How did you figure out your ideal weight?

amandapratt · March 2011

Hi all, I'm struggling with this! I'm 5' 3.5", 161.2 lbs, with a current bf% of 28.7. I'm pear-shaped and a small frame with the exception of my hips. I had a range in mind when I first starting losing weight and now I'm just not sure. Depending on the formula I use, my ideal weight is anywhere from 114 to 137.5lbs. Anyone have any good suggestions as to how to figure out what weight I should be shooting for?

Secret_Agent_007 · March 2011

Well ... having spent my youth on a travel swim team, I was rarely heavy during the season. At the end of gr 12 I was 140lbs with a 27" waist. I'm the same height I was then so .... OMG, I've got a LONG way to go.

MissAnjy · March 2011

hahaha your comments are always hilarious.

I'm 5'10 and I weigh 155lbs. I would like to be 140 but we will see. I would rather be 150 & toned then 140 & flabby.

cerysrhi · March 2011

I went into the BMI calculator on tools and had a look on there for my ideal bracket however my goal is about 10kg heavier cos I think I may look ill at 64kg which is the top end so I'm going for 75 first then 70 and see how I feel x

erickirb · March 2011

A rule of thumb is for a woman take 100 lbs at 5' and add 5 lbs/inch. So at 5'3.5" ideal would be 117.5 (100+ 5*3.5).
A rule of thumb for a man is to take 106 lbs at 5' and add 6lbs/inch. So at 5'3.5" ideal for a man would be 127.

Tiggermummy · March 2011

I haven't worked out what my goal will be

i need to be between 110 - 145 which is a fair range.

my plan is too see what happens when I at least make it to 145 and then adjust it from there as I see what my body looks like
and how I feel, I have always had broad shoulders and big feet so I doubt I will end up at the 110 range, but I also don't know
if at 145, I will still feel overweight/not look right.

innerfashionista · March 2011

It's a good question, and I wish I had an answer for you. I've always been heavy, so I don't know what my ideal body would even LOOK like let alone when I should stop. I'm interested to see everyone's answers

Painten · March 2011

I had no idea. I've always been overweight so couldn't even look back to a time when i was a good weight. My wii fit told me what my recomended weight should be so i'm aiming for that give or take a few lbs. I'll see how i feel about my weight wehn i'm close to that.

Secret_Agent_007 · March 2011

So I should be 141lbs. :noway: :sad:

Alidecker · March 2011

I have the same problem. Have no idea where I should really be. I have a goal set, but if I get there and decide to lose more, I will or if I decide I lost too much, I'll figure that out too. Some people tell me I shouldn't lose anymore...I only have 13 pounds to go until I hit my goal I set when I started. I just laugh when people tell me I don't need to lose anymore and say "You don't see me naked, there is plenty more to lose"

kmeekhof · March 2011

what he said but you can also +/- 10%

lesley1981 · March 2011

As far as I'm concerned, there is no ideal weight!

I'm 5'5", and at 22 I weighted 133lbs. I looked healthy! I'm going to be 30 in a few days, and I'm currently 148lbs. I look slimmer than I did at 22 :huh: and I'm wearing smaller clothes (UK size 10). I'm at the top of the normal range on the BMI scale, but if I got down to the bottom I'd look ill!

For me, your ideal weight is a weight that you're happy with...

Ginalilly · March 2011

So if I worked this out right I should be 130lbs =(58kilos)
I'd look so ill..!!! I'm 5'6"
I'd like to be 65 kilos again roughly 145lbs that would be just nice!

...better stop my midnight munchie attacks! :-O

LongMom · March 2011

When I lost weight 10 years ago I got down to 130lbs (I'm 5'5"). The BMI range for me is 120-150. I'm aiming for 150 this time around and will re-evaluate once I get there. 10 years and two babies make a difference and I KNOW I'm not going to be able to maintain 130

erickirb · March 2011

According to this I should be 142, and in my profile pic I was 142, I am now 145lbs. The other shirtless pic in my profile I was 138lbs

bizco · March 2011

I'm 5'6" and my initial goal weight is 130lbs. so this formula fits me perfectly! Depending on how I look and feel, I might try for 125lbs.

erickirb · March 2011

This rule is for a medium frame, small from could be 10% lower and large from 10% higher, it also, like BMI fails to look at BF%, which is the most important measure.

partcho · March 2011

so i should be 105... well.... that just seems pretty unattainable for me, i have to say!!! I was going to reevaluate at 130 (I'm 160 now). anyway, i have a long way to go until i can even think about being under 130.

Northantsman · March 2011

I worked mine out using the Body Mass Index calculation. I went for something in the middle of the healthy range and then cross referenced it against my height, and then rounded to the nearest half stone.

Secret_Agent_007 · March 2011

Thankyou. I'm not often serious and I'm glad that comes through in my posts. I wondered because the type written word doesn't always translate.

amandapratt · March 2011

Thanks for the input everyone! I think I'm going to talk to my doctor and maybe a nutritionist. The rule of thumb stuff just doesn't seem realistic for me (117.5 lbs when 114.9 lbs are bone and muscle???) so I'll figure it out as I go I guess.

Secret_Agent_007 · March 2011

That also means DW's goal weight is higher than mine. Yeah, she's that much taller. :noway:

revdris · March 2011

I was borderline depressed over this concept when I looked at a chart that said my ideal weight was 145lbs (considering I don't know when I ever weighed that - my first scale memory was being 150lbs in 8th grade).

A few weeks ago I went to the doctor and had a discussion with her about obesity & ideal weight (I was 340lbs that day). She agreed with me that the "ideal weight" should not be my goal based upon my frame and overall body composition.

She set a goal of 190lbs for me to work toward because she said I have a very solid frame and am tall. My previous doctor also said I should not necessarily aim for the chart weight either.

I would recommend having that discussion with your doctor to set a realistic and attainable goal.

I figure, if you have the equivalent of another person to lose like I do, the last thing you want to do is get to a "healthy weight" and have everyone ask you if you are sick. :laugh:

mommamorris · March 2011

I did the same as you! i did the BMI and it said i should be 130 and im 5'1'' so if that gives you a range to be in. id say anywhere between 130-145. but im not a medical physician so... maybe ask ur doctor?

mommamorris · March 2011

i agree!

staceywoo · March 2011

I'm also 5' 3 and started my weight loss in August at 168 lbs. I decided to aim for 133 lbs as this was nicely into the healthy bmi range and I was happy at that weight before I gained weight a few years ago. I'm now at 134 lbs and I'm going to try to lose a few extra lbs and then I'll stop - you can't really know until you get there. I'm naturally quite muscular (my thighs have hardly changed size at all as they're just solid!) so I don't want to drop any lower than 128 lbs as I think I'll just look too thin. BMIs etc are just for guidance, I'd recommend just losing until you're comfortable and feel healthy - don't get too fixated on numbers!

Mairgheal · March 2011

I just went for BMI, I was determined to be below a BMI of 25 and I made that. My next target is a (UK) clothes size 12 and I'm very close to that (I fit in them, but too tight, so I want them to be comfortable).

I reckon once I'm there, I'm happy enough to keep it at that.

dixiechicdana · March 2011

I would shoot for the high end of 137. If when you get there, you feel it is not enough, reset your goal. I am 5'1 and carry 135 pounds quite well. When I drop to the 120's I look like a baby bird without feathers LOL

turpz · March 2011

I'm confused about my ideal weight, I'm already closer to the bottom end of the range for my height, but I've got flabby bits and not even really started losing yet. Reckon I'd need to drop maybe 7-10lbs to see a noticeable difference in wobbly bits, but then will be underweight. And it's not like I don't have any muscle mass, though not as much as I'd like.

How much importance should we put on these 'ideal' weights? I know that very muscly people will come across as too heavy using them, but if I'm too light but not too skinny... what does that mean, hollow bones lol?

kelsully · March 2011

I would shoot for a weight near the top end of the ideal weight range...maybe 130 lbs and reassess. I am only 5 foot tall wgucg gives me a range of about 96-138 lbs. The chart I looked at split up body frame sizes. At 138 I was uncomfortable and out of shape and chubby. At 109 lbs I looked like I might slip through the cracks in the side walk and had no energy, experienced fatigue and my monthly hormones were super screwed up. I am short but muscular and very fit. I have found 115-120 to be perfect for me. I wear size 0 to size 2 clothes....etc.

At first I just wanted to be in the 120's somewhere...but then as I was changing my eating habits and training for a marathon etc I melted away the other pounds. When I dropped below 120 and got in the 109 -113 range I was struggling. I didn't feel great etc...I knew I needed to beef up a tad. I made sure I ate all my exercise cals and switched to maintenance...which ironically is when I gained a few pounds back...I found a perfect middle ground cal wise and the ideal weight found me. My cals in is a good amount. I am satisified with the amount and types of food I eat. It is not a struggle anymore and I don't feel hungry or deprived...which I would for certain if I tried to get smaller and mantain that...now I just do what I do and this is where I stay. So start with a weight or a size of clothing (I actually think this is a better idea) and see how you do with it and decide from there.

melsinct · March 2011

That's what I am thinking too.

I selected 145 as my target weight because in the past I think that is where I looked my best (I am 5'7"). I haven't been that weight in about 10 years so who knows what will happen when I get there. I may settle on a higher or lower number, depending how I look and feel when I get within striking distance of my goal.

How did you figure out your ideal weight?

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