Goal weights - what's possible after obesity?

thursdayswoman
thursdayswoman Posts: 60 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I've been reading a lot about the ways that obesity changes your body permanently - heavier bones, more skin, deflated fat cells that stick around forever. It makes me wonder what kind of goal weight is actually a possibility after a lifestyle change. My highest weight that I recorded was 260 something; my lowest adult weight was 124. I wonder if I could get back to that weight, or if I'll always be heavier than that because of differences in muscle...and bones and skin and fat cells. What do you think? Is it effecting how you set your goals?

(For me this is mostly academic at the moment...I'm 250 and struggling to lose a pound a week. But it's on my mind.)

Replies

  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    I don't see why you couldn't get back to that--I was up to 220, and now I'm back to 125, and planning to get down to my prior low of 120.

    You may not want/need to, though, as you may have put on substantial muscle as a result of being obese and if you maintain more of that than you had when 124, you might appear as small at a heavier weight or just like your body better, as bodies do change in a variety of ways.

    The skin bit sucks, but varies person to person (and beats having the fat, IMO).

    I'd not worry about it until you get close--I still have no idea what my goal weight is (I'd like to lose more fat but then gain some muscle, so could end up heavier than now eventually, who knows?).
  • rosebarnalice
    rosebarnalice Posts: 3,488 Member
    I don't know about the bones and skin and fat cells and stuff, but I'll share this:

    I'm 5 ' 8" and my highest weight was 233 in my early 40s; got down to 161 in 8 months-- which put me in the "normal" range on BMI charts (admittedly, on the high end) for the first time since I was 11 years old. I kept it off for 2 years, but then slipped and slid back up again to 226 at age 54 (and now I'm working my way back down again at 216).

    Ten years later, 161 or lower is probably unrealistic for me. I know how much of an effort it was to maintain that weight--and as great as it felt, it was a daily struggle. My goal at present is about 185ish--which is a weight that I have been able to maintain with moderate conscientious behavior for extended periods throughout my adult life. So, although it will still make me "overweight" on the BMI charts by about 25 lbs, it's a hell of a lot healthier than 220 or 230, and I can live with that.
  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    Unfortunately when you lose ~100+ lbs or so some of it will inevitably be muscle and bone and other non-fat tissue.
  • Valtishia
    Valtishia Posts: 811 Member
    edited August 2015
    I think you totally could... although you may not want to. You can decide how you feel as you get closer.

    Below is a pic of me at 268 lbs, then 175 lbs... a 93 lbs loss! I am not currently this weight as I gained a bunch from having a baby and some crappy medication (Currently 216 lbs).... but I wanted to show you that it absolutely possible.

    44zmkb50oatq.jpg

    This is me now, just so you can see the difference in between. I'm not as small as the 175 lb pic, but I have more muscle, so it doesn't look like a 41 lbs difference but it is. This is something you need to take in account as well... as far as if you will be weight training and such.

    pjtzi2i6inqw.jpg
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    You can do it, if you want to. I started at 250 and am down to a Normal BMI for the first time in my adult life. Woot.

    Lots of extra skin already and I have 30-35 pounds more to go. It's already gross and will be grosser. The worst parts are covered by clothing, but some is visible and I look like I weigh more than I do because of the skin. My bones are different because I have some bone issues, so I will not compare that to healthy people.

    I have lost muscle, but knew I would and am fine with that. As you gain, you naturally put on more muscle and as you lose you naturally lose muscle. If I'd kept the muscle I had when I was 250, I'd be very muscular and that has never been a goal of mine.

    Don't worry about a final number yet. You have time to figure that out. :)
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    I've lost 116 pounds. I'm solidly in the healthy BMI range (for reference, not because it means all that much) so if my bones are heavier they aren't hurting me too much. I've lost 21 inches from my waist. I can fit in 34" waist jeans, which I haven't worn since shortly after high school.

    Quite a bit is possible after obesity.
  • thursdayswoman
    thursdayswoman Posts: 60 Member
    Thank you guys for sharing your stories! The pictures especially helped. I really have no sense of what my body looks like now...let alone if I lose the 54 pounds I'd need to lose to even be 'overweight' let alone the 75 I'd need to lose to be 'normal.' I can't imagine it...it seems like I'll just have this shape but...smaller, somehow. It's not a pleasant prospect.

    I wonder if I do have any muscle under the fat...it's not something I think about much.
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    One thing about being obese: it takes muscle to haul your fat self around, particularly in the lower body. If you can preserve a substantial part of that muscle and strength, your legs, if nothing else, will probably be surprisingly strong.
  • Pinnacle_IAO
    Pinnacle_IAO Posts: 608 Member
    edited August 2015
    I lost 100 pounds...and once I reached my goal, my body was still soft and doughy.
    7fa97rwsqgbm.jpg

    My new effort was to sharpen this saw and focus on maintaining weight and lowering body fat.

    Don't let anybody tell you a body is permanently ruined. Progress just takes time.
    I am in my 52nd year of life, and my fitness level is superior to guys half my age.

    hixl7ygsqppw.jpg
  • slaite1
    slaite1 Posts: 1,307 Member
    Pinnacle_IAO wrote: »
    I lost 100 pounds...and once I reached my goal, my body was still soft and doughy.
    7fa97rwsqgbm.jpg

    My new effort was to sharpen this saw and focus on maintaining weight and lowering body fat.

    Don't let anybody tell you a body is permanently ruined. Progress just takes time.
    I am in my 52nd year of life, and my fitness level is superior to guys half my age.

    hixl7ygsqppw.jpg

    "Buffed.jpg" love it

    Awesome job. You look fantastic (and I bet you feel the same way!)
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    edited August 2015
    There is no limit to where you can go.

    https://www.reddit.com/r/progresspics

    For myself, I topped out at 320-ish (admittedly, I'm a bit taller than average) ~2 years ago, this past spring I did my first triathlon, and next spring is my first Ironman, for which I'll be at my near-ideal weight of 180-ish (I'm built for bear-wrestling, not dancing with gazelles across the savannah. :smiley: )

    :drinker
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    My heaviest adult weight was 260 lbs in 2012. I'm currently fluctuating right around 130 lbs.

    Face Comparison:
    wfw9p4q9u677.jpg

    One of the few pictures of me at 260 lbs:
    84psx81ara8c.jpg

    My first progress picture (March 2013/210.6 lbs) and a picture of me on Tuesday:
    0qd9uv72pmws.jpg

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