How did you decide upon your goal weight?

Which goal weight?

Initial one was "my favourite adult weight" - but found my favourite weight from 30 years ago wasn't right for me three decades later.
Then nibbled away roughly 11lbs in a few increments of 3 or 4lbs based on looks and exercise goals (lighter is better generally for cycling).
Now I've recomped a bit I've gone back up 4lbs as was struggling with hunger and exercise performance.

In relation to BMI my initial goal was in the overweight category, but current weight is top end of healthy. There's less BMI outliers than people like to believe!

Body composition.
During my initial weight loss had 6 monthly BodPod scans - not too impressed with the accuracy/consistency.
Also used 4 point Omron BIA bathroom scales which performed better than expected - reliable/believable trend but with the predictable variable data points.
Also used a tape measure monthly - that still requires some interpretation though (same chest measurement but less chest fat and bigger lats for example).

But since hitting maintenance I just go by the mirror, how I feel and how I perform. Maintenance doesn't mean the same weight or body composition forever.

I feel best at the low end of my bmi range. I have been there most of my life, so I lost until I acheived this.
Age doesn't matter.

trigden1991 wrote: »

No goal weight although I have a rough idea of what range I need to be in based on bodyfat readings. I go by the mirror/photographs to achieve the physique I am after.

Me too. I don't have a scale, I use measurements to assess loss and I have calculated body fat by other means, also it is pretty obvious using the mirror. I have used some different calculations to make assessments, mostly to make sure I don't go too a underweight status.

Hi
Initially I researched on the Internet for a good goal weight, Then at a doctors appointment around two years later I asked and was told You are good where You are. So I am currently in a holding pattern although still loosing a little weight since that date in January. From January 11 to October 11 I have lost a further 15 pounds eating a near Maintenance calorie count average of 2000 calories. I have been walking 3 Miles or more daily since before then which helps.

I feel OK, I look OK in clothes, I see in the mirror there is a little more to go and that is why I am not worrying about the slow loss. I believe that at this point a slow loss is the way to go.

Good Luck to All
Roger

I originally aimed for 118lbs (I’m just under 5’) but when I got down from 147 to 129 I had a few too many holiday weekends and have been struggling to get below that.

So as I’m only just in the overweight BMI category AND I’m trying to get fitter AND my scales have broken, I’m less worried about the number. I also found I was too lethargic and unable to do the activities I wanted to when I was trying hard to eat less.

My focus now is on weights, showing muscles through my skin rather than fat, and getting to running fitness for a Half Marathon in the Spring. That means I have to eat more to play more, ho hum.

It can be a challenge to set a final goal, if you've never been in the normal range. I don't know if this is what you're asking. You can use a tool like this to get an idea of where you should be. https://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/ideal-healthy-weight . I'd aim for the "high" weight range and see how you feel when you get there. My range is 115-145. I thought I would want my goal weight to be my high school weight (115), I got down to 135 and I was pretty sick. I got back up to 145 and feel pretty good. I'm just doing a recomp. In the last 8 weeks, I've only lost one pound, but I've gained muscle and lost 5% body fat.

I started by using a BMI calculator to find the "normal" range for me and picked a number half way between the middle and high end of that range. Once I got within 20 pounds of my initial goal I got a DEXA scan to help me set a new goal. I still don't have a firm number but rather a range I am working toward and will decide where to stop when I get there.

Throughout the span of 20 years, I eventually found myself with 70 extra pounds by the time I turned 40. I never did pay any mind to my weight so I had no specific weight to aim for. Therefore, I aimed for the middle of what the BMI charts said was "normal". Once I met that goal, I set mini goals until I reached the final weight that had me saying "this is the size of clothing I want to be in for many years to come".

I decided the mid of my BMI, around 10 pounds higher than my weight about 5 years ago. I know I will never be that weight again, but as short as I am, 10 pounds is a HUGE difference. My doctor said it's a good goal, so I'm happy.

I set a goal based on a healthy BMI and then once I reached that point I fine tuned my goal. Along the way I wish someone had told me: YOU WILL NOT LIKE WHAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU REACH YOUR GOAL WEIGHT. I wish I had started either a strength training or progressive lifting program DURING weight loss... I have seen more changes in maintenance through recomp than I have ever losing weight, so remember: it's not all about the scale.

jessicarobinson00 wrote: »

I set a goal based on a healthy BMI and then once I reached that point I fine tuned my goal. Along the way I wish someone had told me: YOU WILL NOT LIKE WHAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU REACH YOUR GOAL WEIGHT. I wish I had started either a strength training or progressive lifting program DURING weight loss... I have seen more changes in maintenance through recomp than I have ever losing weight, so remember: it's not all about the scale.

This is so true. You can have a number in mind, but it's not likely that will be your ultimate goal. For most people, it's actually more of a size and "feeling" they are after. I do well at a size 5/6 with lots of muscle. That winds up being about 144 pounds. To get down to 115 pounds, I'd have to sacrifice a lot of that muscle and I don't like how that feels. I also wish I'd done more weight training during weigh loss. I was afraid of gaining muscle weight (which is stupid, because you can't gain muscle while on a caloric deficit, anyway...) but you can definitely keep and tone what you have. Weight loss tends to take some muscle with it, which sucks when you get to maintenance.