Choosing goal weight?

ovi212
ovi212 Posts: 145 Member
in Goal: Maintaining Weight
I was just wondering how everyone came about choosing their goal weights?
«13

Replies

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I didn't really, I went by BF%. My goal was to lose as much fat as possible without burning up a bunch of muscle. My goal weight was more of a range that I knew I should probably be in at my desired BF% supposing that I didn't burn too much muscle.
  • ShannonMpls
    ShannonMpls Posts: 1,936 Member
    At first, my long-term goal was simply to be under 200. I thought that would be enough. As I got closer, though, I adjusted my goal to the top end of the healthy BMI range for my height. I ridiculously thought I'd be "too skinny" at this weight, but that was just because I'd never been there before. Once I hit this, I dropped a few more pounds than shifted to maintenance. I like to know that I can go to the doctor's office having had coffee and wearing clothes and still weigh in at a healthy BMI.

    Body fat percentage is another way to measure that probably makes more sense, but my doctor's office doesn't do body fat measurements ;)
  • RipperSB
    RipperSB Posts: 315 Member
    Checked Health Canada recommendation and went for the middle of their recommended range. That was 145 lbs and I overshot a little after reaching but settled in at 142. That is now my base weight and my goal to main but I expect/accept flucuations that will put me anywhere in the 140-145 range.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I picked what I looked good at when I was 21 (so... ages ago).
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    Initially I went with a goal of 160 as that would mean I'd lost 100 pounds. Then I lowered it a bit to 157 to bring me into the high range of BMI for my height. And more recently I lowered it again to 150 to give me a bit of wiggle room once I get to goal. I may lower it again once I get closer to 150, we'll see.

    Some folks set more short term goals because the long range freaks them out. Say you have 100 pounds to lose but that just seems like so much weight and it'll take forever. So you can set your your goal to 10 or 20 pounds and just tackle those smaller goals. Either way, you'll get there. Do whatever works best for you.
  • EdTheGinge
    EdTheGinge Posts: 1,616 Member
    I liked the sound of 150lbs, no more to it than that really
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Mirror. On my last cut I actually had to drop 3-4 more lbs than I though I would to get the look I wanted to have.
  • Jerrypeoples
    Jerrypeoples Posts: 1,541 Member
    i reached into my *kitten* and pulled 212 out
  • sarrah_n
    sarrah_n Posts: 192 Member
    My goal continued to change over time, and still does. But I was ultimately going for less body fat.
  • bzmom
    bzmom Posts: 1,332 Member
    At first I wanted to get to 135. Why?, because I used to weight 145 in my H.S. years and still thought I was big. I did however successfully reached 138 about 1yr and half ago. But eventually didn't stick and gained all of it back. This time around Im not focusing on the weight I really don't care how much my ending weight is. I am more concerned in lifting to make my legs, arms and back stronger. I have a 4yr old girl (besides 2 teen boys) and I will be dammed if I cant pick my baby girl up or make my boys break a sweat when they try to lift me off the ground and I wrestle them off... LOL!
  • Sarah_828
    Sarah_828 Posts: 23 Member
    I used to be 115 lbs when I was younger and super active. I lead a different lifestyle now and have different physical limitations, so I don't think that getting back down to that weight is realistic. While 135 lbs is still edging on "overweight" for 5'3", I'm quite curvy so I have to take that into consideration. It's not a hard goal for me. If I get down to 140 lbs and decide I'm happy with my weight, I'll stop. If I get down to 135 lbs and am not happy I'll keep going. For me it's not necessarily a number so much as being happy with the way I look.
  • jessicameadsstephens
    jessicameadsstephens Posts: 56 Member
    I have been overweight for 16 years so I set my goal at what i hoped I could reach and maintain for awhile, I will still be considered Overweight....but I just want to see what I can achieve.
  • Adc7225
    Adc7225 Posts: 1,318 Member
    Initially I chose my goal weight with my doctor, we decided on 170 to get me off high blood pressure medication. When I told a good friend this her comment was 'you may want to continue when you get there,' now I may have been too sensitive because that comment crushed me. 2nd phase goal was 150, that would have been a loss of 94 pounds, but recently I have been challenged to round it out to an even 100 pounds (I will get a cake then). I think for me personally because I have body image issues I probably really don’t have a goal weight.
  • flumi_f
    flumi_f Posts: 1,888 Member
    Was always overweight, so at the beginning, I thought OK under 70kg would be OK, 65kg would be great.

    When I saw how it was coming off, I went for the middle of my BMI range. I now am 5kg to goal and a BMI less than 24. So I am well on my way to my goal.
  • kshadows
    kshadows Posts: 1,315 Member
    I picked what was comfortable to me and felt "normal" before I gained weight. Bang, 130 pounds.
  • jacquiearchambault
    jacquiearchambault Posts: 86 Member
    Initially I went with a goal of 160 as that would mean I'd lost 100 pounds. Then I lowered it a bit to 157 to bring me into the high range of BMI for my height. And more recently I lowered it again to 150 to give me a bit of wiggle room once I get to goal. I may lower it again once I get closer to 150, we'll see.

    Some folks set more short term goals because the long range freaks them out. Say you have 100 pounds to lose but that just seems like so much weight and it'll take forever. So you can set your your goal to 10 or 20 pounds and just tackle those smaller goals. Either way, you'll get there. Do whatever works best for you.

    Yup - I just started so setting the small attainable goals is working for me. I want to get to 10 pounds then to 20 and so on till have shed the full 100 pounds I need to lose to get to my healthy weight
  • Jaybigp
    Jaybigp Posts: 6
    I chose the weight that I was my senior year in college. I was in the best shape of my life, and I felt healthy and strong.
  • sullus
    sullus Posts: 2,839 Member
    You don't choose your goal weight. Your Goal Weight chooses you.

    In all honesty I have no idea what my goal weight is. I'll know when I get there....
  • chsa22
    chsa22 Posts: 33 Member
    A few years ago (pre living with future husband) I was at 144-147lbs and I was very happy/comfortable at that weight. (I'm 5'6'') I am currently at 160lbs and trying to lose 10 slowly (the only way I know I will do it). If I can get my weight to the low 150's, I'll be satisfied. My clothes will fit more comfortably and hopefully I will have less belly fat. My weight always fluctuates a few lbs, so I think my goal weight will be between 150-154.
  • fredman2
    fredman2 Posts: 57
    I picked a target weight that was ATTAINABLE.

    No sense in going for a ridiculous weight from the start and getting discouraged if you
    did not make it.

    My case: 3 weeks ago I was 407.6.
    I am 'supposed to be' around 180.
    180's not gonna happen anytime soon, IF EVER.
    I was 180 when I was 16.
    So, I aimed for 299 - when I get there that will prove I can do it.
    Today I am 394.
    When I get to 299 I will aim for 265, and get there.
    Then I will aim for 245, and when I get there I will aim for 225, so there it is,
    it may take 2 years, but I am aiming for 225 long term.
  • LosingItForGood13
    LosingItForGood13 Posts: 182 Member
    My goal weight is based on my height but also my desired weight to be as far away from 200 as possible
  • viciouslitany
    viciouslitany Posts: 187 Member
    dunno! the one I picked sounded pretty good. 100 lb since I joined MFP, but 110 overall. but for my height and age, I should weigh somewhere around 162... which would be 130 lbs lost overall. whew...
  • maroonmango211
    maroonmango211 Posts: 908 Member
    My goal like many others is based on trying to hit the middle ground of what is healthy for my hight and once there I will assess if I want to lose more or just work on muscle vs fat. I personally don't want to fight with the scale when going to maintenance and would rather have that wiggle room at healthy weight .
  • MelsAuntie
    MelsAuntie Posts: 2,833 Member
    I'll just decide when I look the way I want to, don't care what the actual weight is.
  • Commander_Keen
    Commander_Keen Posts: 1,179 Member
    If you choose soemthing too big, and you don't make it, you may feel upset.
    Go with something small.. like a 1lb or two per week..something small that you can focus on
  • daweez04
    daweez04 Posts: 35 Member
    Still don't have one. First was wanted to get under 300, now I just add 25 lbs losses on my goal until I am happy with what I see in the mirror.
  • ALNoog
    ALNoog Posts: 413 Member
    Well.... My first goal is to get under 200.
    And then after that it's a small goal to 188 which will put me at the smallest I've been in my adult life (I lost down to 189 about 5 years ago)

    Then I will go from there. Ultimately I'm thinking around 160....
    My goal wasn't necessarily to get skinny... More to get healthy and out of the obese category.
  • ALNoog
    ALNoog Posts: 413 Member
    But I do set "mini" goals along the way to keep me motivated and from obsessing over the big number and getting discouraged../

    Such as get in the 250s and then 240s and then 230s... So on and so in......

    This month I set an 8 pound goal. We shall see if I made it on April 1st
  • BigVeggieDream
    BigVeggieDream Posts: 1,101 Member
    I picked the weight I was at when I was at my fittest, which was 171 and I was in great shape. I'm 10 years older, so I figured a good weight for me would be higher, which I guessed to be at 180 and then added 10 to 190, just as a goal that I thought was reachable and after that, I would see what happens.
  • lavender_fairie
    lavender_fairie Posts: 76 Member
    I have no idea...been thinking about that a lot these days. When I got married I was 130, so that was what I put as my goal. But i would have to go to 125 to stay at 130, and I don't recall ever being 125 lol-dong know if that realistic at all. I'm 5'8".

    For the longest time, I went by 10's. "Get out of the 190's!" Get out of the 180's!" And so on. But I'm approaching the 140's now and I'm pretty darn happy. Once I get into the 140's good, I'll figure it out...somehow...Ive relied heavily on mfp stickies for my journey thus far and I can't seem to find anything that talks about how to determine one's goal weight (probably bc everybody is so different). I guess folks go off bmi or their instinct? but I don't think I have a clue what is right for me anymore. I was tiny without trying all thru life until I had kids 7 years ago, and I've been big ever since. My idea of the "new" (but older) me is probably skewed.

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