Ideal body weight

pinkissheek
pinkissheek Posts: 185
edited September 22 in Fitness and Exercise
I was wondering if I was aiming for the right weight goal ...I want to lose 202 pouns which would put me at 150 (yea I know I am a big fat fatty) lol...so i did this test on a website and it was very informative. It said my ideal weight (as medically recommended) is 121 - 159 lbs so I guess I was right...but I wanted to post the link for others if they need it! http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm

Replies

  • Heidi1987
    Heidi1987 Posts: 191 Member
    Thats great! thank you so much for posting that!:flowerforyou: i was correct with my ideal body weight too, getting there :smile:
  • kimjoan
    kimjoan Posts: 192 Member
    "Ideal Weight" guidelines are great but they don't always take everything into account. If I were to shoot for my "ideal weight" I'd have another 40 pounds - take 40 pounds off this body and I am aneroxic. My goal is 175, 10 pound to go, versus the 140 range that some places have me at - my doctor thinks that 175 is the perfect weight for me. The guidelines are good but look at and listen to your body to find your ideal place.
  • loxleys
    loxleys Posts: 230 Member
    i've just done this and it confirmed that my ideal weight is what i have set. But i do think it depends on how you feel in your clothes.

    Good luck with your weight loss
  • jrlenig
    jrlenig Posts: 364 Member
    I originally thought my ideal was never obtainable and that I would look and feel like I was starving my self if I ever got thee, I have 2 pounds to the top of my medical ideal weight and now I know I can do it plus another 15 ( still well within my range of 118-155lbs!
  • patio1313
    patio1313 Posts: 169 Member
    I think that it is almost scary what some of the healthy weight guidelines are. I should be somewhere between 135 - 170. I haven't weighed that much since 8th or 9th grade. For me I am shooting for 185...If I get to that I will be happy.
  • Sammy_k715
    Sammy_k715 Posts: 29 Member
    Well, thank you for posting it. I was right about my goal weight. Which is 145. =]
  • a1schwei
    a1schwei Posts: 617 Member
    thanks for sharing...i also really like this one: http://www.self.com/calculatorsprograms/calculators/happyweight because 'ideal weights' for me don't always take into account body type...the 'happy weight' this gives me is pretty accurate to where i want to be :)
  • Andre_Demers
    Andre_Demers Posts: 59
    Thanks for your information. The majority of people do fit in does parameters and should aim for does goals. You will all feel better. Thanks again. :)
  • qwho
    qwho Posts: 157
    I love the idea of my happy weight, and it is 166, and since I weigh 155, I am even happier, lol!
  • geregam
    geregam Posts: 17 Member
    It really comes down to body fat math.

    I'm 6'4", and currently 239.6 lbs and 20.4% body fat, which puts my lean body mass at around 190.8. For men my age (18-39), my body fat % should be between 8 and 20%. If i were at 8%, my body weight would be 206, which is still above my medically recommended weight, but the body fat % is at the low end.

    My current goal is to get to 15% body fat. it's not about losing the weight, it's about losing the fat. I don't want to diet to hard and lose muscle, i want to remove the fat from my body. right now, a 15% body fat puts me at about 220, assuming I don't gain any more lean muscle mass. I'm still medically overweight, but If i can run and lift like I do now, i don't really care.

    I would find a dependable way to measure body fat percentage, a good exercise plan, and a healthy diet, and see where that takes you. This site helps tremendously to keep tabs on what you put in to your body and holds you accountable for what you eat. From there, it's up to you to keep on track.

    I started at 320, and all i wanted to do was lose the weight. Now that I'm within 20 lbs of my goal, it's more about being fit and healthy than losing the vanity pounds here and there. If I had to stay at 240 for the rest of my life, I'd be okay with it, as long as I could still run and workout like i do now.
  • SafariLara
    SafariLara Posts: 172
    My goal is near the bottom of my "ideal weight"
    we shall see in a few months time how realistic this goal is.. Haha
  • binary_jester
    binary_jester Posts: 3,311 Member
    People's choice: 194
    Medical: 125 to 164

    Until they make a Hawaiian setting, i am screwed. I weighed 164 when I was 5.
  • emott84
    emott84 Posts: 108
    These sorts of overall calculators always either make me angry or depressed. I'm a solid girl, but what I actually look like does not reflect what I actually weigh. I'm 5'3 and weigh 184 pounds, and while the number seems "high" to me, I'm a size 12-14 and definitely don't look 184.

    These body calculators/ideal body weights, always make me feel like it's completely unattainable. Even at the top end of the most generous calculators, I'm still supposed to be 140ish pounds and I don't understand how that's supposed to even happen. There is no way my bone structure is going to let me be 140 unless something drastic happens. Like mono.
  • cardbucfan
    cardbucfan Posts: 10,571 Member
    thanks for sharing...i also really like this one: http://www.self.com/calculatorsprograms/calculators/happyweight because 'ideal weights' for me don't always take into account body type...the 'happy weight' this gives me is pretty accurate to where i want to be :)

    According to this site, my happy weight should be what I started MFP at and I definitely wasn't happy there! I've actually lowered my goal weight another 7 lbs. because I think I can get there and that will be a much happier, maintainable weight. It's truly about how you feel in your body.
  • qwho
    qwho Posts: 157
    These sorts of overall calculators always either make me angry or depressed. I'm a solid girl, but what I actually look like does not reflect what I actually weigh. I'm 5'3 and weigh 184 pounds, and while the number seems "high" to me, I'm a size 12-14 and definitely don't look 184.

    These body calculators/ideal body weights, always make me feel like it's completely unattainable. Even at the top end of the most generous calculators, I'm still supposed to be 140ish pounds and I don't understand how that's supposed to even happen. There is no way my bone structure is going to let me be 140 unless something drastic happens. Like mono.

    are you taking into account your frame size, because that affects your weight goal too ... I am 5' 11" and a medium frame and I weighed 183 in August, and now I weight 155 ... what is your bmi? that should tell you if 140ish is a good goal for you or not
  • bsexton3
    bsexton3 Posts: 472 Member
    Found it interesting that when I put in my starting weight of MFP in August, my ideal weight was 200. My current weight has my ideal as 190. It continues to go down until I hit 175, then my ideal weight is actually heavier. I am 6'0". My BMI is 140-184. I don't know what is being used as a calculator, but I don't take it. I will see where I feel comfortable with myself.
  • jrlenig
    jrlenig Posts: 364 Member
    The happy weight is actually 5 pounds above my goal, but I want to be be happy at any weight!
  • emott84
    emott84 Posts: 108
    These sorts of overall calculators always either make me angry or depressed. I'm a solid girl, but what I actually look like does not reflect what I actually weigh. I'm 5'3 and weigh 184 pounds, and while the number seems "high" to me, I'm a size 12-14 and definitely don't look 184.

    These body calculators/ideal body weights, always make me feel like it's completely unattainable. Even at the top end of the most generous calculators, I'm still supposed to be 140ish pounds and I don't understand how that's supposed to even happen. There is no way my bone structure is going to let me be 140 unless something drastic happens. Like mono.


    are you taking into account your frame size, because that affects your weight goal too ... I am 5' 11" and a medium frame and I weighed 183 in August, and now I weight 155 ... what is your bmi? that should tell you if 140ish is a good goal for you or not

    I do take into account my frame size, I just feel like all the calculators for ideal body weight don't!
    I would consider myself to be a "medium - large frame", there is never any way that I will be smaller than a 8-10 dress size (which I'm totally okay with, really).
    The BMI calculator tells me that I am Obese at 32 (which is a huge kick in the pants to begin with) and that my ideal weight is between at 104 - 140lbs.
    But at my smallest two years ago, after a very huge lifestyle change and an extended illness, I was only at 150-155.

    So it's all just very confusing and like I said, seems very unattainable.
  • tosunnyskies
    tosunnyskies Posts: 12 Member
    The happy weight for me is exactly what my goal is and getting there will make me very happy
  • qwho
    qwho Posts: 157


    I do take into account my frame size, I just feel like all the calculators for ideal body weight don't!
    I would consider myself to be a "medium - large frame", there is never any way that I will be smaller than a 8-10 dress size (which I'm totally okay with, really).
    The BMI calculator tells me that I am Obese at 32 (which is a huge kick in the pants to begin with) and that my ideal weight is between at 104 - 140lbs.
    But at my smallest two years ago, after a very huge lifestyle change and an extended illness, I was only at 150-155.

    So it's all just very confusing and like I said, seems very unattainable.

    I think instead of focusing on what seems now like an unattainable goal, perhaps focus on a series of smaller goals, lowering your bmi or making healthier choices, more exercise, pounds lost or inches lost in smaller increments, whatever goals you have along those lines, and perhaps 104 - 140 is in your future at some point. And if not, as long as you are happy with yourself, that is what really matters, no some number a calculator spits out. Best of luck in your journey! (btw, what is your bmi? that should give you some idea where you are at, and getting that to a healthy number will have you well on your way)
  • emott84
    emott84 Posts: 108

    I think instead of focusing on what seems now like an unattainable goal, perhaps focus on a series of smaller goals, lowering your bmi or making healthier choices, more exercise, pounds lost or inches lost in smaller increments, whatever goals you have along those lines, and perhaps 104 - 140 is in your future at some point. And if not, as long as you are happy with yourself, that is what really matters, no some number a calculator spits out. Best of luck in your journey! (btw, what is your bmi? that should give you some idea where you are at, and getting that to a healthy number will have you well on your way)

    I just realized that I made it sound like I was 32 years old, instead of my BMI number. My BMI is 32 (telling me obese when I really don't feel or look obese, but probably a body frame issue, lol)
    Thanks for the advice, I'm just going to have to go at it in small goals!
  • qwho
    qwho Posts: 157
    I did think you were 32 years old, lol, thanks for clearing that up
    and if your bmi is 32, it does not lie, and I think most of us are
    either heavier or thinner than we think we are, don't know how
    that can be, but it is, self perception can get screwed up, I would
    love to see myself how others do for just 5 minutes

    and I think the smaller goals will keep you going, because each
    time you reach one, be it looser fitting clothes, or inches or pounds
    lost, more energy, whatever it might be, will keep you moving towards
    your ultimate goal

    friend me if you like, we can encourage each other, I am just about
    done losing weight, but maintenance will be a bear too I bet.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    I am 5"8' Male and happy weight was 143lbs????!!!! WTF? That would be a VERY unhappy weight for me, I would be a stick! :P I have been down to 149lbs once in adult life and I was weak and unhealthy IMO. Currently 170lbs.

    Healthy weight range is very subjective. I know on a lot of bodybuilding sites it is a good thing to be considered obese or morbidly obese by the BMI standards :)
  • rayfromtx
    rayfromtx Posts: 111
    My happy weight shows to be in the low 170s. I'm 6'3" tall. My goal is 180 and right now I'm at 190. People, including my wife have been telling me to stop since I got to 200.

    This ideal weight calculator is in agreement with most of the others out there. I have measured my bones and those measurements show me to be just a little into the small frame range or right on the edge of small to medium.

    I would get lots of complaints if I went to 170. People are used to seeing overweight people and I think it skews their view of what normal looks like. I will reassess when I get to 180.
  • kwardklinck
    kwardklinck Posts: 1,601
    Thank you. :)
  • Holton
    Holton Posts: 1,018
    I think using the MFP site to determine a healthy weight provides good insight, but there are also many medical sites you can visit as well. Your number once source of input on this should be your personal medical doctor, who knows all of your health issues.
  • a1schwei
    a1schwei Posts: 617 Member
    thanks for sharing...i also really like this one: http://www.self.com/calculatorsprograms/calculators/happyweight because 'ideal weights' for me don't always take into account body type...the 'happy weight' this gives me is pretty accurate to where i want to be :)

    According to this site, my happy weight should be what I started MFP at and I definitely wasn't happy there! I've actually lowered my goal weight another 7 lbs. because I think I can get there and that will be a much happier, maintainable weight. It's truly about how you feel in your body.

    its just a true testament to the variability of how people are and how our bodies vary! the 'people's choice' weight on the first site for me was 7-8 lbs below the 'happy weight' that i am personally more comfortable with for myself and my body type...could i get to the lower weight and look even better than i do now, sure, but knowing myself i couldn't maintain it happily...using this site has made me realize that there are so many more factors playing into being a 'healthy weight' than i ever imagined and it has actually made me appreciate my body more :)
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