What's your goal weight?

After reading the following article I was curious in knowing are most people choosing their goal weight because it will put them in a healthy BMI range or is it a number that you think will make you look good!

I was lost in this misconception I was wanting a number that i remember i use to look good at but later I realized that it was in my BMI range which worked out great but now I am working towards being healthy and if I end up looking good in the process that's great as well!!!

So, why are you doing this to look good or be healthy?


Here is the article that made me want to post this topic please read it and leave your opinion:

Posted: October 5, 2011 by thecookiemonster in beauty, Body Fat, Body Image, Food and Fitness Rants, funny stuff, Rambling, rants, Weight Gain

While browsing Facebook this morning, I came across a post that made me partially angry, and partially sad. It was a story of the fat vs. thin debate that has been going on for years.

I am all about confidence, loving your body, keeping a good body image, staying positive, and being comfortable in your own skin. I am also a HUGE advocate of health and well-being.

What I am not a supporter of, is the war going on between overweight people and thin people. Overweight people hate being made fun of by thin people just as much as thin people hate getting berated by the overweight people. There is a difference between having confidence, and making attacks on the other body shape to try and “1 up” yourself when there is no room for you to be critical.

Here was the story, and I will include my thoughts and break-down below.


A while back, at the entrance of a gym, there was a picture of a very thin and beautiful woman. The caption was “This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?”

The story goes, a woman (of clothing size unknown) answered the following way:

“Dear people, whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, seals, curious humans), they are sexually active and raise their children with great tenderness.
They entertain like crazy with dolphins and eat lots of prawns. They swim all day and travel to fantastic places like Patagonia, the Barents Sea or the coral reefs of Polynesia.
They sing incredibly well and sometimes even are on cds. They are impressive and dearly loved animals, which everyone defend and admires.

Mermaids do not exist.

But if they existed, they would line up to see a psychologist because of a problem of split personality: woman or fish?
They would have no sex life and could not bear children.
Yes, they would be lovely, but lonely and sad.
And, who wants a girl that smells like fish by his side?

Without a doubt, I’d rather be a whale.

At a time when the media tells us that only thin is beautiful, I prefer to eat ice cream with my kids, to have dinner with my husband, to eat and drink and have fun with my friends.

We women, we gain weight because we accumulate so much wisdom and knowledge that there isn’t enough space in our heads, and it spreads all over our bodies.
We are not fat, we are greatly cultivated.
Every time I see my curves in the mirror, I tell myself: “How amazing am I?! “

This story is not inspiring. It is not a motivator. In fact, I think it does more harm than good. And at some points it’s so ridiculous I can’t help but laugh.

First of all, the gym poster was terrible. Likening someone to a whale and then another thinner woman as a mermaid is not as much motivation as you would think it is. If anything, it can provoke body image disorders, discouragement, and depression. I’m also sure there would be plenty of fat mermaids if they existed, in the same way that there would be thin ones.

Yes, whales are beautiful and majestic creatures. But I’m sure they’re also a healthy weight for their bone structure, and height. A lot of women would be a perfectly healthy weight if they were 12 inches taller.


You can enjoy ice cream with your kids without going for seconds and thirds.

When the woman spoke of the mermaid having “split personality disorder” it had nothing to do with her point that she made later in the story. It may have been a clever thought, but still had no relevance.

As for no sex life, how would mermaids reproduce (if they existed) if they somehow had no sex life and couldn’t have children? Strong logic. I wouldn’t say that it’s safe to assume that a mermaid would be lonely and sad, just like I don’t think it’s safe to assume that all whales feel happy, loved, and carefree.

And whales sing incredibly well? Really? Have you ever HEARD a whale “sing”? The only thing a whale can trump is Justin Bieber. Or maybe me. I kind of sound like a whale when I try to hit the high notes.

Also, if mermaids smell like fish, a whale smells worse…TRUST ME.

So go ahead and eat ice cream with your kids. Have dinner with your husband, and enjoy drinks and great food with your family and friends! Did you know you could do ALL of that while still being fit and healthy? Shocking, isn’t it?

You just have to stop being lazy and making excuses for being overweight at the same time.

I’m against the media portraying an unrealistic view on how a woman should look. Fashion models are dangerously thin most of the time, and are not a good example of what is a healthy weight for a woman. But just because someone is fit and thin, does not mean that they don’t enjoy their life just as much as you do.

Does it feel good when you have difficulty walking several flights of stairs without becoming breathless and have to take the elevator?

Does the ice cream taste as good to you after taking a visit to the doctor to hear that there is fat accumulated around your vital organs?

Does the joint pain and sluggishness ever get to you?

Healthy curves are one thing. Fat rolls are quite another. I love curves on a woman, and I think it makes them look very feminine and beautiful. But by the time your stomach is hanging over your pants, it’s time to start being a little less fat and happy and get serious about your health.


Example of what "fit curves" look like. Healthy, and not in excess.

And in the same respect, if you are a THIN woman and are not menstruating, or are experiencing health problems, your issue is just as bad as the overweight person’s. You need to get yourself to a healthy weight where you are operating normally and doing well.

I don’t like the fact that overweight women are harshly criticized and judged, but I also don’t like how overweight women put down the efforts of those who try to stay fit, healthy, and in shape. They disregard the hard work because they don’t have the willpower to do it themselves. Being fit is not about “genetics” and getting to “eat whatever you want”. It’s because those who are fit work their *kitten* off so that they can enjoy their life while staying in excellent shape.

I have to re-quote this part, mainly because it made me laugh the most:


We women, we gain weight because we accumulate so much wisdom and knowledge that there isn’t enough space in our heads, and it spreads all over our bodies.
We are not fat, we are greatly cultivated.

Not only does that make no ****ing sense whatsoever, it’s the most outlandish and ridiculous excuse I have ever heard for weight gain. EVER.

My excuse for weight gain this past year? I ate. A lot. That’s about it.

So ladies, lets make this about being fit and healthy. Thin isn’t beautiful. Fat isn’t beautiful. HEALTH is beautiful. Rather than making excuses, redirect your focus and realize that you can be fit and healthy as well as enjoying your life just as much, if not more than when you were overweight. You just have to put in the work.