End Weight Question

The number on the scale is just one measure and BMI is a population figure, not an individual one. The mirror is a tools as well...so are clothes...so is BF%. I can look in the mirror and see if/when I'm over fat. At my very best I was around 180 Lbs which is about 6 Lbs over the high end of BMI, but I was also sitting at around 12% BF which is pretty lean, particularly for my age. It was somewhat difficult to maintain as I really had to be pretty on point with my nutrition and my exercise (which was a lot because I was very into endurance road racing).

My exercise has become much more recreational in nature over the last few years and 190 seems to be where I can pretty easily maintain from a lifestyle standpoint which puts me at around 16 Lbs overweight by BMI, but still at a healthy BF% though a bit fluffier...but still looking fit and healthy aesthetically.

loulee997 wrote: »

Hey,
Not using BMI, how do I figure out a livable weight for myself?

You will probably not be able to figure out what a "livable weight" is for yourself until you actually get there.

I set a goal of weighing between 160 and 180. I picked this range because I look good and feel good in that range. But is it a good range for health? I don't know. It's better than where I am now. And I am hoping it will be more sustainable than 145. But technically, 180 is still obese and 160 is still 'overweight' by BMI standards.

No one is going to twist your arm and require you to achieve or maintain a particular weight. If you don't want to go below a certain weight, you don't have to.

I wouldn't worry so much about the labels.

Whether or not a particular weight is "healthy" is dependent on your particular circumstances: your genetics, your diet/nutritional status, your visceral fat level, your glucose regulation/insulin sensitivity, your cholesterol/triglyceride status, your blood pressure, your inflammation levels, your thyroid health, your hormonal status, your bone density, your muscle mass level, etc. Many of these things are likely to improve with weight loss from your present weight. But, it is impossible to know now how much they will improve and whether or not your suggested target of 160 to 180 will result in "healthy" levels of these biomarkers.

I have to stick to a very strict diet and work out six days a week. It is not sustainable--as I found out the last two times I made it to that weight.

Anything below 160 is not fun for me.

Your perspective may change as you lose weight this time.

The reality is, you may need to stick to a strict diet and work out frequently even at your target weight range of 160 to 180. Losing and regaining weight multiple times can have unfavorable effects on metabolism. Unfortunately, when losing weight, it is very possible to lose muscle, as well as fat. We also lose muscle progressively as we age, and women experience changes in metabolism with menopause. It is impossible to know now how much exercise activity will be required and what number of calories you can consume to maintain your weight at your chosen weight range. You can certainly run numbers through calculators, but everybody and every body is different and you really won't know until you get there.

Whether or not a given lifestyle (activity level/calorie intake) is sustainable depends on your circumstances at the time. You may come to enjoy exercise and want to do more than you ever thought you would. I'm sure that you can find plenty of examples in the MFP forums of people who were never "exercisers", who hated working out, etc. but who now see exercise as an essential part of their life that they look forward to every day.

Also, your perspective about what is "not fun" may change. Arguably, it is "not fun" to have health conditions associated with excess weight and unfavorable biomarkers.

I've lost 23 pounds so far. I still have a very long way to go to see 180.

This time, I'm only making small changes I can live with. No giant exercise plans. No complete rewriting of my lifestyle.

I'm losing and it's easy because it already fits how I live overall. Yeah, I'll hit bumps I'm sure. I'm just trying to make this time--last forever.

I think that making small changes that you can live with is a great plan. Enjoy your successes as they come and continue to make additional small changes that make sense for you as you go along.

I don't think that you need to get ahead of yourself and worry about your final target weight, whether that is between 160 and 180, or lower than that range. You can decide that when you get there.

The future you will know what is livable/sustainable. Don't make decisions for her ahead of time.

My first goal is to get to 240. I'm down to 243 right now. I've lost 20+ pounds so far.
My second goal is to get below 220.
Third goal--below 200.

I think is wise. Focus on achievable goals. One step at a time.

Congratulations on your weight loss so far!