How to find out what a good "goal weight" is?

It does depend on your bone structure and also, what looks good on you. But, a general rule is 100 pounds for 5 feet, and then add 5 pounds for each inch over that. So, if you were 5' 7" a good goal would be 135. This is only a guide though. Have you calculated your BMI? That can be a good starting point for a range of weights for your height. You didn't mention how tall you are and what your current weight is.... :smooched:

I picked a weight that I think should be my goal weight by adding 10 lbs to what I looked 14 years ago.

I may stop before I get there or go further depending on how I look. My body has changed since then, so I am not sure if it is going to be the perfect weight for me.

I'll reevaluate by how I feel and look

I am sure you will get many others but here is one I use:

http://www.cordianet.com/calculator.htm

I go by body fat percentage. I'd like to be at the top of the athlete range (14-20%) and I used a website that apparently doesn't exist anymore :grumble: to figure out that 20% for me (according to my body stats - waist to hip ratio, how much I work out, whether I've had a kid or not, etc.) is about 140 lbs.

Search body fat percentages for women.

I"m going with percent body fat. It's hard to estimate this accurately yourself but I know mine is high (probably close to 30%) and I'd like to get down to 20%.

I'm using this formula

Lean Body Mass (LBM) = Current Weight – (Current Weight x Current Body Fat Percentage)
Ideal Weight = Lean Body Mass/(1- Desired Body Fat Percentage)

So for me, LBM = 110 lbs - (110 lbs x 0.3) = 77
Ideal Weight = 77 / (1 - 0.2) = 98 lbs

But if I gain some weight in muscle, it will end up at more than 98 lbs.

100 pounds, on a muscular male frame? Sure... Oh and yes I am 5 foot... Shortie I am... Yes sire!!

So, at 23yo, racing in cycling and running and aiming to do a run from athens to sparta (spartathon) as my eventual goal in 3 years I think.

Think about it, running at pace to finish you'd be burning an average of say 900 calories an hour... * 36.. that is 32,400 calories during the race (1 day and a half ).. in contrast a person who overeats at 4k calories a day only has 28,000 calories a WEEK!

Is 100 pounds fine for me? Maybe, who knows, only time will tell, and if I die while trying to achieve my idea of perfection, then so be it, at least I lived how I wanted and not how others wanted me to live...

If you are going according to Body Fat %, here are the stats that The BodPod measurements use( As accurate as you can get)

For women,
Risky (Low Body fat)=<15%;
Ultra Lean =15-18%;
Lean = 18.1-22%;
Moderately Lean = 22.1-30%;
Excess Fat = 30.1-40%;
Risky( High Body fat) =>40%.

For Men,
Risky (Low Body fat) = <5%;
Ultra Lean = 5-8%;
Lean = 8.1-12%;
Moderately Lean = 12.1-20%;
Excess Fat = 20.1-30%;
Risky( High Body fat) =>30%.

You defintely want to have some body fat% for the normal function of your organs, hormones etc.. So if you decide you want 20% body fat;
then if your CW=150 lbs; Fat=20 % aka 30 lbs and your Lean Body Mass would be 80% aka 120 lbs.


Sometimes setting a goal weight isnt important because you can either tip the LBM or the Fat scale down to affect your overall weight. But the more fat you have, the lesser calories you burn at rest and an increase in health issues. You want to make sure your increase your LMB, no matter what your goal weight is set to be. Just dont pick one that appeals to you, but pick one that you can attain and maintain at that points for years.
Hope this helps
( This is my opinion from what I have learnt in the last couple of months of trying to be healthy for the long haul).