5'9 ladies, does ANYONE want to be in the 120s?

clare120
clare120 Posts: 41 Member
in Getting Started
I am an 18 year old girl, and my goal weight is in the 120-128 range.

Everyone I talk to says that is way too low, but I am guessing that I am in the 140s right now (haven't weighed myself in a LONG time, it just discourages me and I find I stay more motivated when I don't know what I weigh).

I have weighed 144, my lowest recorded weight, and I still had fat to lose in my stomach, thighs, and arms. I feel like that excess could add up to 20 lbs of distributed fat, and I don't think I would look too thin.

According to BMI standards I would be "underweight" but I really don't think that is accurate at all.

Please let me know your thoughts!! :)
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Replies

  • godswill206
    godswill206 Posts: 48
    My doctor gave me a range between 127-148lbs. I'm 5'8. Evidently, there are several formulas to calculate ideal weight.
  • judiness101
    judiness101 Posts: 119 Member
    I'm almost 5'9 and I would look seriously gaunt in the 120's , but I have large hips and breast. It really depend on your build. I know a girl who's also 5'9 and a model a she's about 115 pounds and she looks terrific. It really depends on a lot of things!

    Maybe you should focus on having a body fat % goal instead of a number on the scale?
  • skinnyinnotime
    skinnyinnotime Posts: 4,078 Member
    Even at the same height we all carry weight differently.

    I'm 5ft 9" and would look half dead at 120lbs, the lowest I've been that looks good is 135, I went down to 131/2 unintentionally and it wasn't pretty!!
  • astroophys
    astroophys Posts: 175 Member
    It really depends on your build (frame and muscle). Some people look great at low weights, while others look gaunt. I'm 5'7, and I look frightening in the 120s (friends, family, everyone worried about me) because my frame is medium plus I've got a good amount of muscle mass.

    It's not just about losing fat. It's also about building and maintaining muscle in order to have that "toned" look. Pilates is great for that, for instance.

    You're really young. Check in with your doctor/dietitian for advice. Good luck!
  • iggylove123
    iggylove123 Posts: 302
    I suppose that it depends on your build and where you store your weight. I'm 5'9.5 and weigh just under 170. I have wide hip and a wide rib cage, I'm forever curvy so if I weighed 120 I would look SICK! The lowest I could weight without looking sickly would be 150. My goal is to be 160. I would strive to be healthy and lean, don't focus so much on the number, focus on the feeling
  • clare120
    clare120 Posts: 41 Member
    Wow, I have never posted a topic before and I didn't think I would get so many replies this quickly! Thank you all so much for your advice!
  • ythannah
    ythannah Posts: 4,371 Member
    I'm 5'9 and my usual weight is 117 (down a bit right now). But I have a tiny frame -- long thin bones. My wrist measurement is less than 6". So I'd have to say it would depend on your frame.

    I look thin, sure, but not "half dead' or anything like that. I can carry a 35 lb bag of dog food around quite capably with one arm, or do a 4 - 5 hour hike with no problem.
  • dakotababy
    dakotababy Posts: 2,407 Member
    Start lifting heavy!
  • ValGogo
    ValGogo Posts: 2,168 Member
    nope. I like 160-175 for me and that would be with musskles. I was once 156 and I didn't look too good. I mean, I looked good, but my face looked gaunt.
  • Kate7294
    Kate7294 Posts: 783 Member
    At 5'7" I looked terrible at 130 lbs. I fit in a 7 jeans ( the waist was lose but had bruises on my hip bones from rubbing). My goal is between 140-155. Really depends on your bone structure.
  • HestiaMoon1
    HestiaMoon1 Posts: 278 Member
    It is NOT 20 pounds of fat, that's definite. Can you get to a gym with a certified instructor who an do a caliper test at least?

    Here's my 2 cents.

    I'm nearly 5' 10" and I used to model .... If the 120s were a healthy weight for you, it's what you would weigh without any struggle. At my lowest I was 130. I ate one meal a day and exercised very hard for lots of muscle to continuously burn fat and stayed 135 quite comfortably. However, I was still "too fat" for photograph modeling. Those girls are naturally very slight, small skeletal structure to begin with, and then they "suck down" (drastically lose via laxatives, diuretics, etc) 10+ pounds of mostly water before a shoot. Please, don't ever measure yourself against them, they will be the first to tell you it isn't healthy, it's what they do for the job - short term - they go up to a more normal weight in between jobs, but like I said, their normal is quite low because of their frames.
    If you want to lower your clothing size - and aren't hung up on the scale - you could tone up with exercise to build muscle.
    Right now I am aiming to get back down to the 140s but I'm not hung up on that number -- I'm giving myself slack because I'm older and I've had kids.
    Good luck.
    Stay smart about this.
  • astroophys
    astroophys Posts: 175 Member
    I'm 5'9 and my usual weight is 117 (down a bit right now). But I have a tiny frame -- long thin bones. My wrist measurement is less than 6". So I'd have to say it would depend on your frame.

    I look thin, sure, but not "half dead' or anything like that. I can carry a 35 lb bag of dog food around quite capably with one arm, or do a 4 - 5 hour hike with no problem.

    Thank you for saying this. I think a lot of people on MFP forget that being thin and healthy is a real thing.
  • mscrystallee
    mscrystallee Posts: 62 Member
    I am 5'8 and I will say the lowest I have ever been was 145, for my build that was far too thin. I had bobble head syndrome when someones head appears to big for their body and most of my bones were sticking out. It will also determine your built, I have broad shoulders, broad hips and I am just not a small framed gal. I would worry more about weight training and make that fat go away that way, your weight may not go down but you will be toned.
  • clare120
    clare120 Posts: 41 Member
    Thanks for the replies, very helpful! I am a size 4 in clothing right now, my goal is to be a 2. Anyone else in the same boat?
  • ythannah
    ythannah Posts: 4,371 Member
    Thank you for saying this. I think a lot of people on MFP forget that being thin and healthy is a real thing.

    And thank you for acknowledging that. :flowerforyou: Other times I've posted my stats on here, I've been accused of promoting eating disorders blah blah.

    And I'm extremely healthy. All my bloodwork comes back "excellent" per my doctor. I get a cold maybe once every two or three years, and it's never bad enough to keep me off work. I have more energy than most of the women my age.

    Anyway, to answer the OP's latest question, I'm a size 4 at my current weight (I have 36" hips) other than a couple of brands where I wear size 2, but I think that's more down to vanity sizing than anything else. Or maybe it's because I'm *ahem* middle-aged and prefer my clothes a little less closely fitted than in my younger days :laugh:
  • alligatorrawr
    alligatorrawr Posts: 144 Member
    I'm 5'9" and I think 140 is unreachable even for me. 120 means I would have to cut off a leg and maybe an arm. It does depend on more than height. I rather have more toned muscles than a smaller number on the scale. But than again I've always been overweight! Sooo I think it's more how YOUR body is at that weight :) I was a size 9, (I have some "baby makin hips" they are huge, and I was in GREAT shape, but I was still 170 pounds, while people thought I was 130, so it depends on your body type, and how you feel at that weight! try doing some yoga and some core workouts, but don't get obsessed with a number on the scale, but maybe body fat percent! that's my main goal. to get from 46% to 23% :)
  • alligatorrawr
    alligatorrawr Posts: 144 Member
    I'm 5'9 and my usual weight is 117 (down a bit right now). But I have a tiny frame -- long thin bones. My wrist measurement is less than 6". So I'd have to say it would depend on your frame.

    I look thin, sure, but not "half dead' or anything like that. I can carry a 35 lb bag of dog food around quite capably with one arm, or do a 4 - 5 hour hike with no problem.

    I love that you used a dog food reference!! I'm a dog groomer so I judge my strength by what breed of dog I can comfortably pick up. that just made me smile!!
  • alligatorrawr
    alligatorrawr Posts: 144 Member
    Thanks for the replies, very helpful! I am a size 4 in clothing right now, my goal is to be a 2. Anyone else in the same boat?

    i'm a 14 and want to be a 12. soooo i'm on the tug boat over there. or the cruise ship with the buffet ;)
  • AlyM725
    AlyM725 Posts: 158 Member
    Looking back at my 120 days in pictures, and I looked way too skinny! It might look good on you, but it wasn't for me.
  • manicautumn
    manicautumn Posts: 224 Member
    As long as you can do it in a healthy way and are able to maintain there comfortably. I'm 5'0 and maintaining between 115-120. I would love to lose another 10-15lbs, but I'm realizing that doing that would push me into seriously bad habits and ruin my ability to go out socially. For me, that's a deal breaker. I'd rather be in the middle of the healthy range and mentally/physically happy.

    It's all about you. You're 18, which is fairly young. I might recommend checking in with your doctor.
  • mhollencamp102012
    mhollencamp102012 Posts: 165 Member
    My mom was 5 9 and 127 and she was very very thin, but i do believe it all depends on your body type. if you're at 140 work your way down, if your are starting to look/feel to thin......then stop......just dont over do it
  • pbandbananas1996
    pbandbananas1996 Posts: 29 Member
    I'm 5'9.5 and currently 126. Trying to gain weight because, although my BMI isn't dangerously low, 126 just looks toooo skinny on my frame.

    So, it all depends on your build. If you're a small frame, you might look alright but be careful. Make sure you're healthy, have enough energy, still menstruate, all that stuff.
  • clwasmer
    clwasmer Posts: 57 Member
    Me, Me, Me I like the Lady above has very small frame and 5'9, wrists a little less then 6 inches. I was always in the 120s and then hypothyroidism hit a few years ago and I was up too 158 which is my hips and stomach UGH!!. Everything in my middle :(. I am at 147 now and my goal is 136 by November when we go to St. Augustine :). I would so love to be my old weight but I have to keep it real and know that although I am eating under (most days of my 1200 cals.) it has taken me forever to get to where I am at now. I am so grateful for getting past the 150 mark :). As the ladies said it depends on your frame and your happiness :) My hubby is losing weight leaps & bounds ( bless his lil heart):ohwell:
  • alligatorrawr
    alligatorrawr Posts: 144 Member
    Me, Me, Me I like the Lady above has very small frame and 5'9, wrists a little less then 6 inches. I was always in the 120s and then hypothyroidism hit a few years ago and I was up too 158 which is my hips and stomach UGH!!. Everything in my middle :(. I am at 147 now and my goal is 136 by November when we go to St. Augustine :). I would so love to be my old weight but I have to keep it real and know that although I am eating under (most days of my 1200 cals.) it has taken me forever to get to where I am at now. I am so grateful for getting past the 150 mark :). As the ladies said it depends on your frame and your happiness :) My hubby is losing weight leaps & bounds ( bless his lil heart):ohwell:

    in the most unweird way I love you. I think it's what you say and how you say it haha! I did want to say have fun in St. Augustine!! it's wonderful there!!
  • Beautifulbridgittlee7
    Beautifulbridgittlee7 Posts: 352 Member
    When I was 5'9 I was like 128-140 and I looked good.
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    At 5'7" I looked terrible at 130 lbs. I fit in a 7 jeans ( the waist was lose but had bruises on my hip bones from rubbing). My goal is between 140-155. Really depends on your bone structure.

    Interesting how different we all are. I'm 5'7" and 130 pounds and I think I'm just about right. I start to look sickly in the low 120's and a bit bloated in the low 140's. I know people who weigh 20 pounds more than me (at a similar height) and wear smaller sizes. Humans are so diverse...:smile:
  • devil_in_a_blue_dress
    devil_in_a_blue_dress Posts: 5,214 Member
    Have you talked to your doctor to see if s/he thinks that would be a healthy weight for you?

    ETA: Is it possible you have a high body fat % and need to work on composition, not weight loss?
  • fatcity66
    fatcity66 Posts: 1,544 Member
    I'm 5'9", and for me, I doubt anything under 140 would be healthy. I was 152 at my lowest, and I looked great and was comfortable in a size 6, but I could never maintain much lower than that. I do have a medium-large frame, though. If you still want to lose fat, concentrate on building muscle and lowering your body fat %. Anything under 125 is considered underweight as far as BMI, so please don't compare yourself to fashion models, or try to emulate them!
  • FFfitgirl
    FFfitgirl Posts: 369 Member
    Im almost 5 10 and my lowest was 155.4, I looked sickly at that weight. My focus this time is strong and not skinny, with the goal around 170 -175
  • clare120
    clare120 Posts: 41 Member
    Have you talked to your doctor to see if s/he thinks that would be a healthy weight for you?

    ETA: Is it possible you have a high body fat % and need to work on composition, not weight loss?

    I haven't talked to my doctor, I've always been in the "healthy" weight range so my doctor never brought it up. Doctors, from my experience, suggest weights for me where I know I won't be happy with the way I look. I haven't brought up the 120-128 lb thing because even though I know I won't be/appear unhealthy at that weight, she will probably discourage it simply because it doesn't match up with her charts.

    I have gotten stats done and stuff, my body fat percentage was in the 20s. I'm small framed (i think, its hard for me to measure that type of thing) and also very muscular.

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