Determining Goals?

[Terry S]

Just curious how everyone determines goals? Of course everyone can't be 120 pounds. I am 6 feet tall so I think 120 on me would look sick. Is there some special chart that everyone uses that says an ideal weight for a female at a certain height and certain build? Or does everyone remember what it was like back when they were a certain weight and want to get back to that weight so that is how they are determining their goal? Like I said just a curiosity.

 

[TigH]

Great question!

My goals have changed so much since I joined WISH. I wanted to get to a comfy 10, possibly 8. I also wanted to get to a certain weight before we left for vacation in May. Then I wanted to get to a lower weight. Now I have met those goals and I am focusing on building muscle mass and losing body fat, so my weight really isn't as big a deal to me anymore! I'm shooting for that cover of Muscle and Fitness Hers body now, hopefully will be able to stay a size 6/8 for the rest of my life.

At first it was about losing weight and feeling comfortable in the clothes I used to be able to wear. Now it's more about challenging myself to stick to my fitness routine, making sure I am eating balanced meals, eating as many whole foods as I can, and taking really good care of my body. My resting heart rate is low, my blood pressure is normal and I am going to get a physical later this year to see about the rest of me!

I got the news the other day that a neighbor of ours from our old neighborhood in Maryland had passed away from cancer. She was only in her mid to late 60s. So another one of my goals is to just take very good care of my body and keep it as healthy as possible so I can live a VERY long and healthy life. (I'd love to live past 100 and still be active!)

At 6 feet tall, you are right, 120 would probably not look too healthy! I think the basic guidelines are a 5' woman should weigh ABOUT 100 pounds, so for every inch over five feet you add five pounds. I guess that makes my "ideal" weight 140, which I am kind of hovering around right now.

 

[Terry S]

Thank you Karen, through reading this board for the last couple of weeks or so you are definatly becoming my idol! You have done so good meeting your goals and keeping it that way and have such a positive outlook on it all. I am looking foward to seeing you on the cover of Muscle!

 

[KathyTX]

There are probably a lot of different approaches to this. If you study the Weight Watchers weight charts, you'll see that they use BMI to determine healthy weight ranges by height.

WW holds that a healthy BMI is between 20 and 25.

At 6 feet, they recommend a minimum weight of 147 (BMI=20) and a max weight of 177 (or 184 for those over 45 years old, which is BMI=25).

A range of 147-177 leaves a lot of leeway! You'll want to take into account your general build to decide where within that healthy range you look and feel your best.

(At 5'10", WW says my range is 139-167. I know from experience that 145-150 is where I look and feel my best. Below that and I'm too bony, over that and I have a bit of extra cushioning.)

(At 5'0", their minimum weight is 102, max 123. The ranges increase by around 3.5 pounds per inch of height.)

 

[Terry S]

Thanks Kathy! Well, I am already at 148 and I feel I need to loose another 10-13 pounds. I just still have such a belly and everything else surronding that mid area that I want to get rid of. I am still in a size 10 clothing and would like to get down to a 6 or 8 depending on the clothes. I think I will shoot for 135 and see how it goes!

 

[SnackyStacky]

I think that definitely the way to approach goal setting is where you're comfortable.

I really have problems with the BMI chart, because it doesn't take into account a lot of things: muscle, excess skin, bone density...... it works only if you know how much fat is on your body. Everbody is built differently. I would speak to your doctor before determining a healthy body weight.

Actually, my view on the whole situation is to throw numbers out the window. Find a healthy eating plan. Set your goal as to make it through one day on your eating plan, be it Atkins, Weight Watchers, or any of the other various programs represented here. I have to make that my focus, because if I just stop eating healthy, that's when the weight comes back on.

That's my $.02 on goals!

 

[LuvTigger]

All great ideas and perspectives here...and I agree, TigH is definitely someone to be inspired by here!

I have several thoughts on this (sorry if they're duplicates):
* I too have been very conscious recently about just getting healthier, meaning eating healthier things, exercising more, etc., not just the weight and size stuff. Sadly, I know of at least 3 people in the last year who have died or nearly died of heart attacks because of unhealthy lifestyles. All are/were overweight, and 2 were smokers. I also know way too many people with cancer, and while I realize some things are just not within my control, I would like to control whatever I can.
* While I do look at weight charts, I don't base my goals solely on them. I really think that even though most charts offer a range, there are things that just make all of our bodies different. For instance, when I was younger and more active and more of an "average" size, I weighed about 140, but most people would never have thought I weighed that much. Even when I went to the doctor's office once, the nurse had to do a double-take when she weighed me and said she thought I looked more like 120-125. While I am striving for a weight goal (130), I am doing it because, for me, it is more measurable and gives me more incentive as far as something to reach for. One thing I've done to give myself some motivation is saved some clothes that I used to fit in, and I even bought one outfit that I'd LIKE to eventually fit in, to help reach my goal.
* I have learned thru the program I'm on that losing inches is just as, if not more important than, losing weight. I know LOTS of people who may have lost 10 pounds or less, but they LOOK like they've lost 20 and their inches went down significantly. If you're going to be doing lots of physical activity, esp. with weights, also keep in mind that muscle actually weighs more than fat, but it is more dense, so you may not lose a lot of weight, but you'll be leaner and toner.

I totally agree that some of those weight charts (have you guys noticed that there are so MANY weight charts and they're not consistent with each other???) are completely unrealistic. I've set my own goal based on what I weighed in the past and what I would be comfortable with, but in addition to weight goals, I've also set some general health goals such as taking my vitamins, drinking lots of water, and exercise regimens too.

As someone else mentioned, checking in on the WISH also gives lots of ideas to other considerations when striving to lose weight, but mostly WISH offers the best encouragement and support!

 

[imgoingtodisney]

Doctor's office told me I should weigh 130 so thats what Im going for.
Also on fitday.com there is a chart that shows healthy weight for different heights

 

[bicker]

My strategy is to never be satisifed. Set a goal, as you wish, but recognize that when you get there your life isn't over, and there is more time improve your life and health further. I've been maintaining my weight for well over a year now, but I still work diligently on "the next level." Now I'm working on building strength. Maybe once I've achieved a certain goal with that I'll aim to achieve something else, maybe a marathon. Who knows? As long as I'm improving I'm sure in no danger of slipping back into old bad habits.