Setting a goal weight???

JillAnne0320
JillAnne0320 Posts: 21 Member
in Getting Started
So I'm 5'3'' and weigh 204lbs. I know I should set small goals and take them one step at a time until I reach my final goal weight. My problems is that I don't know what my goal weight should be. How do you know? How do you figure it out?

Replies

  • DevSanchez
    DevSanchez Posts: 314 Member
    Don't focus on the big goal number. I would set the small goals first. easier to obtain, less intimidating and besides, no one really knows if that goal weight will change or not. We all look different at different weights. You might make one goal and end up finding another one works better for you.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    There is a similar thread going on at http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1337235-help-setting-goal-weight?page=1#posts-20556989 so I am going to copy and paste my answer from that:

    I'm aiming at a certain body fat % to start with and then I'll decide if I am satisfied. I picked 25% because it is pretty much in the middle of the ideal category for women on the Jackson & Pollock chart for my age group. Then I used this calculator (http://www.fat2fittools.com/tools/ibw/) to back into the number. That comes to 151 for me. I rounded it to 150 because I like even numbers.
  • ThatMouse
    ThatMouse Posts: 229 Member
    I started at 5' 1/4" and around 155lbs. I set my first goal for 125lbs, but when I got there I found that my body wasn't at all as lean as I wanted it to be. So I started doing some reading and found that I was aiming at losing body fat percentage more than anything - gaining those lean abs and "toned" arms would all be dependent on lowering my body fat percentage to the "athlete" range or something.

    I used this (http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/body-composition-calculations.html) guy's research and his formula on calculating goal weight by body composition to get a general goal.

    So now I know that if I want to get to 18% BF, I have to aim for around 105-110lbs (I have no clue how to measure how much muscle I've gained in the initial stages of my weight loss, so I can't be sure what my final weight will be). But I know that no matter what, I have to judge ultimately by how my body looks and feels. After a certain point, the scale becomes secondary.
  • michaeljacksonfan333
    michaeljacksonfan333 Posts: 56 Member
    The healthy weight range for a 5'3 woman (according to BMI) is 113 to 141lbs. Take into consideration whether you have a small, medium, or large frame. You can check this by wrapping your thumb around your wrist and trying to touch your index finger. If it overlaps, you have a small frame, if it touches, you have a medium frame, and if it doesn't touch, you have a large frame.

    I am really glad I set a goal weight, because it made me excited to think about reaching my goal. I'm 5'6 and my goal weight is 125lbs.
  • cheripugh1
    cheripugh1 Posts: 357 Member
    So I'm 5'3'' and weigh 204lbs. I know I should set small goals and take them one step at a time until I reach my final goal weight. My problems is that I don't know what my goal weight should be. How do you know? How do you figure it out?

    If you google this question: how much should a female 5'3" weigh

    you will be directed to sites that are from good medical people...it will then show you a range depending on body build. I say aim for the highest weight given, say 140 lbs. and then decide at that point if you want to go lower or not... some people are good at even 20 lbs OVER that...

    BUT right now have small goals, like losing 20 lbs. at a time or you'll get overwhelmed.
  • pagefan
    pagefan Posts: 31 Member
    start with 5%-10% of your body weight.. you got this.. carry on!
  • corgarian
    corgarian Posts: 366 Member
    I have a weight I woild liiike to be, but honestly I have goal pant sizes! My first goal is to get to the single digits, and in the end I'm hoping to reach a 6.

    Weight wise I would like to get to 140, but honestly thats lighter then when I was a senior in highschool who danced 15 hours a week. If I dont hit that number I wont be heart broken.
  • glamsam8
    glamsam8 Posts: 39 Member
    ON MFP I do have my main goal weight set right at the tip of healthy BMI, but in reality, I have smaller goals set for myself, like 10, 20 pounds ^^
  • EverSinging
    EverSinging Posts: 30 Member
    So I'm 5'3'' and weigh 204lbs. I know I should set small goals and take them one step at a time until I reach my final goal weight. My problems is that I don't know what my goal weight should be. How do you know? How do you figure it out?

    My goal weight has changed as I've gone along. I started out not too far from where you are. I am about the same height and topped out at 195. I set my initial goal for my pre-baby weight at 155. Funny thing was, when I got there, I still wasn't content, because I knew I could continue, and my goal was no longer to be where I was before, but to be the best version of me, so I dropped the goal another ten pounds. Then I hit that, and I decided I can still do better, so it's down another 20 lbs. At this point, I am in the normal BMI range, and I am more focused on strength and health than the scale. If my body decides it wants to be fit and do that someone in this healthy range, then that's just fine. The "normal" weight range for our height is probably 120-145-ish. However, people can be in that weight range and still be quite unfit, so right now, the scale will start moving faster, and I think the scale is an okay measure at this point. As you get closer, the objectives might change.

    So, set a goal that seems achievable to you, celebrate when you hit it, and then reassess! You can do it! :)
  • kaseyr1505
    kaseyr1505 Posts: 624 Member
    My goal weight is 140, which will put me in the "healthy" BMI range. I have a medium frame, so I decided to make my goal weight range 140-130.

    When I get to 140, if I'm still not loving it, I will go down to 135, and judge from there.

    I would set a bunch of small goals for yourself, to see how your body looks at different weights.
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    I picked the highest number on the "healthy" range of the BMI chart. I'm not going to reach it, but I have to have something set as a goal because, for me, there's no point.
  • chrissyrenee1029
    chrissyrenee1029 Posts: 358 Member
    Small goals are definitely best. Personally, I've been setting goals on increments of 10. My first goal was to get out of the 230s; now it's to get out of the 220s and I'll keep going that way until I get down to a healthy BMI then I'll decide at that point what my ultimate goal is.
  • chrissyrenee1029
    chrissyrenee1029 Posts: 358 Member
    I also think it's important (at least for me) not to put a timeframe on reaching the smaller goals. Setting yourself up for success is extremely important and making sure your goals are realistic and attainable is the key.
  • mysmileighs
    mysmileighs Posts: 103 Member
    When I started, I reverse calculated the top weight for a healthy BMI for my height (24). Here's one reverse calculator I found: http://www.countcalculate.com/diet/reverse-bmi/
    I'm 5'9" so the top would be 162.

    I put that number in as my goal weight. When I get there, I'll evaluate if I think I have a little more to lose or stay put.
  • aedreana
    aedreana Posts: 979 Member
    I am 5' 3 1/2". What you need to base your goal on is what size you want to be.If you want to be model-thin, like a size 0, like Kellie Pickler, you will probably need to set your goal @ around 95 pounds. If you want to be slender but not model-thin, like Carrie Underwood, your goal will be around 110 pounds. If you want to be medium-size, not fat not skinny, like a size 6, then at 5' 3" you can set your goal @ around 130 pounds. I have weighed everywhere from 101 pounds to 200 pounds during my adult life so, I pretty much know what 5' 3" looks like in a hundred-pound range! I am 121 pounds now and having to reevaluate my goal weight again because my weight redistributed after menopause. But your ideal weight is going to depend on whether you want to be a size 0, 2, 4, or 6-- probably between 95 and 135 pounds for that range of sizes.
  • TheVirgoddess
    TheVirgoddess Posts: 4,535 Member
    So I'm 5'3'' and weigh 204lbs. I know I should set small goals and take them one step at a time until I reach my final goal weight. My problems is that I don't know what my goal weight should be. How do you know? How do you figure it out?

    My first goal was 25 pounds, my next goal is to get under 200. After that to 180 and finally to 160. I chose 160 because that's a weight from the past that I felt really good at. The reality is, I'm going to see how I feel at different points in my journey and stop when I'm happy.

    PS, 160 is still in the "overweight" category as far as BMI goes, but I don't really care.

    ETA: I'm 5' 3 3/4" ;)
  • LaLaVee13
    LaLaVee13 Posts: 54 Member
    Use this calculator! It takes your frame size into account, not just height!

    http://www.superskinnyme.com/ideal_weight_calculator.html
  • poetgirl115
    poetgirl115 Posts: 45 Member
    I separated my small and large goal weights. I have my larger goal on here, and then I set smaller, "step" goals on my wii fit. While the scale is not perfect (it's usually within .6 pounds of my digital scale), it's a great way to feel that rush of progress on a long trek towards better health. Find a way to make smaller goals: use a whiteboard ( I do that, too! lol), give yourself reasonable, flexible due dates (which will help when you smell cinnamon rolls in the mall, trust me), just find a way that works for you. Good Luck!

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  • sparacka
    sparacka Posts: 137 Member
    Use this calculator! It takes your frame size into account, not just height!

    http://www.superskinnyme.com/ideal_weight_calculator.html

    This has thrown me for a complete loop!
    I know that I come from farmer-stock, genetically, at least. There's a saying in my family: when the mule is sick, the Lithuanian woman pulls the plow (meaning that not only do we pick up the slack wherever needed, but also that we have the physical fortitude to get the job done). So I know that I do not have a slender frame by any means. But this calculator says that my ideal weight is 8-28 pounds higher than my goal weight.
    What now? Attain my "ideal weight" & then assess how I feel about my body?

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