How does one decide on a goal weight?

I've been pretty close to a healthy weight, but never actually in that ideal zone for my height (5'8"). A few months ago I was almost 100lbs more than my lowest weight (high school). It seems impossible to get back there. My new doctor, who is very supportive of my weight loss and has scheduled monthly weigh ins to help me, doesn't think I should go below 190, because "it's not necessary" and "the skin on your face will sag". I was disappointed in her goal for me, since I maintained at that weight for a while after college, and really felt overweight. I don't know what to do. I've lost 25 lbs in 3 months but can't tell a difference anywhere but my face. I think I'd like to lose 100..but I'm afraid of loose skin and feeling too deprived, especially since I've never particularly enjoyed any kind of exercise. I'd like to have a real goal and some monthly goals for my weigh ins to help me feel like I'm making progress. Any ideas or advice?

Goal weights are pretty meaningless. As you can vary up to 5 pounds a day due to normal fluctuations at what time of day would you deep to have reached your goal weight. What happens when at 2 pm you are suddenly no longer at that weight. Just aim for around a Healthy BMI range and see how that goes. Don't worry about a specific number

As for loose skin there is little point worrying about it. A lot will come down to genetics/age /how much you need to lose and just luck. It can take up to two years for your skin to catch up with your body after a lot of weightloss. If you have a little at the end it's better to have that than the health problems and shorter lifespan associated with being obese. Don't worry about something you cannot control or make it too big and issue. Also you really don't need to feel deprived to lose weight. Have a look at the link some great advice. Good Luck

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1175494-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants?hl=guide+to+sexypants&page=1#posts-18361594

Why not set small goals and reevaluate when you reach them?
For example set your first goal as a BMI of 30. When you get there, see what you feel you want to do, i.e set to 28 and then decide again?

I am 5ft 8 and am currently at a BMI of 26 - I am approaching my lowest weight for some time but this is still on the overweight range, I'm going to get there and then have a think about whether I want to lose any more. Ideally I'd like to get to a BMI of 24 but I'm sure if that will happen.

Good luck!

Why not set small goals and reevaluate when you reach them?
For example set your first goal as a BMI of 30. When you get there, see what you feel you want to do, i.e set to 28 and then decide again?

I am 5ft 8 and am currently at a BMI of 26 - I am approaching my lowest weight for some time but this is still on the overweight range, I'm going to get there and then have a think about whether I want to lose any more. Ideally I'd like to get to a BMI of 24 but I'm sure if that will happen.

Good luck!

+1. excellent starting point.
i started 7 weeks ago with a bmi of 36. now am at 32.goal is < 30 and then reevaluate.
g luck.

I have been all the weights between 119 and 235lbs. I am 5'7 with a large frame. I know that 120lbs is not manageable for me. I want to go down to 155lbs (the highest weight at which I feel comfortable), learn to maintain and then, maybe, go down to 135.

hello, i'm also 5'8" my aim is 160.9 or there abouts, the way i worked out this is by looking at the time when i was at my fittest but fully developed ( 24) and taking into account my body type, it's not the same if you have a very fine skeleton or big bones and it's not the same if you are straight up and down or pear shape or apple shape.
160.9 is me without an ounce of fat, tight and muscly without having a six pack or looking like a body builder, cycling it's great, you save on transport and get tight at the same time.

about the shagging of the skin on your face it all depends on your age and collagen levels, there's also face exercises that tighten the muscles and the skin and washing your face with cold icy water increases circulation, there are ways.

You have to accept that things may not look like when you were a teenager, i've had 3 kids and know that when i lose the weight i'll always have the strecht marks and floppy bit of skin, but the aim is to get healthier and feel better, you know what's best for yourself, doctors don't always get it right. All the best.

I set a goal weight for myself that was in the healthy range for my BMI. It gives me something to strive for, but I don't know if I'll ever actually get there. I think that goals change as you go, and the number on the scale is really only a number. The goal (at least for me) isn't so much a number, I just want to look in the mirror and like what I see. I want to feel comfortable with my body, and not like I have to hide it or feel embarrassed about it. Whatever the number on the scale is when I get there is fine with me.

I'm 5'7" and currently 188 lbs. I originally set my goal at 147 but have upped it to 155 lbs. I just got out of the obese category of the BMI on 8/14/14 and my goal at 155 lbs. will put me into the healthy range.
I suggest getting to Doctor's recommendation then re-evaluating. See how you feel. Then set your next goal whether you want to maintain or whether you want to lose more.
A lot will depend on your age and genetics.

I think the best way is to set small goals and then re-*kitten* as you go:) Its good youve consulted your g.p. you're off to a great start.

BMI is a good rough guide. There is also now increased emphasis on the importance of fat distribution. Carrying excess fat around the middle contributes to more serious health problems than carrying fat elsewhere. The measuring tape is important and often overlooked.

I'd highly recommend you to keep a journal of measurements as you go. Every two weeks, measure and record. You will really see a difference and it will be such a great source of motivation on bad days. (I always measured in cms it made it easier to read difference and difference seemed more impressive in cms) I have a book that I kept with recordings over the year. Its a great keepsake to remind me where I've come from. You'll often see a difference on the tape where the scale hasn't caught up.

If you're not sure how to measure here's a post I did in it few years back:http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/328520-recording-the-difference-4-week-challenge-ongoing

Best of luck to you op and feel free to add me :flowerforyou: I wish you the very best with your weightloss journey :flowerforyou:

{. According to the WHO, there is an increased risk of metabolic complications such as insulin resistance, high cholestrol and abnormal fat distribution for men with a waist circumference greater than 94cm(37 inches) and for women with a waist circumference greater than 88cm (32 inches) (WHO,2000)}

I had the same goal of getting down to 190 and after that I went lower. Your doctor doesn't really know if your face will sag (I think the chance of that is greater if you only diet and don't do strength training). Setting the goal at 190 will make it easier to achieve, though, and when you get there, you'll have a better idea of how much further you want to go.