So what do most of you choose as your goal weight?

Losewtforlife4him · May 2016

So do most of you just pick a random number that you want to weigh to be your goal weight or do you use the national numbers set for what you should weigh for your height and BMI? Just curious if my goal should be unreasonable like the lowest on the chart (in a healthy range of course) for my height or in the middle for the healthy bmi? I'm 44 and 5'6 and weigh around 144-146 given the day and weight fluctuations. I started at 168 lbs. Also, after I decide to maintain, any of you at this weight find it difficult to maintain this and do you eat more calories as listed on mpf?

terbusha · May 2016

When you get to a healthy weight range, the exact number on the scale is not really important. I would focus on getting leaner (losing body fat) and improving muscular development. Get your calories up a bit and focus on resistance training. That's the key to improving body composition.

pebble4321 · May 2016

I don't have a goal weight.
I'm going to see how I feel as things change and will probably have a maintenance stop along the way.
I see so many people on this forum having a crisis because "it's too hard to lose the x last pounds", and that seems wierd to me, to put so much store on a number.

Losewtforlife4him · May 2016

pebble4321 wrote: »

I don't have a goal weight.
I'm going to see how I feel as things change and will probably have a maintenance stop along the way.
I see so many people on this forum having a crisis because "it's too hard to lose the x last pounds", and that seems wierd to me, to put so much store on a number.

I agree! I actually feel great and getting lean with exercise but I guess part of me would like to get down a little lower for some "wiggle room" but know that's crazy too. I guess it wouldn't hurt for me to get down to 140 at least since that looks better on the bmi chart

neldabg · May 2016

I chose a range that keeps me at a BMI of 20, which for my height is anywhere between 108-114 lbs.

JustMissTracy · May 2016

My goal weight was originally 120 lbs...I'm 46, 5'2...but I reached 120 a couple of weeks ago (without meaning to, thanx illness!), and I'm not happy with it. I'm happier a few pounds heavier, me thinks...so I've slowly added a few more, and I think my new "goal" is between 123 and 125.

nordlead2005 · May 2016

My first goal was the top of the normal BMI range. This is a reasonable goal for pretty much every overweight person. As I got closer to goal I re-evaluated and moved my goal down ~10lb from there. However, that re-evaluation was based on BF% and is currently holding true for getting down to the BF% I want.

In a few months my goal will be to add 10lb, if for no other reason than it is a nice number. However, I want those 10lb to be mostly muscle.

mespreeman · May 2016

I picked 250 to start, a nice even 100lbs lost.

When I get there, I'll reassess and pick a new goal.

plantgrrl · May 2016

I go for middle, ideally. But honestly, I'll probably be happy with anything into the normal range, but I'd like the buffer of being more to the middle.

bcampbell54 · May 2016

Trying to get back to my original weight.

9 pounds, 5 ounces.

tlflag1620 · May 2016

When I first started my goal was simply to get into a "normal" bmi, so I guess the upper limit for my height. Then it was to get more to the middle of the healthy weight range for my height. Since then I've figured out where I personally feel and look best- a range between 138-145 (145 is in the middle of "normal" bmi for me and I look best just a smidge under that as I have a somewhat smaller frame than "average").

cwolfman13 · May 2016

I never had some arbitrary number in mind, I look more at BF% and my overall composition. The actual number on the scale doesn't really matter.

Understand also that BMI is a range in order to accommodate different frames and body types, muscle, etc...it's not so that you can just pick and choose arbitrarily within that range. My wife for example is 5'2" and has an athletic build and good muscle mass...her range is 105 - 130. She weighs around 125 and looks awesome at that weight...because of her build and frame, she would look sickly at the lower end of that range which would be for a more petite frame. She would also have to lose some muscle which is pretty much a non starter right there.

enterdanger · May 2016

I set mini goals. Not even going to worry about an overall goal weight until I'm much closer. Otherwise it feels a little overwhelming. My next mini goal is to get to 175.

SignpostPsycho · May 2016

I just wanna be back to where I was in high school/early college. I was 5'2" then and haven't grown a centimeter since, or had kids...118-125 with at least a little abs visible! Smack dab in the middle of "healthy". I felt great about myself back then, and can't wait to have the confidence of a teenager again.

_Tink_ · May 2016

I don't really care about the number as much as I do about body composition. If having a specific goal weight is important to you, set a mini goal. Shoot for midrange BMI and when you achieve that, assess how you look and feel and decide how you want to proceed from there.

JustAnotherOneOfThoseGirls · May 2016

I would suggest working on getting to the middle of your healthy BMI weight, and then getting your body fat percentage tested and getting that into the healthy range. Once you've done both those things, see how you feel and take it from there. Personally, being quite a small build and very athletic, I aim for a BMI of 19-20, and a body fat percentage of about 18-20%

puffbrat · May 2016

I am 5'6" and my goal is 135-140lbs. That would put me in the middle of the normal bmi range. Also, I remember being really happy with my body last time I was 140. However, that was 12 years ago and my perspective may have changed. I fully expect to reassess my goals once I get into the 140s.

dragon_girl26 · May 2016

puffbrat wrote: »

I am 5'6" and my goal is 135-140lbs. That would put me in the middle of the normal bmi range. Also, I remember being really happy with my body last time I was 140. However, that was 12 years ago and my perspective may have changed. I fully expect to reassess my goals once I get into the 140s.

This is exactly my thought. I'm also 5'6", and my current goal is 145. With the exception of the last 3 years, I've been well over 200 lbs my entire adult life. I have no idea what 145 will look like on me. I'll probably reassess as I get closer (I'm about 18.5 lbs away)

capaul42 · May 2016

My original goal was 150, which I remember being approx 13 years ago. 3lbs left for that. Already planning another 15 down so that I can start the process of building more muscle and work my BF% down. I figure when I'm done, I'll probably be 145 but hope to have my BF% down to around 20 range.

BeYouTiful94 · May 2016

I'm 5'5.5" and started at 169. I originally picked 145 because ... well, really because it sounded cool if I'm being at all honest. I needed an arbitrary number to work towards, so I picked 145 because I liked the sound of it and figured I'd evaluate when I got there. I later checked a BMI chart and 152.4 would be the point at which I would no longer be classified as overweight, but BMI definitely had nothing to do with my goal weight number.

Fast forward 3.5 months, and I'm now camping out at a very steady 147.8-148.0 (literally back and forth, back and forth). After some self eval, I actually think I'll move my GW to 140, but I don't mind taking my time getting there. 147 is cool with me for now.

ObsidianMist · May 2016

I had been at one weight which was healthy and looked good on me for years before suddenly gaining 30 pounds so I just chose my pre-weight-gain weight as my goal weight.

forthemovies · May 2016

According to all ideal weight calculations for my height (5'2") I ought to weigh anywhere from 102 to 138 lbs. I can't see liking my body below 135.

I am currently 155 with 29% body fat. My start weight was 161. I am now between a size 6 and 8 in pants (was a snug 8 at my start weight), wear a small in tops and a 6 in dresses. Aiming to get to 145ish with 25% body fat and will reevaluate from there.

I am more focused on how I feel rather than a number on the scale. We already cook 95% of meals in our house, but were eating way too much. I gained weight over 8 months at a desk job straight out of school. Used to not have an issue as I was a server through school and got plenty of daily activity.

My most recent personal victory was returning to a 5k trail with my dog that has a lot of small hills over a 3km loop. First time there I thought I'd never come back. Yesterday I ran up every hill. Loving my increased endurance!

lemurcat12 · May 2016

I picked my goal weight based on a weight I had in the past and liked. It's not that big a deal, I'm just going to keep getting more fit and focus on body fat percentage and look. Don't care what the weight ends up being.

Losewtforlife4him · May 2016

JustMissTracy wrote: »

My goal weight was originally 120 lbs...I'm 46, 5'2...but I reached 120 a couple of weeks ago (without meaning to, thanx illness!), and I'm not happy with it. I'm happier a few pounds heavier, me thinks...so I've slowly added a few more, and I think my new "goal" is between 123 and 125.

Where is that on the bmi chart for your height?

MommyMeggo · May 2016

Ive been at a weight that I wish I had stayed at-and achieved with weight loss as an adult (in between kids)
-- having seen myself there- I know its possible and I liked how i looked. That is why its my goal #.
I didnt pick an arbitrary # off a chart.
If I hadnt seen myself at that weight however I would try to determine a decent weight for my age/height and I would set small goals and see how I looked/felt along the way to determine how much more I wanted to lose.

JustMissTracy · May 2016

joobey wrote: »

JustMissTracy wrote: »

My goal weight was originally 120 lbs...I'm 46, 5'2...but I reached 120 a couple of weeks ago (without meaning to, thanx illness!), and I'm not happy with it. I'm happier a few pounds heavier, me thinks...so I've slowly added a few more, and I think my new "goal" is between 123 and 125.

Where is that on the bmi chart for your height?

I'm not sure as I don't really know how to calculate that...I'm 46 (almost 47!!), 5'2, and I think 123 would put me around the middle to low range...but I'm using the comments above as a guide....Someone else may be able to tell us better!

Losewtforlife4him · May 2016

Wow thanks everyone for your thoughts. I was just curious how others feel about a goal weight and what it means to you when many of you have talked about getting to goal.

geminiswede · May 2016

At 5'11 BMI gives me a range of 136-178. Initially once upon a time I had picked 160, right in the middle, but that has always sounded low for me. So I upped it to 180 for now, just above the top of that range, and when I get there I'll re-evaluate. I'm not going to stick to just that BMI range, but as someone who has always been heavier than I "should" be, I figured I could use it to get me some ballpark numbers to aim for.

When ti comes down to it, I don't care about the actual number. I'm going to go off of the mirror, how clothes fit, and how I feel.

Losewtforlife4him · May 2016

Yes I think what's most important is not a number but how we ultimately feel and how our clothes feel on us. Also how much energy we have. Because being smaller doesn't mean healthier. Small people can be extremely tired from eating the wrong nutrition too.

adremark · May 2016

My weight goal changed over time. I weighed 195 lbs, and said to myself "maybe I can lose 10 pounds-- not more since I'm a big guy". I lost that, then said "maybe I can lose 10 more pounds". And so on. Each time I realize I have more fat to lose. I lost 45 pounds over time. Now my goal is more %body fat.

robininfl · May 2016

cwolfman13 wrote: »

I never had some arbitrary number in mind, I look more at BF% and my overall composition. The actual number on the scale doesn't really matter.

Understand also that BMI is a range in order to accommodate different frames and body types, muscle, etc...it's not so that you can just pick and choose arbitrarily within that range. My wife for example is 5'2" and has an athletic build and good muscle mass...her range is 105 - 130. She weighs around 125 and looks awesome at that weight...because of her build and frame, she would look sickly at the lower end of that range which would be for a more petite frame. She would also have to lose some muscle which is pretty much a non starter right there.

This is true. I am built lean, and can look great at 125lb at 5'9", and try to stay between 130 & 135, toward the bottom of healthy BMI. Slim hips, small wrists, small bust, good shoulders but I'm just not built to hold much weight. I have seen women who look fit and healthy 50lb heavier than me at same height, but once I get to ten stone I feel bloated and fat, the weight goes to the middle. Doctor never fussed or said I was underweight even close to 120, it does not look "wrong" on me.

It's true that people may overestimate their frame size while they are overweight, some of what looks like muscle may be fat. But once you get lean, there is a weight range that is best for your size and it's not the same for everyone who is the same height.

So what do most of you choose as your goal weight?

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