Weight loss goal.

westguy27
westguy27 Posts: 24 Member
edited September 30 in Health and Weight Loss

I’m 6ft 0in, 155kg/341lbs. Fairly broad build. Any suggestions what my goal weight should be?

Replies

  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 37,969 Community Helper

    What's the question?

    If it's what to put in your MFP profile as goal weight, don't worry about it now. That item has no impact at all on the calorie goal MFP will give you. MFP just uses it for some "attaboy/attagirl" messages along the way. Just put in some weight that's a wild guess about where you'd like to be.

    When you get closer to goal weight, you'll have a much clearer idea of what will be a good goal range for you personally. Around that time, talk with your doctor about what would be a healthy weight for you personally, too, in context of your health history and body configuration, etc. IMO there's no point in having that specific conversation with the doctor earlier: Lots of them will just quote the normal BMI range, which isn't any more helpful for practical use than your own wild guess.

    Best wishes!

  • age_is_just_a_number
    age_is_just_a_number Posts: 1,270 Member

    Congratulations on starting your healthy lifestyle journey!

    What Ann said. Plus:

    1 meal at a time
    1 day at a time
    1 pound at a time

    My suggestions:

    1. Track your food as accurately as possible, but don't let perfection be the enemy of done. In other words, do your best and get this to be a solid habit.
    2. After two weeks of tracking, look at the data. Is there one small change you can make to reduce your calories IN? Common examples:
      1. you're eating out 5 days a week —> reduce that to 4 days a week
      2. you drink soda/pop/sugary drink —> swap this out for water
      3. you don't eat any fruits or vegetables —> start adding 1 or 2 servings per day
    3. Make that one small change. Continue to track. After another two weeks or once your small change feels like it is no longer a change, then review your data and identify another small change.
    4. Rinse and repeat.

    One last thought: Focus on what you can control (calories IN and OUT). If you absolutely want to set a weight loss target goal, then I recommend setting a 20 pound loss goal. Once you get that first 20 pounds off, then set another 20 pound loss goal. Starting at 341, 20 pounds is very achievable. The relatively quick progress to that goal should keep you motivated to reach the next 20 pound milestone. If 20 pounds seems too much, then go to 10 pound increments and make your first target 330lbs.

    We are here for you if you have questions along the way. You got this!

  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 15,631 Member
    edited October 1

    As someone who started from a similar configuration 11 and a bit years ago (I did weigh less than you at under 300lbs to the best of my knowledge; but I'm also less tall by about 4 and a bit inches)... just aim for progress because as Ann says you don't know yet how far you will want to go!

    If in 2014 you had told me that I would lose 40lbs and keep it off, I would have been ecstatic!

    Luckily, my lack of knowledge made me do stupid things 🤯, so in desperation I found mfp 👍 about 10 to 11 months in when I was ready to give up on this starve more and exercise more while still at 240 lbs.

    After spending almost 2 weeks reading the sticky posts 🤯 I started being much more deliberate and reasonable/ moderate in what I was doing while still pushing forward.

    I changed from what punishing diet and exercise things can i tolerate in order to progress, towards how can i incorporate the most satiety and most enjoyable activities and exercise I possibly can while still continuing to achieve progress towards my goals

    My goal then changed to the middle of normal BMI!!!🤣 because it really had no meaning to me and it just sounded good!

    But as Ann says as you make changes you slowly discover what makes sense.

    I never did get to the middle of normal BMI (i.e. 22.5) But I have spent the past 10 years since November 2015 between 170lbs and 150lbs which represent a BMI of 26 to 23 at my height. I wear medium, 34,32. At the top end of this range I would wear large, 36. I used to consider 3xl as my go-to size and I did have 4xl and 5xl shirts and tracks, 48 to 50 at the top (I stopped buying pants once I could no longer fit in 48 and just wore tracks for a good year+)

    Ann's suggestion of discussing with a doctor once you're hitting the BMI 27-ish range is probably relevant, though you may or may not feel the need to at that time.

    But until then whatever keeps you motivated to keep on moving forward and in the right direction and at an appropriate pace is the correct goal to be putting in front of you!

    Did I initially mourn what I perceived to be the changes I was being forced into making?

    Absolutely.

    Have I ever even remotely regretted making the decision to prioritize my health and to go ahead and make major changes in my life to achieve and maintain my current weight--and corresponding health improvements?

    The answer is so emphatically no regrets, that I'm not even bothering with emojis or bolding!

    The countless hours I've spent posting on these community boards in an attempt to assist others to experience the same positive changes as a pay back/forward to those whose past experiences and posts helped me achieve the same is my actual answer, in deed!

    Set a reasonable eating goal, perhaps guided by what you would be eating at the top of normal weight for your height (given your activity level).

    And start modeling the future you. Then adjust as you progress.

    Weight management is a process that evolves. The goal is to establish and manage the processes that will lead you to your goals.

    It is the direction, not the numeric goal itself that is important.

    In my opinion, of course.

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