5'5 Confused about how much I should loose??

jennadaniele · January 2012

Help please!

I'be been debating this for months.

Hi there, I'm 5'5 164, I don't know if body types are real or just a way for people to feel better about themselves, (like frames/bone structure). I know women have different shapes, pear, apple, hourglass etc, but what about frames like men do? I've heard frames exist and frames don't exist.

A lot of girls my height and TALLER have goal weights in the 130's, even as low as 110's!!! I'm having a hard time because, I know people carry their weight differently. I've seen some people at my starting weight of 191, NO OFFENSE, have A LOT of weight in their mid section and look really really obese, at similar heights to mine. I don't get it!! There's a picture in my profile of my stomach at 191, and it's not great, but it's not rolling out either. My point is that, my goal weight, from the beginning was 175- I did that and realized I was still not as healthy as I could be, so now my ultimate goal is 155-160. I am at 164 today. I feel like if I went down to 140, or lower, I would look like a skeleton. I am naturally toned, I do have broad athletic shoulders and larger chest, so I wonder if a lot of my weight is muscles?? I mean, is that the case, honestly I don't know! lol I don't see how I could have another like 35-40 pounds of legitimate fat to lose and not look sickly. Am I making sense here?? Thanks

Teresa527 · January 2012

Do not look at what other people's goals are. You can take 5 different people at the exact same height and weight and they will all look completely different. Go by what YOU look and feel like.

I am 5'7 and currently 168 pounds. My goal is 150. Seven years ago I was 145 and wearing a size 4. But, I see many ladies that want to be in the 120's or 130's at the same height. That's fine for them but not for me. I'd look dead. haha
I naturally have a lot of muscle so I can't be too low weight. I'm okay with that. I'm more concerned by how I look and feel than the number on the scale.
Oh, and you'll hear people say body type too, meaning small, medium, large frame. Well, I am a small frame. It is supposed to be determined by whether you can wrap your hand around your wrist and overlap your thumb and forefinger. An overlap is small, touching is medium and not touching is large.
Well...I overlap a lot. I still wouldn't want to be 120 pounds. :laugh:

DorisR184 · January 2012

Do not look at what other people's goals are. You can take 5 different people at the exact same height and weight and they will all look completely different. Go by what YOU look and feel like.

I am 5'7 and currently 168 pounds. My goal is 150. Seven years ago I was 145 and wearing a size 4. But, I see many ladies that want to be in the 120's or 130's at the same height. That's fine for them but not for me. I'd look dead. haha
I naturally have a lot of muscle so I can't be too low weight. I'm okay with that. I'm more concerned by how I look and feel than the number on the scale.
Oh, and you'll hear people say body type too, meaning small, medium, large frame. Well, I am a small frame. It is supposed to be determined by whether you can wrap your hand around your wrist and overlap your thumb and forefinger. An overlap is small, touching is medium and not touching is large.
Well...I overlap a lot. I still wouldn't want to be 120 pounds. :laugh:

I agree with this ^^

Everyone is different, it's all about getting to where YOU feel comfortable! Not what other's think you should weigh for your height

therealangd · January 2012

Do not look at what other people's goals are. You can take 5 different people at the exact same height and weight and they will all look completely different. Go by what YOU look and feel like.

Exactly.

I'm 5'5" and weigh 161 right now. My weight goal was 150, but I've now rethought that because I'm working on my overall body fat percentage and how much lean muscle I have. My goal is now more a clothing size, not a weight because I could potentially not lose any more weight, but lose a couple of dress sizes. KWIM.

rubybeach · January 2012

I agree, you need to find a goal that's right for you. I do believe we have different shapes and carry weight differently. I'm 5'5" as well and my goal is 135 (almost there) , I see others my height with 110 lbs goals too and I've never been able to get below 130............ Everyone is different, do whats best for you.

rubybeach · January 2012

Ps.... Get your body fat tested by a professional too. That puts things into perspective for me and reassures me I'm at a healthy size regardless of what I wish the scale would say.

jadedone · January 2012

Focus on what you look like and not the number. You can gain more tone, lose more fat and still be "heavy" but since muscle is more compact than fat, you'll look way smaller. And at the end of the day isn't that the most important? Looking smaller and toned. :P

At that point, the scale is for the doctors office.

jennadaniele · January 2012

THANKS ladies!!! This helped a lot, I was beginning to think there was something wrong with my goal, since I hadn't see anymore with goals in the 150's

I will take all this advice and do the mid section wrap thing to see what frame I am

So far, I feel really happy with where I am already, and I know I'm probably 10-12 pounds off from being right where I want to be.

Thanks again everyone!

ramonasowner · January 2012

I'm 5'5" I was reallly realllllly big before. I saw a dietician and she said 155 would be good for me because of my extra skin and muscle tone(runner). I am shooting for that, I'm going to be 32 this year too, I think you could take 130-150's and call that a "target range"

NoAdditives · January 2012

I'm 5'5 and my goal is to be somewhere between 125 and 140, wherever I'm healthiest in terms of body fat percentage, muscle, etc.

I_get_fit · January 2012

Do what works best for you! We all have different body types (pear, apple, small frame, large frame).

I'm 5'4.5 and currently 140 lbs (goal is 117-127lbs) - this is too much weight for me because I gain weight mostly in my abdomen area (I'm an apple) but my legs, hips, and thighs are thin. If I had the opposite body type, I bet this weight would look great!

Showgirlbody · January 2012

I saw an Oprah show before where they were saying not to be stuck on a number. There was a Dr. who had lost a lot of weight but thought she still had to lose more since she was in the 160's even though her body fat looked low. She had seen that on the cover of "O" when Oprah was very fit and toned, she weighed 160. So, she realized it's not all about the number. Doctors and health officials point people to these charts that indicate what we should weigh for a healthy BMI without taking into consideration someone's build, but it's about body fat. You can be skinny fat, and be heavier and fit. Go with how you feel and if your cholesterol and all other health indicators are good, then who cares what the number is. I agree that people carry it differently and some people look a lot heavier at the same size or weight. Here is a comparison with Oprah's pic at 160.

http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Oprahs-Battle-with-Weight-Gain-O-January-2009-Cover

fpueblo · January 2012

I say set a goal that feels good to you but go by how you look in the mirror that's why mine was set to about 130. instead of just me putting 130 yeah pick a number but you may get 10 lbs away and be happy with what you see or get to that number and deci9de you need to lose a bit more..

Mogan82 · January 2012

Everyone is different. I consider myself to have a medium frame and I am 5'4. At my weight right now (142lbs) I wear a size 6 and my jeans are actually a bit loose. I am trying to get to 135 because I have some endocrine problems that I am hoping to fix with weight loss. I have a friend who is actually 5'5 and weighs the same amount as me and she is wearing a size 10 in the same brand of jeans! It all depends on the person. Everyone I see at my height wants to get down to 120, but I know for myself that is not a healthy number. You know what feels good on you! Stick with your gut

RenaPink11 · January 2012

I'm 5'5" also and my first goal is 180 then 160. If I go smaller than that, I look like death!

felicia8604 · January 2012

I am also 5'5". My goal is 150. I carry most my weight in my stomach. So my goal is to tone that up and lose the weight. But if i dont hit that goal and i feel awesome about my body im ok with that. Good luck!

jennadaniele · January 2012

I say set a goal that feels good to you but go by how you look in the mirror that's why mine was set to about 130. instead of just me putting 130 yeah pick a number but you may get 10 lbs away and be happy with what you see or get to that number and deci9de you need to lose a bit more..

Yes, exactly, so I am playing it "by ear" I might get to 160 or 150 and decide another 10 would be better. We will see!

EJsMummy26 · January 2012

Pick a weight you are comfortable with. My main goal is to get into a 7/8 pant size and medium tops. Whatever the number is that I look in that size, I'm happy with.

I'm concentrating how low I look more than obsessing w/ a number.

jennadaniele · January 2012

Everyone is different. I consider myself to have a medium frame and I am 5'4. At my weight right now (142lbs) I wear a size 6 and my jeans are actually a bit loose. I am trying to get to 135 because I have some endocrine problems that I am hoping to fix with weight loss. I have a friend who is actually 5'5 and weighs the same amount as me and she is wearing a size 10 in the same brand of jeans! It all depends on the person. Everyone I see at my height wants to get down to 120, but I know for myself that is not a healthy number. You know what feels good on you! Stick with your gut

Yes, I also noticed difference of weights and sizes. See, you can wear a 6 in women's jeans. I don't wear women's jeans, (I'm 25, Im holding on you Juniors & skinny jeans for as long as possible!! lol), but I fit into a 8 or 10 in women's dresses.

jennadaniele · January 2012

I'm 5'5" also and my first goal is 180 then 160. If I go smaller than that, I look like death!

Hahahaha, look like death!

jennadaniele · January 2012

Pick a weight you are comfortable with. My main goal is to get into a 7/8 pant size and medium tops. Whatever the number is that I look in that size, I'm happy with.

I'm concentrating how low I look more than obsessing w/ a number.

Yes, I definitely agree. I think I have the same goals, to wear 7/9 in pants. I currently wear large and mediums, so I'm looking for my tops to look better, especially the mediums. I have a friend who's 6'1 and weighs 125 (per dr.) and we wear the same shirts and shoes! LOL Bodies are so different, it's funny. I'm partially obsessed with the numbers, the smaller they are, the more dainty I feel. I guess it's mental?

spencerp2122 · January 2012

I am 5'5 and right now 142 pounds. I am going for 125. I do not know if that is entirely reachable because I am for sure on the thicker side. Just set yourself a goal of 10pds less then you are and if you feel you are done stop. If you feel like you need to lose more, Keep going till you know.

jennadaniele · January 2012

I am also 5'5". My goal is 150. I carry most my weight in my stomach. So my goal is to tone that up and lose the weight. But if i dont hit that goal and i feel awesome about my body im ok with that. Good luck!

Thanks good luck as well! Abs abs abs, keep them slightly tight always. A good lesson I learned from my mom.

Good luck!

jadedone · January 2012

THANKS ladies!!! This helped a lot, I was beginning to think there was something wrong with my goal, since I hadn't see anymore with goals in the 150's I will take all this advice and do the mid section wrap thing to see what frame I am

So far, I feel really happy with where I am already, and I know I'm probably 10-12 pounds off from being right where I want to be. Thanks again everyone!

My goal is ~165 and I am 5'4.5." At my smallest, I was about 15 or 20 pounds heavier than that, and it was a size 12, my waist was pretty small, and my legs had some definition. So it sounds like a reasonable starting place, mine will definitely not go below 145 -- as I would find that too skinny on my frame (I am pretty muscular in the arms and legs...)

3dogsrunning · January 2012

I know how you feel but I agree with those who say it is about how you look, not how much you weight.
When I was in the best shape of my life, I was 150lbs. No one believed me when I told them that is what I weighed, but I was. I had an athletic body, lean, but not skinny. I do have a lot of muscle, I am physically active and weight trained for many years.
I suspect when I get my "goal" body, I will be between 145-150lbs, and I am happy with that. I do not expect to be even as low as 140, for me, I would be way too thin.
I am not really worried about the number, just how I look.

ETA -
People give that formula, 100 lbs for 5 feet, than 5 lbs for every inch after. There is no way on earth I should be 125lbs.

mandimommy · January 2012

I am 5'5", weigh 138 lbs and wear a 10 in womens' jeans. I am pretty toned and look good for having three young kids, but my middle is still squishy and my waist seems big to me. I am having one heck of a time getting any lower even though I really want to wear a size down in jeans. Body composition varies greatly from person to person. When I started out last Feb I weighed 158 and wore a 14 and looked chubby. But I know other women of the same height and weight who look fit.

jessicak0614 · January 2012

I'm 5'5'' and weigh very close to what you weigh. I would love to be 130lbs but anything 140 and under would be great IMO.

swilkie1961 · January 2012

I am 5' 4.5" and set my goal at 125lb. But if I stay around 125-130lb, look toned, I will have achieved my goal. I have left foot problem which I hope will lessen with reduced weight. Currently 148, and my foot already feels better from gotten rid of 16lbs! I don't think I will go down too much in size, currently 10-12, so maybe down to 8-10?

_Kate_P · January 2012

do what you think looks good for you. If you're more athletically built, and are muscular, then 140 could be too low, not to mention REALLY hard to reach. Personally, I'm 5'6" and my goal weight is 123-125, but thats because its where my body was comfortable before the holiday weight gain, which is only 5 lbs off of where I am now. I technically have a medium/small frame based on wrist/elbow measurements. But going any lower that 120 is EXTREMELY difficult for me. THats how I know that around 123 is good for me, because it doesn't take much effort to maintain it

susanb573 · January 2012

I am 5'5" and weigh 137 right now. I wear a size 8. I am aiming for 125 because I like a lean, streamlined look, though not scrawny. Every woman carries her weight differently though. Just keep watching your body...you'll know when you are at the right weight for you.

kbrogan78 · January 2012

I second the suggestion to get your body fat tested. My gym has a bioimpendance device, which can be fairly inaccurate, but is a good starting point. If the body fat % on that device is correct, then I carry 117lbs of LEAN body mass. Running the numbers based on that, the goal weight I'd chosen of 140lbs (which I thought was very reasonable) would have me at 17% body fat which is what athletes carry, not "regular" women.

I'm planning to do a hydrostatic test in the near future, since that's the gold standard for measuring body fat. Once I know what my lean mass is, then I can choose a more realistic number on the scale or, more likely, aim for a specific clothing size and body fat %. Some of us carry a lot more muscle and those low numbers on the scale physically aren't possible!

5'5 Confused about how much I should loose??

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