How to determine goal weight?

You're about where my initial goal weight is. My strategy is going to be like you, to reassess once I'm there. But I'll be switching to recomp close to that time too (small deficit, strength training) and slowly lose until I can see I am closer to where I want to be and then fully recomp by eating at maintenance.

I would also take pictures and try to be objective, sometimes we see things that in reality aren't actually there!

I use this.
http://www.fat2fittools.com/tools/ibw/

hmm I think I wouldn't go so much by weight but by how healthy you are and how you feel. If you feel you could lose a few more, then try for it. Also realize that we are our own worst critic. Do what you feel is best for YOU.

I'm at 158, starting weight 168. I plan on getting to a healthy bmi at around 145 and then working on sticking to maintenance and lifting heavy for a few months. Just to give my body a chance to get used to eating at maintenance and to give me a little break. If after a few months I want to go on another cut, my hope is that I will have put on a little bit of muscle to make up for the muscle lost from eating at a deficit for a few months and then I will be able to lose the last 10 healthy and easily.

You've just spent a whole year - congratulations by the way!, cutting calories and getting to a healthy weight. Sometimes it's okay to give your body a break from calorie counting while working on fitness goals. Take it to the next level when you are ready. And don't worry about the number on the scale as an end point. I only know my numbers because this is new weight I've put on and I know what I look like at every number. Otherwise, I'd just be going on what I wanted to look like.

After all the work you've put in, you can finally ask yourself - how fit do I want to be? Once you can answer that question everything else will fall into place.

I chose my goal by looking at the BMI chart, pointed to the middle of 'normal' and decided that was the general area I was going to aim for.

Nice job! I too have been overweight my entire life, so at 5-7" I picked a number (150) that is within a healthy BMI. I hit that 6 months ago and have been maintaining and heavy lifting. I'll be happy if I stay at this weight, but realistically, I'd look much better at 135-140.

AnnPT77 wrote: »

All of this is so individual - encompassing differences in our physiques, as well as personal and cultural preferences!

Personally, I just kept losing until I felt like my remaining fat was not conspiring with gravity to pull down (much) on the loose skin, in hopes that that would help let it shrink back as much as it might be willing to do at my age (61 now, 59/60 when losing).

I gradually reduced my deficit by upping calories a little at a time, so I was losing verrrrry sloooowly. Finally, I just woke up one morning - literally - and thought "this is it".

So, my advice would be: Trust yourself to know. Think hard, try to be dispassionate about it, but trust yourself. You can always change your mind later, if you decide you want to - either up or down.

This is me as well. 5'4" and finally hit 130 for the first time in at least 30 years. At that point I decided it was time to work on some additional strength training and not worry about losing pounds. Feeling much stronger and better than I've felt in many years.

I'm 5'4 and had a goal of 125lbs. When I got there I felt the same as you, so I just kept on going until I hit a point I felt more comfortable with. I'm about 115 now.

Congrats on the progress you've made!

Me too, didn't it feel great when your bmi no longer said obese. I recently moved into a "normal" range. Can't believe it!