Determining an Appropriate Goal Weight

ashleigh560
ashleigh560 Posts: 3
in Health and Weight Loss
How did you all determine your "goal" weight? I've been operating under the assumption that I have about 100 lbs to lose, based on BMI and all the little charts floating around out there.

BUT, I came across some interesting information today about frame size. I'm a female, 5'2" and my wrist is 7 1/2", which would put me WELL into the "large" frame size category. In fact, everything I read indicated that that's a large wrist size even for most men.

This makes sense, since I've always been "thick", even at my skinniest...very muscular, but with padding on top of that and very large breasts. So should I be shooting for somewhere closer to the 140-150 lb range? That seems very heavy for someone so short... although it's still much, much better than where I'm at now.

Any input would be very much appreciated!

Replies

  • BigT555
    BigT555 Posts: 2,067 Member
    id shoot for your original goal and then adjust later on if necessary. i changed my goal weight like 5 times, and now i couldnt even care if i ever hit 185, i just want ma abs
  • UmmSqueaky
    UmmSqueaky Posts: 715 Member
    Keep your goal flexible. That little goal number we input here isn't permanent. Once you get closer to it, you can reassess. My goal was a pie in the sky number I picked just inside the "healthy" BMI range. Now that I'm closer, I can see I'll probably want to adjust it downwards, but that wasn't something I ever thought of at the beginning of my journey.
  • jdhcm2006
    jdhcm2006 Posts: 2,254 Member
    I looked at BMI and chose the highest number for my height as a starting point. I also remember that at my smallest I weighed 128 and I was very comfortable there.

    I'm shooting for 125-128. I also am going by how I look in the mirror, how my clothes are fitting. That wrists test told me I should be in the low 100s (high 90s) just like BMI, and I shudder to think how I would look weighing 100 pounds. I would set small goals and reassess when you meet that.
  • AlliSteff
    AlliSteff Posts: 211 Member
    I went to a BMI chart and looked around, saw what my range was. Then, taking my body shape into account (I personally think my hourglass shape looks better with a bit more weight on vs, say, someone who may have a less exaggerated body shape), I kind of picked something in the middle.

    Once I finally get there, I may re-*kitten*
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    I looked at BMI and chose the highest number for my height as a starting point.

    That's what I did. BMI chart is one of the top things my doctors look at to see if I'm "healthy". Basically I just needed a number to shoot for since I seem to work better with a goal.
  • tigerblue
    tigerblue Posts: 1,526 Member
    This can be soooo variable! My range is 96lbs to 132 lbs. At 96 I would not look attractive. At 132, I am bigger than I would like.

    I think that setting your goal first for what is considered "healthy" by most charts is a good idea, and then re assess as you get closer.

    I personally would like to be 115-120. A few years ago I got down to 112. I thought that was perfect, but when I look at the pictures, I realize that few more pounds would look better!

    I think that age matters, too. As we get older, we need just a bit more weight (but don't use that to justify being overweight!)
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I never really had a goal weight...just sort of a general number in mind that I thought would correspond to my desired level of body fat and overall body composition.

    Scale weight is pretty arbitrary and there are numerous things to consider, including your frame and muscle structure. BMI can be an issue for many people; for example, myself I am very lean at the high end of the BMI chart for my stats...like around 10-12% BF which is pretty difficult to maintain. According to BMI, I'm overweight now...but I'm at a totally healthy BF% of around 18%. I'm by no means a body builder or anything like that either.
  • 365andstillalive
    365andstillalive Posts: 663 Member
    I did a couple things: I looked at my frame size based on the wrist measurement like you have, consulted the BMI scale (recognizing that it doesn't take LBM into account, nor frame size really), figured out my body shape and then spoke with a nutritionist, and picked a tentative goal.

    I'm between 5'6-5'7, and right on the line for the medium/large size frame. After looking at the BMI scale, I figured that since I'm on the larger frame side that I probably didn't want to go below 150. When I met with the nutritionist she advised me that I'll likely feel more comfortable around the 140-145 mark based on my body fat percentage, fitness goals, and the way that I want to eat. My ticker is set to be complete when I reach 145, but if I feel comfortable at a weight before that, I'll start maintaining, in the same way that if I hit 145 and realize that my body fat percentage is still too high or that I'm uncomfortable with how it looks, I'll loose a little more.

    Really, it's all a guessing game.
  • Adc7225
    Adc7225 Posts: 1,318 Member
    We are the same height :smile:

    I started at 244 and my doctor and I discussed a realistic weight for me based on my age, and body type would be 175. I was happy with that and then a friend was like . . . you may want to continue once you get there :grumble: So I decided on 150 thinking I would go from a size 20 Women's to a 10/12 Misses. Right now I am at 154 and I wear sizes 6/4, with still more weight to lose because I carry my weight in my hips and thighs and I want them smaller :indifferent: My goal weight now is 144, I am thinking that will balance out to a maintained weight of between 145 - 149, I just really want to be under 150!!!

    For me to be at a healthy weight based on the BMI I would at max be 138, 16 more pounds to lose, I don't believe that would look good on me, especially since I am trying to build up some strength, muscles weigh more. I would probably wind up being close to a size 0. Not going to happen.

    You have to sort of go with how you feel and how you look, not based on that BMI scale that does not take into consideration the individual person.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    I pulled it out of my hat. I literally said, "That sounds pretty good" and entered it.

    I started very heavy and when I began, I had no goal. "Lose the fat." That was the goal...and still is, for the most part.

    Boyfriend has seen me at my old, natural weight (before the unfortunate pile on) and does not want a girlfriend that skinny. My relatives are all dying to see if I can get back there at this age without having to stave. I kinda want to get back to my old weight, but I dunno.

    When I get thin, I'll decide how thin I want to be. Haven't come to that bridge, so no real plans yet. :)
  • ana3067
    ana3067 Posts: 5,623 Member
    I determined my potential goal weight by figuring out what I would ideally like my body fat percentage to be. So starting out at 188lbs, I estimated my body fat to be around 30%, which put my lean body mass at around 130lbs. It's very possible my BF% was higher though. At 175lbs now, I've calculated my BF through skinfold and tape measurements, and so far each has put me at around 25-26% BF. I believe I used this calculator to determine what potential weight I'd be at for my desired body fat (18%)

    http://www.fat2fittools.com/tools/ibw/

    Which estimates ~160lbs.
  • bwogilvie
    bwogilvie Posts: 2,130 Member
    I picked a weight goal that was in the upper part of the healthy BMI range, just to start. Once I approached that, I took stock of my strength, stamina, and body fat, and adjusted the goal down. I just did a third downward adjustment, but I think I'll settle there.

    Weight is a pretty crude metric for overall health and fitness, but it has the advantage of being easy to measure. Since healthy body weights for people of the same height vary dramatically due to a number of factors, though, it's best to focus on those other factors once you're in the ballpark of a reasonable maintenance weight.
  • squirrelzzrule22
    squirrelzzrule22 Posts: 640 Member
    100 lbs can seem daunting at first. Personally I only have a 30 lbs to lose but even thinking of THAT seems like too much, so instead I set smaller goals- 10 lbs at a time. Set your goal weight for 50lbs, see how you feel when you get there! No one but you (and a competent doctor) can tell you if that's where you want to be or not. Either way, you'll be 50lbs closer and feel a million times better already! You may get to the "big frame" goal weight and feel great, or you may feel that your bodyfat is still too high and want to shed some more. As long as you're getting healthier and happier that's all that matters!
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    Not sure if anyone pointed it out, but you carry fat around your wrist, so "frame size" changes as you lose weight (because your wrist measurement doesn't actually have anything to do with frame size).

    I started with the BMI range on the chart, and as I get closer, I will switch to going by how I look and bf%.
  • Calliope610
    Calliope610 Posts: 3,783 Member
    I used this "Goal Weight Calculator"...


    http://www.fat2fittools.com/tools/ibw/

    I like it because it determines the goal weight based on desired body fat %, rather than BMI.
  • michikade
    michikade Posts: 313 Member
    Mine is currently set one pound below "overweight" for my height on the BMI charts but it's subject to change based on body composition. Technically speaking I should aim about 15 lbs lower but if my current BF% is close to accurate, the lower weight would cause me to lose several pounds of lean muscle that I'm not willing to sacrifice if I can help it.
  • ashleigh560
    ashleigh560 Posts: 3
    Thanks, everyone, for your input! I've been overwhelmed because I have SO much to lose, it just seems unattainable to reach a "healthy" weight. Squirrelzzrule22, I like the suggestion of breaking it into smaller increments, I think that's probably what I'll end up doing.

    Auddii, thanks for pointing the wrist size thing out. I also took the elbow breadth thing into consideration-- but like you said, there's fat there too. I still think I'm on the bigger side, frame-wise (even when my ribs and hip bones were protruding, people said I was "sturdy") but maybe that's something I should re-assess as I lose weight.
  • tigerblue
    tigerblue Posts: 1,526 Member
    Two things

    1. Frame size: in my opinion having a small frame size does not necessarily mean your shape will be narrow or slim. My wrists and ankles are tiny. My bones are small. But my rib cage and my hip width are not tiny. And this is not because I carry a lot of fat. My SHAPE is curvy and wide regardless of the fat or lack thereof. And that is genetic. So that definitely influences goal weight.

    2. I am so jealous of tall gals. You can weigh so much more than me (and thus eat more!) and still be the same size. At 115-120 I am a size 4. And some of you weigh in the 140s and are a size 4. So not fair!!
  • srmchan
    srmchan Posts: 206 Member
    How did you all determine your "goal" weight? I've been operating under the assumption that I have about 100 lbs to lose, based on BMI and all the little charts floating around out there.

    The BMI chart suggests I should be 150lbs as the middle of my "normal" range. Problem is, I have ~155lbs of lean body mass. No way I'm going to sacrifice LBM if I can help it, so I'm using my current LBM and target BF% as @Calliope610 recommends to set my initial goal weight which is 180-190 lbs based on 15-20% body fat. 190 lbs is "overweight" and almost "obese" according to the BMI chart, so I'm ignoring it.

    I am using weight as a key measurement of progress, but I also make sure my BF% is dropping and that I'm at least maintaining my LBM by eating tons of protein and strength training.

    Sam
  • paulperryman
    paulperryman Posts: 839 Member
    This, BMI is only assuming you are lean and don't have naturaly big muscle to start with.
    at 75Kgs and 15.1% Body Fat i'm still only just in normal range unless i go by my waist then im overweight still.
    im at a point now i don't care about all of that, my clothes fit great, my health is good and thats more important then numbers telling you you are not ideal

    I should be 65-70Kgs for ideal weight range but thats just stupid i already see ribs and my hips can't shrink anymore, the only thing left is my pudgy skin around my belly and maybe my butt :)

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