5'6" larger frame females... Higher goal weight?!?!

5'6" here - I'm very happy at 150/155 - I have been smaller - but hard for me to maintain a weight of 135/140 - and at 150/155 I can wear a size 8/10 and that's fine with me - I am curvy - small waist and I have hips - you can change a lot with weight training, but not hip bones - embrace your curves - if you feel comfortable in your skin - no reason you have to be at the lower range of your healthy weight - I say yes, exercise - and do some weight training to tone and tighten - oh - I wouldn't give up cardio - it's an important part of any healthy regime - - you look fab in your profile photo btw! Don't get hung up on a number on the scale - if the numbers on your blood tests are in normal range - and you are at a healthy weight and feel fabulous that's all that matters! :flowerforyou:

I'm the same height as you are, and also an hourglass shape. I'm currently 161lbs and looking to get to 150. 10 years ago I was 147 but I didn't do strength training then, just cardio, and I was probably eating less than 1200 calories a day. I look better now and I can wear all my old clothes from then. The difference now is my belly is not as good after having had kids!

If I got to 120 I know I'd look ill, it wouldn't suit me. Most people think I weigh less than I do anyway.

During Winter 2012, I was 5' 6" and I was around 140 lbs. I was quite content with that weight. I think it's a healthy weight. I lost the top part of my hourglass when I went from 157lbs to 140lbs.

I always assumed I was bigger framed but as I've lost weight I'm reassessing.

I've never been slim so only had my "fat body" to judge on. I was one of those who carried their puppyfat a little longer than most but looking back was still quite slim. I didn't see it like that so decided in my warped little head that if I was going to be fat anyway I may as well eat what I want and so became genuinely fat by 17.

I still have 24lbs to lose to get to the top of my healthy BMI range but I'm wearing mostly UK size 10s (with some 12s still needed). And that doesn't seem to tie with being larger framed.

Nor do I put any faith in the wrist measurement thing. My wrists are much smaller now than this time last year. Evident in jewellery and watches and also in the 'finger and thumb' test. They were no where close to meeting this time last year (and boy did I try to stretch my little fingers round) and now there's a small overlap. Which would take me from having been large framed to being medium/small framed. Clearly my 'frame' hasn't actually changed at all rather just what's clinging on around it.

So, IMO, it's perhaps not wise to put yourself into a 'large frame' category too soon. Or indeed put any labels on your body type.

I also always assumed that I could only ever by a UK8 by starving myself and would look emaciated. Now, judging on how my body has changed so far, I'm probably going to be an 8 before even reaching the top of my healthy BMI range (which I find utterly bemusing).

I think if, like me, you were overweight for a long time you just need to focus on health and feeling comfortable in yourself. BMI is only a guide for averages (and not a very reliable one) so, to me, where you decide to stop on that range, or even if you're a couple of pounds either side, should be decided by how you feel, what works for your body and what is sustainable for your body rather than an arbitrary measurement or preconceived notion.

I'm 5'9" and am shooting for about 135-140 lbs. BUT, don't just look at your weight or BMI! Take the time to get your body fat percentage measured. It's a better marker of fitness, and your BMI is not always the best way to gauge your ideal weight level. If you lose a lot of muscle you'll lose weight, but be less fit overall. Remember, weight is just a number, and it fluctuates like crazy depending on hydration or whether you looked at cake during the last week (lol).

If you are near a university with health/fitness majors, they should offer something like a Microfit test for relatively low cost. And most gyms offer BF% tests. It's pinchy and a little humiliating, but the calipers are the best way to go for accurate results.

I'm 5' 6.5" and my goal weight is 140. It's in the middle range of what's considered healthy for my height, but since I have a larger frame, I think I will probably look quite slim at that weight.

I'm 5'7" and my goal weight is 145 which is on the higher end of my healthy BMI. Being "bigger" runs in my family so I have the pear shaped body but with big boobs. I have a feeling those aren't going anywhere which is why I don't think anything lower than 140-145 would be realistic for me.

Hey there!

I am 5'6" And my ultimate goal is 140. I started at 203 pounds, and my current weight is 191.4. Inching there, inching there! Slow progress is better than no progress. I've been on this journey for six months and started with weight watchers... Quit that last weekend as my results were continually plateuing and decided to try a different approach. Calorie counting is definitely a change but I enjoy it.

I forgot about that wrist thing.. I am definitely a "small" frame.. but I'm already at 25%BF.. even if I got down between 16-20%BF, I would still be thick and would weigh atleast 150lbs

I am 5'6.5" and look and feel best when in the high 140s. If I get down to the high 120s, my period drops so I know that is too light for my medium/large fame.

I didn't read all of the posts, but here is how you can determine your body frame size....

Measure around your wrist.

For a female that is 5'6":

Small Frame = Wrist size less than 6.25"
Medium Frame = Wrist size between 6.25" and 6.5"
Large Frame = Wrist size greater than 6.5"

My husband got me a nice watch that I had fitted to my wrist at the time by having a link removed. I was 162 at the time. It is too tight for me right now at 193....so beware ladies of this wive's tale.. You gain weight everywhere, wrists and fingers included. Don't conclude that you are a large frame if your wrist is more than 6.5"... If you check down the road you may find you are smaller.

In 2011 I estimate I weighed in around 75kg / 165lbs and wore size 12, which I was perfectly happy with.

When I was 16 I weighed about 63kg, was size 10 and I didn't like my ribs sticking out.

I have a large frame (based on wrist measurement and my insanely wide hips). My goal weight is 157, the top of the BMI range, because I weighed 165 in high school and was just a little pudgy. I had pretty good muscles back then, but not great, so I figure 157 with decent muscles would be perfect. Plus it's an even 200 pounds lost. I think I actually need to get to 154 to be considered "healthy".

I was actually quite happy between 165-175. I knew I needed to firm up a bit, but I didn't feel grossly fat, and I could still do anything I wanted, like roller coasters, zip lines, comfortable on an airplane, etc. Right now, I'd be happy to get under 200. It's not that I'm settling, but once I'm under 200 and can do all of that stuff again, any more weight loss is just a bonus.

I'm a lot like you. I decided my goal is 163 because I was measured at the gym and the said my lean muscle mass was 142 lbs. For me to get down to the weights I'd been obsessing about, I'd HAVE to lose muscle mass. Or an arm or something else vital.

I'm 5'6" also and looked fantastic at 138. My current goal is 135, and I have NO IDEA what I weigh now, bc I'm scared of the scale! Every time I got on it 3-4 months ago, it was 161. I've significantly changed my eating (lots of veggies, fruits & whole grains, no animal foods) and am feeling and seeing a change, but I still won't get on the scale. Going to the doc this week, so I'll see how much I am. I try to go by clothes. When I'm a size 7-8, I look & feel my best. Good luck to you!