How much weight should I lose? [pic]

You wont know until ur there... aim to get to a healthy weight then re-assess when u get closer

I'm 5'8.5" and just on the cusp between medium/small frame. I'm at 140 lb right now and it's just about right I think. How I got here: I got down to 165, didn't like how I looked, and kept going. I eventually got down to 140. At that point I was getting pretty thin on top despite still having some thigh chunkiness going on, so I decided to switch to maintenance and recomp. We'll see how it goes. At the end of each month I've always done all my measurements and photos (front, side, back) to track progress and decide if I want to make any changes.

The only way you will know is to set a goal, get there, and see if you think you look too skinny/bony yet. This website can give you some suggestions, but there's really no substitute for monthly pics as you go: http://www.cordianet.com/calculator.htm

lisaducharme54 wrote: »

I personally think you should get to 165 being anything under would look unhealthy.

Really?? That's so subjective. I'm 5'11" and am aiming for 150, which doesn't look unhealthy on me at all.
To the OP, maybe don't worry about your final goal weight. Get down to 160ish and see if you want to go any lower.

lisaducharme54 wrote: »

I personally think you should get to 165 being anything under would look unhealthy.

Entirely subjective.
Before I added muscle I was still far too fat to be happy at 165 (I'm the same height as the OP). Now when I reach 165 pounds I'll be around 15% body fat.

OP: Just start. You don't need a number to tell you that you like how you look. We see lots of people who reached their goal and still don't like how they look. Most of them did no strength training and their body composititon isn't appealing to them. Add some strength training in from the start and go off what you see in the mirror.

Start with mini goals, like 160 and reassess when you get there.

Abs are sexy. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

I agree that you shouldn't worry too much about the number on the scale. 160 pounds on a 5'8" frame can look totally different from person to person depending on body shape and composition.

What's really important is that YOU like how you look and feel. I'm very, very happy that I've done strength training from the beginning and heavy lifting this year, but we all have different goals for our bodies. I'm 5'6", and my goal weight has changed lots of times - from 199 to 175, to 160, then 150, and now 145. Just see how you feel about your progress as you go, and reevaluate if you want to.

I have similar stats and a similar looking body. I started at 181 and was pretty happy at 160, although I'm sure that I could drop another 10 lbs. Better yet, screw the scale, lift heavy, and drop 2 more sizes... I'm just not there yet. At this point, I'm still working on keeping the initial loss off, but you'll know as you lose. For me, anything in the 120s or 130s would be ridiculous. That's me in high school with zero muscle. I'm more interested in keeping the weight off and being strong than an actual number. So somewhere in that range sounds good

Let me give you an example of messed up charts. lol I am 5 ft even. The charts say I should be 115 pounds. I was 185 when I got married and went up to 210 lbs in a year. I lost weight by eating right and doing aerobics three times a week. I got down to 135 lbs. Everyone kept telling me that I was losing too much weight. I've always had a much bigger behind than the top of my body. Finally the lady who owned the exercise place told me that maybe I should stop losing. I told her my but was so big. She said that it was my genetics and I would always be shaped that way. I was actually VERY bony up on top. So how in the world could I be 115 lbs if I looked bony at 135?

My point is, that you can set a goal, but don't make the goal permanent in your mind. Try to be objective when you look in the mirror and pay attention to how you FEEL. I have to lose a lot of weight....AGAIN....grrrr. But I hope that I can start looking at my health more than the number on the scale. But, it's sooo hard.

Beploveshomer wrote: »

in 23 pounds I will come back to this post and re-post swim suit pics and ask the same question!

I think this statement was meant in lighthearted jesting, but I did want to say: the only person whose opinion about your ideal weight matters is yours and your doctor.

I know you may only be using this thread as a "gut check" to confirm suspicions you already have one way or the other, but it's hard to tell over text, so I just thought I'd throw that out there.

I'm 5'9 and was 204 when I started. I'm now 148 and my goal is 140. If I'm still unhappy there then I'll take it to 135 which is as low as I can go on the BMI scale and still be considered healthy. I still think I look pudgy and awful at 148, so something tells me I will want to go to 135.

Annahasababy wrote: »

Wow you look great for 183. My lord. Where would the weight come off ???? Maybe just shoot for 160 (23 lbs). No clue how or where the weight will come off. You look just like I do (I'm 112 lbs but 5 2) well when not pregnant. Ha

You do look great, we are never happy with our weight. I would strive for 160 as well. Any smaller you will look too skinny and will more than likely not stay there. Just my opinion. I have a sister 5'5" @ 145 about and she looks skinny to me. You will never get to a perfect size because you will continue to change your goal. Just love yourself at any size. Eat right exercise and strive to be healthy.

The only advice I could ever give to this: Just start. Don't worry about the number. Just start. Start and don't stop. Watch your clothes get lose, your body build muscle and become firm. Screw the number! Just make your body happy, and become fit and healthy!

I would say just start with small goals like you have been. If you get to a point where you feel healthy and feel good about yourself, then you know you've met your goal. A number can mean so many different things on different people. I'm 5'9" and when I got married I was 137lbs, which I thought looked great, but I was borderline too skinny in my own opinion. The stress of the wedding made me lose that extra weight. I have always normally been around 145-150lbs and felt great there. After 2 kids, I ended up maxing at 203lbs. I lost 20lbs very gradually over about a year because I didn't change my diet or exercise. I just started Zumba 2 weeks ago and between that and changing my calorie intake I've already lost 3lbs (started at 183, now 180). My first goal is 167, which was my weight before getting pregnant the second time, and is also the very top of a "normal" BMI for me. My 2nd goal is getting around that 150lb mark like I was before kids. Sorry for the book lol, but as long as you are happy with your progress, then a number is far less important. Good luck!