How did you determine your goal weight?

I initially went by BMI/body frame size, but I definitely suggest trying for a certain body fat percentage as your goal rather than a specific weight. Unfortunately, I've found 2 different methods to calculate an ideal weight based on body fat percentage and they give two different weights - in my case, a difference of almost 10 pounds.

Lean body mass = current body weight - (current body weight *current body fat percentage)

http://www.trainonline.com/fitness-glossary/figuring-out-your-ideal-weight
1. (Lean body weight * desired body fat percentage) + lean body weight = goal weight

And http://www.roulacrews.com/resources/body-fat-percentages-lean-body-mass/
2. (Current body weight * desired body fat percentage) = desired body fat weight
>Desired body fat weight + lean weight = goal weight

Have all my fat bits gone? If yes I'm at my goal, if no then I need to keep on losing.

_Terrapin_ wrote: »

I chose the person's goal weight at the bottom of page and added 78 pounds.

Heh.

It keeps shifting. At 255 lbs my goal was to lose 10% of my then-bodyweight, but then I kind of got hooked. I've just passed my interim goal weight of 200 lbs, and am now heading towards 180 lbs, which is a more-or-less random BMI-based figure -- and then we'll see!

I chose a weight smack in the middle of the healthy BMI range for my height and age. Now that I am 7 lbs from that goal I am looking at my belly and am not satisfied. If I get to my goal weight and am still not happy with my belly, I am going on maintainance and will bust my butt lifting weights. After everything I have read on MFP, I think it's the way to go.

Edited to say, I waited way too long to start strength training. I am only 6 weeks into it, doing body weight lifts, and I should have done it from the beginning. Oh, well. Better late than never!

I picked a number that was smaller than I was, but not too much smaller (-20lbs).
When I hit that I picked another smaller number, and then another.
As I got closer to looking the way I wanted to look I switched to doing the same thing but with bodyfat, as at this point I'd be happy weigh what I do now if I can exchange lbs of fat for lbs of muscle.
Current goal is 18%.

I tossed a coin. Well, I aimed at fitting back in my size 8s. Now I wear a 4.

The weight loss team told me a realistic loss is 20% to 30% of my current weight post-surgery. So that is what I went with. When I was in my thirties I dieted for a year and got to within the "ideal" weight for my height. I felt good, looked good, and plateaued. I should have insisted on going on maintenance then. This time around, older and wiser, I would be happy to be twenty pounds heavier than that long ago "ideal". I'll still be overweight but hey, I already feel so much better.

segacs wrote: »

I picked 115 because that's low enough that it's a healthy weight for my height and that I know I will feel good, fit into clothes better, and overall look better and be happier... but high enough that I can probably maintain it. In the past, I've targeted ten pounds less than that, which is where I got to when I felt the best. But I was never able to maintain at that low a weight.

If I get to my GW and maintain it for a while, I'll work on body composition and lean muscle mass, as opposed to focusing on the number on the scale.

How tall are you if you don't mind me asking 115 is my goal weight too and I'm 5'3 haha

I picked a number at the 75% point of Healthy BMI which is where I have been at most of my adult life. But, now that I've lost weight, I moved my GW down another tick so I'm at the 65% mark. The very lowest I'd go is High School weight (at the 30% mark of the Healthy range), but I don't think that's realistic given I haven't been there in 20 years!! Also, I looked a bit too skinny back then.

Once at GW, my goal will be to maintain and continue to improve my overall fitness. I am already beginning to worry how I will maintain and not continue to lose. So, I think I'll change my loss rate to .5 lbs. as I get closer to GW.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/tools/bmi-calculator

I used freedieting.com for mine. *shrugs*

ninerbuff wrote: »

Get an idea of what you lean body mass is. Then figure out what body fat percentage you want to be. Then use the formula:

Lean body mass/ (1- desired body fat percentage)= goal weight

IE: lean body mass is 100 and desired body fat is 20%

100/.80 = 125lbs.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

THANK YOU! This was very helpful.

Carlos_421 wrote: »

I picked the weight I was in high school. lol

I did this, but I went with my weight when I started college. But, I was pretty skinny-fat back then, so my perfect weight when working out might be a little higher. I'll know it when I get there.