Why I think weight isn't a proper goal

Firstly let me clarify something so people don't take this the wrong way.

I think losing weight to regain (or for the first time gain) good health is an admirable and worthy goal. I'm not saying this to diminish, in any way, the accomplishments people are shooting for.

Over the course of 4 plus years on MFP I've gone from a novice loser, to something of an experienced health and nutrition layman, some would even call me something of a mentor or advice giver. I like to think of myself as that person who tells it like it is, sometimes the advice given is something you want to hear, sometimes it isn't, but I rarely change the message. Your health is THE number one priority (in my humble opinion), looks and how other view you, while perfectly valid emotions to have, should always be secondary. This is my honest opinion. To this point, when I design or edit (something I'm doing constantly) my own nutrition and exercise programs, the first thing I think of is "How will this help me? And is this good or bad for my overall health?" If the answers to those questions are both positive (from a body health perspective), then I dive into what my other reasons are for them.
Make no mistake, I want the hard body as much as the next guy (or gal), but I won't sacrifice my health to do it.

Having said all that, I would turn to a weight as a goal. To this end, I ask you, what is your "perfect" weight? Do you truly know it? Or do you just THINK you know it. How did you come to that conclusion? Did someone help you? if so, what method did THAT person use to come to it.

I submit this, weight is very very arbitrary. Depending on how much muscle mass we have, how dense our bones are, and how hydrated we are, our weights can fluctuate by relatively large amounts (as much as 3 or 4% per DAY!!!) So I generally don't like hard weight goals as end results. I personally use Body fat % as one of my main goals for body composition. I realize this is not as easy to measure as weight (bio-electrical impedance home scales can be wildly inaccurate), which means you must trust your plan and have far more time between check ups, but I am one of those people that can compartmentalize this type of thing and not let it rule me. for others, there are similar measurements that can be used easier and more frequently with great results, such as size measurements (I don't mean clothes, those can change with stretching, washing, and between manufacturer) such as waist, hips, arms, chest, thighs, neck. Even forearm, wrist, ankle, and calf are all good measurements.

I know lots of people like to "get back to their pre-baby weight" or "back to their high school weight" but that's not really a reasonable goal. As we age, our body composition changes, muscles change, bone density, size, and structure changes, the needs of our body changes as well, this all adds up to the simple fact that having the body of an 18 year old isn't necessarily GOOD for us as a 40 year old, older bones can't handle the strains that are put on young bones, old tendons aren't as flexible, old ligaments don't have the cushion that young ones do, and old hearts and lungs don't have the same capacity. And yes, our bodies accumulate more fat, it's just physiology. This isn't meant to bum you guys out, it's just reality, it doesn't mean you can't still be athletic, active, and lively. It just means you must plan your life around you, not the young version of you.

So I say, ditch that "ultimate" weight goal, but don't stop tracking progress, weighing yourself isn't the devil, and it is a perfectly fine way of tracking progress, but it should neither be your only means of tracking, nor should it be your obsession. Set some goals that are not weight related, don't throw your eggs all in one basket. Have a measurement goal of some kind (be it body fat %, lean tissue amount, size measurements...etc.), but also have physical goals like walking that 5 miles in under 75 minutes, or running that 5K, or hiking that mountain, or biking that 50 miles, or swimming that mile. the goal doesn't matter as much as one would think, having a difficult, but achievable goal is the point.

Best of luck everyone.

-Banks