Rethinking weight goal.

Instead of going by "frame size" or weight, why not pick a fat loss goal?

When I was 191 pounds, I used to think that I was medium or large framed because of that weird "wrap my fingers around the wrist" test. My fingers couldn't touch at all, lol. But now, I am a little less than 140 pounds and all my fingers wrap around that wrist and overlap. So according to that "test," my frame size shrank! Of course, what really happened was I lost body fat...and that whole frame size thing turned out to be nothing at all.

Anyway, picking a healthy body fat percentage is less stressful on you anyway. You just keep losing fat and inches, and when you get there, you can just step on the scale and be like "So THAT is what I will weigh at 18% body fat" (for example).

Right now, I am 23% body fat and I weigh a little less than 140. The profile picture was taken in January this year, and I wear size 5/6 (I am 5'5" tall). My goal is to be around 16% body fat. I don't care what I weigh when I get there, whether it be 120, 130, or whatever. I just want to wear certain sizes and be lean.

Why don't you just lose weight until you're happy with your weight? Why pick some arbitrary number? Just lose weight and play it by ear.

This. Get to 150 and see how you feel and look. You can adjust your goals as you need when you get there.

There is no such thing as medium or small boned. The only thing that makes your bones smaller is your height or deterioration. I think you're referring to your frame. What you will look like at 150 or 130 depends on where you carry your weight. I carry my weight in my belly and thighs so its still there's a little when I'm at 150 but I'm 5'9. My friend is 5'9 and at 150 she has a flat tummy. See how you feel when you reach 150 and if you feel like you want to be smaller try 140. Try this site for additional help http://www.healthdiscovery.net/links/calculators/ideal_bw_women.htm

Actually if you're bigger boned you don't look fatter. In fact you can often times hide the weight better. You need to not worry about frame anyway. You're setting yourself up to fail by thinking you have to be a certain way!! Just work at it and embrace it. Don't worry about numbers.

I think that weight goals change sometimes over time...I had a goal of 142 and have been around that for a few years now (a little fluctuation), but now I want to work on body fat % and also get down to around 130-135. It took me awhile to feel comfortable with my new body, but now I'm ready for more change!

I am 5'6" and started at 232 and then restarted at 190. My original goal was 145 and a size 6/8. Once I got there I wanted to lose more. I am now 130 and a size 0/2. 18.2% body fat. This was my high school weight and I never thought I'd see it again.

I totally credit my size to heavy lifting mixed with cardio.

Get down to your first goal weight and see how you feel. Good luck!

I agree with everyone on here. Lowering body fat is so much more important than a number on the scale. By losing body fat you gain muscle and change the way you look. There is a difference between being "skinny fat" and "lean with muscle." Good luck on your endeavor hun

I'm new to all of this, but I'm older and 5'5" and 130 lbs currently. I am considered large framed by the fingers not touching around the wrist test. Here is a pic of me so you can see what 130 looks on my frame. I've been told I look like I am 10 lbs lighter than my actual weight. I think it is due to my frame. I am now trying to exercise and tone my body because I would like my waist area to be a little tighter and my butt to be a little larger.

But we are all different and 150 on you might be just right. You won't know till you get there and see how it makes you feel. I have a friend who is heavier than me, but the same height and she looks fabulous. I think it's all about how the weight is carried and if it's muscle.

Sorry. I tried to imbed the image in my post, but it didn't work. Here is a link.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v330/Bbella/05ff3a76-503a-41f5-81b8-ce9a81a25300_zps6e64a945.jpg

I'm new to all of this, but I'm older and 5'5" and 130 lbs currently. I am considered large framed by the fingers not touching around the wrist test. Here is a pic of me so you can see what 130 looks on my frame. I've been told I look like I am 10 lbs lighter than my actual weight. I think it is due to my frame. I am now trying to exercise and tone my body because I would like my waist area to be a little tighter and my butt to be a little larger.

But we are all different and 150 on you might be just right. You won't know till you get there and see how it makes you feel. I have a friend who is heavier than me, but the same height and she looks fabulous. I think it's all about how the weight is carried and if it's muscle.

Sorry. I tried to imbed the image in my post, but it didn't work. Here is a link.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v330/Bbella/05ff3a76-503a-41f5-81b8-ce9a81a25300_zps6e64a945.jpg

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Bones have sizes? You're bummed and you haven't even picked a goal weight yet?

I have a suggestion. Don't worry about pulling some arbitrary number out of a hat right now. Chances are that no matter what the number is, when you get close to it you won't be satisfied with how you look. That's because random numbers are, well, random.

How about this instead. Start an exercise program that gets you cardio and strength training for 30-45 mins 4-5 days per week. And then use MFP to eat in a calorie deficit so that you lose a pound or so a week. After a few months, we'll reevaluate. By that time, maybe you'll decide you like running or biking and there's some event you want to train for. Or you like lifting and there's a certain amount of weight you'd like to be able to lift over your head. We'll change to a program that better suits your needs at that time.

Let's stop spending time choosing random numbers and get started on getting in shape. One day, you'll look in the mirror and like what you see. Whatever you weigh on that day will be your goal weight.

Wow...just wow. AMAZING ADVICE! I wish I'd known you when I was younger. :flowerforyou:

Bones have sizes? You're bummed and you haven't even picked a goal weight yet?

I have a suggestion. Don't worry about pulling some arbitrary number out of a hat right now. Chances are that no matter what the number is, when you get close to it you won't be satisfied with how you look. That's because random numbers are, well, random.

How about this instead. Start an exercise program that gets you cardio and strength training for 30-45 mins 4-5 days per week. And then use MFP to eat in a calorie deficit so that you lose a pound or so a week. After a few months, we'll reevaluate. By that time, maybe you'll decide you like running or biking and there's some event you want to train for. Or you like lifting and there's a certain amount of weight you'd like to be able to lift over your head. We'll change to a program that better suits your needs at that time.

Let's stop spending time choosing random numbers and get started on getting in shape. One day, you'll look in the mirror and like what you see. Whatever you weigh on that day will be your goal weight.

Awesome advice! Well said!

However you refer to it, frame size mkes a difference. How wide your shoulders are, how wide your ribcage is, how wide your hips are. How long your torso is vs. your legs. All of those can vary hugely across a woman of the same height. If our skeletons were really so identical underneath, they'd never be able to identify bodies from skeletons. But the variations are real, and make a big difference in how our bodies are put together, how clothing fits, where we carry our weight, and how we look at different weights.

Drives me batty when people get hung up on the number on a size tag (what size jeans will I wear?) as a marker. If your pelvis is wider, you're never going to get below a certain size -- and trying to do so will simply look awful. My mom and I joke that we'll both sitill be a size 13 size months after we're dead (she once got to 115 pounds at 5'9 through illness nd was still a size 13, but looked gaunt and had no butt to fill out the back of those size 13 jeans).

However you refer to it, frame size mkes a difference. How wide your shoulders are, how wide your ribcage is, how wide your hips are. How long your torso is vs. your legs. All of those can vary hugely across a woman of the same height. If our skeletons were really so identical underneath, they'd never be able to identify bodies from skeletons. But the variations are real, and make a big difference in how our bodies are put together, how clothing fits, where we carry our weight, and how we look at different weights.

Drives me batty when people get hung up on the number on a size tag (what size jeans will I wear?) as a marker. If your pelvis is wider, you're never going to get below a certain size -- and trying to do so will simply look awful. My mom and I joke that we'll both sitill be a size 13 size months after we're dead (she once got to 115 pounds at 5'9 through illness nd was still a size 13, but looked gaunt and had no butt to fill out the back of those size 13 jeans).

I was just saying this last night to my husband! I want a dress when I lose all this weight and he was asking me why size to get. I said "that's just the thing, I will never be a size 4or 2 without changing my bone structure! :-) but that's okay with me, because I'm NOT hung up on size charts, just trying to be healthy and not huff going up stairs or walkin down the street. I want to be able to run jump and play! Maybe even have my hubby be able to actually pick me up?! To answer, yes I set a goal weight that's an estimate, not a goal weight that's "I have to hit this or else!" It's more, let's get here and see how I'm doing, how I feel and how I look! So anywhere between 110-120 lbs would be ideal for me to lose. But I doubt that'll ever get me down to a 4. I'm expecting I'm going to like being around a 6-8 or a medium....

compare- side by Erikalynne2013, on Flickr

About 10 lbs lost between pics. 165 lbs, 156 lbs, 146 lbs. And my profile pic is around 141 lbs I believe.