Is 125 the "magic" number?

meechi53
meechi53 Posts: 195 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I just notice by looking at a lot of people's fitness/weight loss goals and no matter what the height, it seems like 125 is the "magic" number for many people. Why 125? Why not 128? why not 123? Is it a "media ideal" number? It's not only on this site, it's women in general. For some 125 would be healthy, for others, seems (and looks) underweight. I remember reading some article in Cosmo or something similar in where a man was quoted as saying "anything over 125 is a fat girl" and then he was shown a picture of a pretty, athletic, curvy girl that weighed 150 and he couldn't believe it. Many men are clueless...smh..

Just a subject for discussion.
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Replies

  • Gwoman2012
    Gwoman2012 Posts: 163 Member
    I've never weighed 125 as an adult, even while trim and fit. There is no way I could go that low. I am 5'7 with lots of muscle and a large bone structure, 140 is just about perfect for me.
  • crista_b
    crista_b Posts: 1,192 Member
    I don't understand either. I'm 5'9" and I would be disgusting if I was 125. My goal is 150.
  • beccala18
    beccala18 Posts: 293 Member
    I think in answer to the first part of your question (why 125 and not 123 or 128?), I'd say that numbers divisible by 5 sound better. I have a goal weight of 135 not because that is the weight I want to be specifically (really a range around there is fine), but because I like how it sounds.
  • TamaraHaase
    TamaraHaase Posts: 39 Member
    I'm between 5'6 and 5'7, and at 150 I'm a size 6. I've never been lower than that, and that is my ultimate goal in weight loss this time around. Well, between a size 6 or 8. I'm also quite muscular and curvy, and the difference for me between a 6 and an 8 is about 5 pounds. So I cannot imagine what I would look like at 125 - I'd imagine quite emaciated and sickly. Not to mention that I currently have 124 pounds of lean body mass, so that wouldn't even be 1% body fat, lol.
  • threnners
    threnners Posts: 175 Member
    For me, 125 is the "I look like I need to eat a ham sandwich or ten" number.
  • charcharbec
    charcharbec Posts: 253 Member
    My goal is 107. :D Take THAT. :D
  • pinthin87
    pinthin87 Posts: 296 Member
    My goal is 5 pounds lighter than that so I am not sure what the deal is with that number.
  • freezerburn2012
    freezerburn2012 Posts: 273 Member
    People like round numbers.
  • kristen6022
    kristen6022 Posts: 1,923 Member
    I'm 5'11. 125 is NEVER going to be an option for me. EVER. I'm about 153 and a size 6. You can see bones in places...At the lowest healthy weight for my height range I could be 135, but I'd look very sick.
  • cardiokitten
    cardiokitten Posts: 401 Member
    My magic number is 120-125. That's my goal weight because that's what I was when I graduated HS and I look good back then so I want to get back to looking the same :)
  • Charloo1990
    Charloo1990 Posts: 619 Member
    Haha funny that. Im 5'3 and my target is 126lbs. Thats my target cause its bang on 9st which is bang in the middle of a healthy weight for my height. My target used to be 119lbs but at my lowest of 124lbs my family was saying it didnt suite me and that i looked too gaunt in the face. So im hopinh that when im at my target of 126lbs, im happy and i'l stay there.
  • lizsmith1976
    lizsmith1976 Posts: 497 Member
    I am 125, and my goal is 125 :) I'm 5'4" with plenty of muscles and I am now competing in triathlons. For me, that's perfect. My original goal weight was 117, but when I got to 125 and 19% body fat I realized that I would lose muscle if I lost more weight, and that was unacceptable. I'd probably stay happy in a range of 122-128, but this is good now.
  • saxmaniac
    saxmaniac Posts: 1,133 Member
    Statistics?

    Average female height is 5'4". 125 pounds at 5'4" is a BMI of 21, squarely in the middle of the "normal" category.

    So, of course you'll see lots of women targeting 125, because lots of women are about that height.
  • kayleesays
    kayleesays Posts: 564 Member
    125 - not as low as 120, but a hell of a lot better than 130?

    I dunno, I'm an even number freak, so my goal weight is either 132 or 134.
  • Elzecat
    Elzecat Posts: 2,916 Member
    I just notice by looking at a lot of people's fitness/weight loss goals and no matter what the height, it seems like 125 is the "magic" number for many people. Why 125? Why not 128? why not 123? Is it a "media ideal" number? It's not only on this site, it's women in general. For some 125 would be healthy, for others, seems (and looks) underweight. I remember reading some article in Cosmo or something similar in where a man was quoted as saying "anything over 125 is a fat girl" and then he was shown a picture of a pretty, athletic, curvy girl that weighed 150 and he couldn't believe it. Many men are clueless...smh..

    Just a subject for discussion.

    hm...nope. 125 is NOT the magic number for me...I'm 5'8 1/2. I haven't weighed 125 since I was in junior high school. My goal is 150.
  • arw060310
    arw060310 Posts: 256 Member
    I think for ME 125 is perfect because I'm 5'4. It makes me look thin and lean without looking ill or sick. It's literally my magic number!
  • npdivy
    npdivy Posts: 4 Member
    I'm 51 years old, athletic build and my most healthy weight was 132. At my age, I would settle for 141, because it's a start. I started at 185, I'm now at 162 and I'm slowly reaching my goal.
  • EpiGaiaRepens
    EpiGaiaRepens Posts: 824 Member
    my initial goal weight was 145.
    then it was 135.
    then it was 130.
    then it was 125.
    then it was 121. That was the first time I picked a goal weight based on a mathematical equation to determine what i would weigh at my ideal BF%. Up until that point, I was just picking numbers based on where i used to be and felt ok. I felt ok at 145 ten years ago. But when I got there this time, I just felt like i could push it further.

    Now i feel like i can push it further again.
    new goal weight: 115.

    but before MFP, the lowest my weight ever got (without an ED) was 135. I genuinely thought that was as small as I could go while still eating. But it turns out I was wrong!!!
  • hnsaunde
    hnsaunde Posts: 757 Member
    I Googled what the ideal weight was for a 5'3 woman, and 125 was what came up. When I get there, I'll re-evaluate and will probably end up with a number more or less than that. I'm sitting around 138 right now and I'm pretty happy with that and concentrating on strength training rather than the scale.
  • kd80538
    kd80538 Posts: 97 Member
    For me, 125 to 130 is my range. I'm 5'4" and 125 is smack dab in the middle of a healthy BMI for me and puts me right where I need to be in terms of my bf%. I'm currently at 131 and a size 6 or 8 (depending on the brand and the day). Originally, my goal was anything under 140, but hit that and kept going. I made it to 122, and that was too low - started getting a lot of comments about being too thin. 125 is pushing it for me, but gives me the buffer and flexibility to fluctuate as I continue to learn how to maintain and become more lean and fit.
  • StephC74
    StephC74 Posts: 64 Member
    It is definitely not my magic number. I am 5' 7.5" and my goal weight is between 153-158. That should put me right in the middle of the range of a healthy body fat % and be a number that I can maintain.
  • calalily77
    calalily77 Posts: 240 Member
    . My goal weight is in the mid 120s. !25 is that number exactly but i would be happy to be anywhere from 123-127. Saying 125 is easier.
  • KeriW626
    KeriW626 Posts: 430
    Im only 5'3". my goal is 135 ish. I think even as short as I am with my althetic build some where under this heap of fat. I would be one of those girls that people walk up to and tell to go get a few burgers. My current weight gain is med related, the last time I was activly fighting this crap, I got down to 167 and size 14. As an annorexic teen I was 85lbs and a size 0. Not looking to repeat that.

    Yea my answer doesnt help. Im clueless as to why 125ish no matter hight or build.
  • Captain_Mal
    Captain_Mal Posts: 945 Member
    I don't have a number goal. When I'm satisfied, I'll know.
  • Nerdy_Rose
    Nerdy_Rose Posts: 1,277 Member
    I'm in the 120-125 range and basically at goal, but I'm 5'2" and relatively tiny. I agree that tall women probably shouldn't be aiming for the same goal weight at someone my height. My "goal" weight stemmed from what I used to weigh naturally when I was a ballet dancer and ate whatever I wanted.

    Currently, I wouldn't mind weighing 5 lbs less, but I'm going to try to focus less on weight and more on fitness -- increasing my running stamina, and starting heavy lifting.
  • heathermariew
    heathermariew Posts: 20
    I'm 5'8 and my goal number is 149 :) Only because 140's sound good haha
  • cminor5
    cminor5 Posts: 11
    I think that you hear that number for the most part but as other women were saying, it all depends on your height and bone structure and also if you toned, which gives you more weight. I actually would love to be 125 and my actual goal is 120. I am 5'4 and 3 quarters. I look heavier, due to my hips being larger and this is where I have a problem loosing. The reast of my body is coming along and my stomache is flat. If I looked good in a swimming suit and was over 125 lbs. than my magic number would change. I do hear exactly what you are saying. Good luck on your journey!
  • megmay2591
    megmay2591 Posts: 621 Member
    I can see that for some women it may be unhealthy. Initially I wanted to get to 125lbs because that is how much I used to weigh before I gained weight. I'm 5'4" btw. Now, I really just want to get the body that will make me feel good. I want a flat tummy and if I can have that at 130lbs that would be awesome. I hope to get to 125-130 by the time I'm finished, but I want to look athletic so I may end up being 135 and happy.

    I'm at 139lbs right now, with quite a ways to go because I still have a big pudgy belly.
  • jreimund
    jreimund Posts: 64
    Acutally 125 for me is an ideal/borderline high number because I'm really short, but right now my goal is 130. ...that being said I think it is a media/stereotypical thing? I have no idea why. The sterotypes/stigma are soooo ridiculous on girls/womens' weights, it's sad really...
  • rockerbabyy
    rockerbabyy Posts: 2,258 Member
    im shooting for 160-180, depending on how i feel when i get there. im 5'6, and honestly cant see myself lower than 160

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