How did you pick your goal weight and how many times has it changed?
McCloud33
Posts: 959 Member
For me I started at 235 at the age of 31 and hadn't been under 200 in close to a decade. I kind of randomly picked 185 (even 50 lb weight loss) when I started almost exactly a year ago. I hit that in May 2014 and was happy, but still didn't have the body I was hoping for. After some research I and body fat calculations, I though I could get down to 12% BF at about 175 or 10% at 170. After several months of just maintaining I'm trying to loose those last 10-15 lbs again, but if I get down there and still can't see my abs (at least a 4 pack) then I might shoot for 165.
So how did you pick and have you changed it at all?
So how did you pick and have you changed it at all?
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I set it at 130, but like you I've moved on to working out more and being fit. I suspect I don't have a goal weight so much as a goal body. I haven't changed my goal, but I will be happy with anything in the 130s.0
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I started with "wanting to lose blah blah" (randomly picked). Yes it's changed, the number is no longer important. Being strong is.0
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Hasn't changed yet because I haven't reached it, but I picked my goal weight based on what I weighed when I was winning martial arts tournaments, and basing it on the fact that when I went below that, I started to lose tournaments. So, it's quite literally my "fighting weight"0
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In the past, I never picked a goal weight that wasn't arbitrary based on BMI. To be fair, I've never reached a goal weight either
Currently, my goal is based on the weight I was in a photo I like. I know though that my body composition will have changed and I'm unlikely to look that way again, even at the same weight.0 -
This time I picked a goal that was 30 pounds less than my starting weight. That will take me to the highest healthy weight for my height. It seemed like a good number and not too overwhelming. When I get to that point, there is a very good chance I will decide to try to lose another 10 to 20 pounds which would put me in the middle of the healthy weight range for my height and is where I felt pretty good in the past.0
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This time I picked a goal that was 30 pounds less than my starting weight. That will take me to the highest healthy weight for my height. It seemed like a good number and not too overwhelming. When I get to that point, there is a very good chance I will decide to try to lose another 10 to 20 pounds which would put me in the middle of the healthy weight range for my height and is where I felt pretty good in the past.
I assume you're referring to BMI when you talk about "healthy weight for my height". I quickly ruled out using BMI as I would have to be at 8% body fat just to reach the high end of "healthy". My calculated lean body mass is around 154 lbs right now which would only put me in the middle of the healthy range and that would be at a theoretical 0% body fat LOL.0 -
I picked my goal weight (between 130-160) because of a BMI chart. I am pear shaped(which I didn't realize at my highest recorded weight of 360.2) and I can see alot of my bones at 260. Not really sure if I will even want to be 160 at this point. After 100# down its more of a goal body than a number. I want to be strong, healthy and have a normal body fat %.0
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I took the middle # for a healthy BMI for my age & height and went from there. I know BMI is not a good indicator but it was an easy starting point to use as a goal. My goal only changed once from my original goal. Once I was a healthy weight for my stats I just went with it and made no huge adjustments & figure my body will level off once it arrives at a weight it is comfortable with. I've maintained for coming up 2 yrs now.
Best of luck to you!0 -
I picked my goal based on a weight I have been before and was happy at. It hasn't changed yet. I'm still about 30lbs or so away from it. I ultimately want to be 20% BF and I really don't care what the scale says at that point.0
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i chose my goal weight based on the last time i was that weight. i felt amazing, i looked great (to me) and i was healthy and active. i got pregnant and long story, my weight went up and up. now, i just strive to get back to where i was back then. no, i haven't changed my goal weight.0
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I picked one that sounded good, realized it would be considered overweight still, dropped it 15, and now I dropped it another 10 as my absolute lowest I'll hit, which is still in the middle of a healthy BMI.0
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I started at 170 lbs. My original goal weight was 130 lbs (5 lbs heavier than high school weight). As I closed in, I kind of stopped paying attention to a specific number and with weightlifting and a moderate deficit, found that 120 lbs was about where I wanted to be at physically. Now, I do intend on doing bulk/cut cycles to build muscle and continue increasing in strength with weightlifting, so who knows what that number will be in a few years but my focus has definitely pulled away from a set number and more of a "what I love myself as" perspective.0
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When I was in great shape in my early to mid 30s (10 years ago) I was 120, so that was my goal and it was reasonably easy to pick. I've played with maybe trying to go lower in my mind, but it will depend on how I look and what my BF% is. I'm more likely to decide to focus on gaining strength than getting thinner, I suspect.0
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This time I picked a goal that was 30 pounds less than my starting weight. That will take me to the highest healthy weight for my height. It seemed like a good number and not too overwhelming. When I get to that point, there is a very good chance I will decide to try to lose another 10 to 20 pounds which would put me in the middle of the healthy weight range for my height and is where I felt pretty good in the past.
I assume you're referring to BMI when you talk about "healthy weight for my height". I quickly ruled out using BMI as I would have to be at 8% body fat just to reach the high end of "healthy". My calculated lean body mass is around 154 lbs right now which would only put me in the middle of the healthy range and that would be at a theoretical 0% body fat LOL.
Yes, I looked at BMI. I know it isn't a great system for everyone to choose a healthy weight but for me I think the numbers are right. After age 18, I have weighed anywhere from 100 lbs to 180 lbs and I feel I was at my healthiest weight when I was in the middle of what the BMI says is a healthy weight for my height.0 -
Every time I did Weight Watchers they set my goal at 128 and I always wanted it to be 125 (who knows). So now, I pretty much stay between 126 and 129. I'm happier at the lower end, which is usually attainable. I'm at 128 right now.0
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I'm petite and like to be 50 kilos. When I'm a that weight I feel right and get compliments. That's what I always go back to, it's like my preset button. Even 2 extra kilos ( 4lb) changes my tummy / thighs. Probably no one but me can tell though. I gain and lose that extra bit constantly.
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I was about 130 lbs when I was lifting weights 3 times a week and working out a lot. That was also 10 years ago.
I know my body composition has changed (in addition to gaining loads of fat) but 130 still seems reasonable to me. I have less muscle mass. When I get around 130 I guess I might adjust, but it's a long ways away so there's no reason for me to re-assess just yet.0 -
Started at midpoint of my IBW range (about 185). Then moved it to 225 as a more realistic number. I reached that and then changed it downward a couple of times. Then I changed it back to about 190 relatively recently. Currently about 239... Started 344 a couple of years ago, went down to 213.6 at one point. Have been back up to 244 at one point.0
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I started last year in June, and my initial target was 175lbs, the lightest I could ever recall myself been. Like you when I hit it, I did not yet have the body I wished for, and revised my goal down to 168lbs. I hit that, and revised it down again to 160, with a view to dropping further to 155, depending on if my body goals were satisfied at that point or now.
Namely though, it's a work in progress, as beyond 175, it's been new ground for me. I may have been lighter than 175 before, but 175 is the lowest measured weight I've reached that I've been aware of.
I hit 166 before Christmas, and currently sitting at 164, but at this point I'm letting my body be the goal, and whether I am fully happy with what I see in front of the mirror yet. I'm not sure what ultimate weight I shall end up at, but my goal is to have no superfluous/ excess fat deposits that are visible, or to put a body fat % on it from what I've seen on the web, somewhere around 14% body fat I think.
Congrats on your progress, and good luck in reaching your ultimate goal. Re: stalling, I wouldn't worry too much about it, you'll get going again I'm sure. Personally everything was plain sailing for me until November, and then it felt like I had a tape worm or something, and hovered back and forth around the same weight level for a while, as I struggled to thread water. I've got going again, and put my prior struggles down to perhaps colder weather/ increased appetite. I still struggle for a few days from time to time, but mostly it's forward progress, even if a little slower than the initial traunch of weight loss in the first 4 months or so.
I don't plan on stopping until I am happy though, as for the first time in my life I may reach the point where I don't have a belly, lol. That said, as I drop a little more weight, my maintenance calories reduce with the lower bodyweight. As a result, I may take a little break before I reach my ultimate goal, and reverse diet a little. If I can bring that level up by at least a few hundred calories and help me maintain better when I hit my final target, I will be happy. Until then, it's onward and upward, even if those final 10'ish pounds take as long as the first 30/ 40, lol 0 -
iloseityes wrote: »Re: stalling, I wouldn't worry too much about it, you'll get going again I'm sure. Personally everything was plain sailing for me until November, and then it felt like I had a tape worm or something, and hovered back and forth around the same weight level for a while, as I struggled to thread water. I've got going again, and put my prior struggles down to perhaps colder weather/ increased appetite. I still struggle for a few days from time to time, but mostly it's forward progress, even if a little slower than the initial traunch of weight loss in the first 4 months or so.
I actually did stall pretty hard. After reaching that first goal of 185 mid May, I kept going and got down to my low of 179, but it was taking like 3-4 weeks to lose one pound at the end. Which might not actually have been a "stall", but after consistently dropping 1.5-2 pounds per week for 5 months, it felt like it. It also was just after I picked up and started the SL5x5 program and so when I wasn't losing as fast as I'd liked I basically said screw it, and figured if I gained/maintained it would only help me in my lifts (which it did). I shot up to 190 from 179 in two weeks (mostly glycogen/water I think) and then maintained that for 4 months. Back down to 185 this morning after restarting again on Jan 1.0 -
I didn't have one. My original goal was to eat healthier to be healthier. Weight loss was a by-product of the healthy eating. When I joined MFP, it asked for a goal and I was like, "Huh. I don't have one." So, I pulled a number out of my asp - my lowest high school weight.
It is my goal. I'd like to get there. It would also mean I could say, "See me? This is what I lost!" Because I'd have lost that amount of weight. It would be nice, but it's not likely. I probably won't get there. I know it. I don't care.
I've had a million other goals.
Get healthy.
Wear a 22 again.
Wear a 20 again.
Get to 220.
Get to 199!!!!!!!!!
Get to 175
Wear an 18 again
Get to 193, so I know I'll never have to see 2 in the hundreds space again.
Get to 195, which is halfway to 190.
Get to 190
Get to 189
Wear a 16 again
Get to 183, so I never have to see a 9 in the tens place again.
Get to 185
Get to 180
Get to 179
Wear a 14 again
Get to 173 so I never have to see an 8 in the tens place again.
Get to 175!!
Get to 150
Get to 170
Wear a 12 again.
Get to 169
On and on it goes. In addition, I'm working for the next odd weight down. Like if I'm on 219 or 218, I'm waiting for 217. Because odd weights are better, lol.
I don't set these goals because some guy said, "You should set goals! It will help!" I set them because I actually want those things. Every day, I have a goal I'm close to reaching and long-term goals to keep working for.
I have no idea what I'll do when I get to the point where I'm like, "This weight loss thing is too hard, I'm sick of it, I am a healthy weight and look good enough."
Guess I'll need a new hobby! I guess that is my ultimate goal. To finish and live my life as a thin, healthy-eating person who doesn't have to obsess about it.
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I picked the middle of the bmi. Which was too skinny or I didn't have enough muscle. I'm now maintaining between 160 and 170.0
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My goal weight is 135 because that was when I felt best about my body, but based on body fat percentage, I'd be at the low end of the fitness range at 145. If I look good at 145, I'll stop, but for now the goal is 135.0
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When I started, I weighed 220, so my first goal was to get under 200.
Once I got there, I decided to switch it to 171, which is the highest weight of the normal BMI range for my height.
I am 4 pounds away from that now, so I have set my third goal as 150, the exact middle of the normal BMI range.0 -
I picked 150 because it's a "normal" BMI, then adjusted to 135 because I thought I would be happy there, but when I reached 135 and still wanted to loose weight, I chose 125. I'll probably maintain at 125 and put more focus on building muscle.0
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I picked a weight slap-bang in the middle of "healthy" BMI (21.5) because it was easy, and now I'm more-or-less there it's actually the right weight for me. I didn't change it and wanted a stretch goal when I started. I was motivated moving between the BMI categories0
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I'd always been between 260-275 so when I hit 307 (YIKES) it was my goal to at least get back at 270.
When I started MFP, I weighed 262. 227 was my previous lowest adult weight. So I set my original MFP goal at 220.
As I had a pretty easy time getting down to 230, 225, etc, I knew I wanted to get to 199...but at that point, I decided 180 was my goal.
Once I hit 180, I was feeling pretty happy with my body (and still am) but decided not to set more specific goals. I am just barely into the 160s now, and cool with that, but honestly don't care if I stop losing at 163 or 150 or whatever.0 -
I picked a goal weight of what I was when I got married. I started in Nov 2013 and reached my goal in August. I then worked my way up to eating my TDEE. I'm now doing a small cut while weight lifting in order to lower my bodyfat a bit and perhaps lose another 5 lbs or so. For me, it's more about getting fit and strong than anything else.0
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I looked at a BMI chart and went about 10 lb below the top of a healthy weight range.
Once I get there, I might want to drop another 10-15 lb, but it will depend on how I feel & look once I get there. I might also decide to stay at that higher weight but increase weightlifting so everything gets sculpted.
FWIW, my doc (endocrinologist in charge of the weight loss program at the hospital) isn't convinced that even the top of a healthy BMI range is realistic for me.
I think that's what I weighed at 18, and he thinks it's unreasonable for me to aim for that again. What he doesn't realize is that I was at least overweight, if not actually fat, even back then.
(I have considered that he was trying to use reverse psychology.)
Of course, he's also somewhat surprised I've managed to lose as much as I have. Apparently even people who have stomach surgery don't usually do this well.
(And to top it off, my body is completely whole & healthy. No induced lifelong problems with digestion, no lifelong restriction on what or how much I can eat, etc.)
I did a blog post[/quote] about goal setting, including weight, calories, & macros, with links to resources.
I've also had non-weight-related health goals:
- getting my cholesterols into a healthy range (check)
- getting my waist under 34", since that's been associated with better health (check, currently 31.5"... which is a loss of 11.5" or almost 27%)
- increasing endurance for cardio activities (check, currently able to do up to 90 min of hills @ 3mph on the treadmill)
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