. An advantage is that you never have to think your goal is so far, you focus on 'stepping' instead of the entire distance, your speed (weight-loss per week) realising that if you keep the pace you will get there

    I am not saying here that not having a goal weight is the best idea for everyone, it works wonders for some. But this works for me
  • LuckyLeprechaun
    LuckyLeprechaun Posts: 6,296 Member
    I only chose a number so I could have a ticker. I don't know what I want to weigh because I have never used a scale in my adult life. I'm just going to keep on losing until I look in the mirror and think- hey I think I look awesome! My goal is comfortable/un-self-conscious bikini wearing. I imagine I have 30-ish more to go and I'll be thrilled.
  • princessorchid
    princessorchid Posts: 198 Member
    I set mine to my healthiest weight (ok, I was in high school and doing 4 competitive sports and a martial art, but hey). It's probably unrealistic 14 years later, but I'd rather aim high!
  • tal202
    tal202 Posts: 34 Member
    I based mine on my BMI but opted to go for about half way on the scale. I'm currently at the higher end so I figured somewhere in between would be the healthiest option. And realistically, I just don't have the energy or inclination to get below 130. I enjoy food too much. I just need to establish a better relationship with it and get myself fitter.

    Also, I have never been able to fit into anything smaller than a UK 10, even when I was at my skiniest at school, and am currently a UK 13 so I figured I would quite like to get down between those two. I know clothing sizes can be a pain but I have kept a skirt that I would love to fit back into and I'm using that as my measure.
  • Rea_K
    Rea_K Posts: 51
    I first aimed for a weight that I thought I was slim and toned at when I was that weight around 5 years ago, which was 133 lbs, but when that weight was approaching I realised I needed to lose a bit more. So I reset it to 119, which again I revised when I was approaching that weight. Now I've decided on around 107-112 lbs. I do not want to lose anymore than this as I still want to have my curves. I am quite short and even though I am around 120 lbs right now I still don't look slim yet! I have weight to lose around my arms, stomach, and quite a lot to lose around my thighs. I've decided to settle with my current goal, and if I still have weight to lose when I reach it then I will just try and tone as much as possible, and learn to love my body. Even though my weight is in the healthy bmi range now I have a very small frame and so any extra lbs I carry are very noticeable. Which is why I need to be in the lower range of the healthy bmi for my height.
  • SimonLondon
    SimonLondon Posts: 350
    I wanted to be the same weight and waist line as I was when I was 16.

    Achieved it this month :wink:
  • happy_jax
    happy_jax Posts: 289 Member
    I just thought of the time in my life when I was the happiest with my weight...

    I know when I thought I looked like a movie-star (well...in my head :laugh: ) I weighed 60kg - so this is technically my goal weight.

    Having said that, in the back of my mind, I know when I was comfortable in my body but not obsessive - watched what I ate, but still had treats, did exercise but not to a point where it took up all my time I weighed 64kg - so I would still be happy if I only ever got back to this weight. If I could maintain this, that would be super! :smile:

    BMI means nothing to me. At 70kg and 174cm (at present) I am still at a healthy BMI but don't feel that way!
  • dinos
    dinos Posts: 1,390 Member
    I’ve been trying to calculate my ideal weight for some time now. BMI is not a dependable measure at all, while Body Fat is. Remember that weight consists of both lean body mass and body fat. Knowing your body fat percentage can help you determine if your weight loss goals are realistic. You can check yours at http://www.bmi-calculator.net/body-fat-calculator/.
    The American Council on Exercise considers a 25 - 31% body fat acceptable for women, 18 – 25% for men.

    I checked mine and at 252 lbs its a bit below 24% (acceptable), my goal is to get to 17% (fitness) which in my case translates to 235 lbs target weight.
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