How do you pick your goal weight?

[PaulaSue]

Do you go by the BMI chart, what you were at a happy time in your life, an another way?

 

[delilah]

For me, both. I chose a BMI that was in the middle of the normal range. When I was a young adult, I was very thin. As I got older, I gained weight, but tended to stablilize at about 120lbs, which is my goal weight at this time, and corresponds to a BMI of 22-23. (My weight was about 95-100 lbs from the time I was in junior high until I got out of college; when I started graduate school, and got married, it was very difficult to maintain such a low weight). I was very comfortable and happy at 120 lbs, which I last weighed about 8 years ago. I think that the new standard for ideal weight, also, is a BMI of 22 or so.

For me, it is a happy coincidence that a weight I am comfortable with and able to maintain is close to my ideal weight. If there was a difference, I would go for a weight that I was comfortable with and able to maintain. I wouldn't exert the effort, for example, to get to a weight of 110, for example, because I know I'm not able to maintain that without excessive effort. As long as a weight is in a healthy range, I think it is OK. This is anywhere from a BMI of 19 to 27. There is no excess morbidity for a BMI of 27, although a BMI of 25-27 is overweight.

 

[AuntieM03]

My doctor gave me a goal weight of 160. I'm 5'6", so at that weight if I went by the BMI I would still be overweight (though on the low end). My boss has lost a ton of weight. She is to the point where she is starting to look emaciated and the BMI chart still shows her as overweight. I think depending on the person it just isn't realistic.

Mostly I just want to get where I am comfortable and never again having to shop in the "women's" section would be a bonus.

 

[becka]

I have set my first goal at 160 even though that is still considered overweight for my height when you look at BMI. It has been so long since I was last that weight that I don't know what to expect. I do know my body type and while I could probably be OK hitting the 145 max for my normal BMI weight I just don't know how that will look and feel for me. I figure 160 is my first target and I will adjust from there. I would guess that somewhere in the 145-160 range is about what I will be comfortable with.

 

[DisFam95]

BMI is good guideline but as some have said it just does not work for them. Go by that, speak w/ a doctor, play it by ear.

Going by a 'happier time of life' can be unrealistic. Someone mentioned junior high. Did not read it all so sorry if I'm saying something wrong. But as an grown person it is unrealistic to compare to junior high or even college. I don;t even consider those to be a full adult yet.

In college I was 155 (I'm 5" 7.5") That was skinny on me. My hip bones were sticking out. I'm 165 today (after loosing weight agian since kids). 10 pounds difference but the shape is SOOOO different. Fat deposits are different as we age and after children. It's just a fact for most people. I know if I lose 10 more pounds I would not look like I did in college.

So pick a reasonable goal and work in smaller goals towards it. You can always stop if you get too small or keep going if you want to lose more.

I've done cardio out the wazoo and lost all this weight but I know I need to start strength training. One of my mom friends started working w/ a trainer and she looks amazing w/ only strength training. Very lean looking.

 

[PaulaSue]

I have set my first goal at 160 even though that is still considered overweight for my height when you look at BMI. It has been so long since I was last that weight that I don't know what to expect. I do know my body type and while I could probably be OK hitting the 145 max for my normal BMI weight I just don't know how that will look and feel for me. I figure 160 is my first target and I will adjust from there. I would guess that somewhere in the 145-160 range is about what I will be comfortable with.

145 is my max for a healthy BMI too. (It's my goal weight.) I just don't know if I can get to that. Right now I am 165 (20 less than when I married and most of my adult life until I had the girls).

I think I really need to learn about strenght training. Right now I just walk and sometimes do the Nortic Track. I still feel like I am just as big (didn't really go down much in clothes size for losing 34 lbs) and flabby (bat wings)

 

[DISNEYmooner2008]

My goal weight is 130. For a healthy BMI, my weight should be 113-130. Because I have almost 100lbs to lose, I figure the upper end will be just fine

 

[fofinia]

I picked my initial goal of 150lbs because I can't even remember when i last weighed that. It was sometime between high school and getting married. I figured it was a nice round number to aim for about 35lbs below my starting weight. The BMI calculator I just looked up said I could be 140 and be at the very top of the "normal " weight range. Weight watchers said the most I could be for my age and height (31 5'3") is 135. I don't feel after two kids that 135 is attainable at all. I was 135 when I graduated from high school and looked good. I wasn't skinny but no fat at all.

But now that I'm about 12 lbs away from 150 I'm thinking I'm not going to be all that happy with the way I will look (If I ever get there) at 150. So I'm kind of thinking somewhere in the 140's is where I'm going to end up.

 

[WDWorBUST]

Although we all think about those numbers on the scale - I tend to look more at a size goal. Muscle is denser than fat so it takes up less room per pound (it doesn't actually weigh more - it just takes up less space) so you can weigh more with a higher percentage of muscle and yet sizewise be smaller. Sooooo - with all that said I am shooting for a size 10 (an 8 would be a dream) which I'm guessing will be about 140 pounds for me.

 

[fofinia]

(an 8 would be a dream).

Size 8 is my dream size as well!! A dream is a wish your heart makes.....

 

[delilah]

Going by a 'happier time of life' can be unrealistic. Someone mentioned junior high. Did not read it all so sorry if I'm saying something wrong.

Actually, I'm the one who mentioned junior high. For background, I am a family physician, and I routinely counsel patients on health maintenance issues like weight loss. Actually, my initial post in this thread is much what I would tell my patients when they ask me what their weight should be. If you read my original post, I actually said that I felt my weight as a young adult was excessively low, and I think I tended toward anorexic features, although never frankly anorexic. There are doctors who feel very strongly that the weight one has at 18 if female if it is within the normal weight range should be the weight loss goal, but I was in effect explaining why I disagree, for all the reasons later stated in other posts on this thread. There are other doctors who feel just as strongly that if a person exercises and is otherwise fit, being overweight isn't as much of a hazard as we might be led to believe. I will use myself as an example (although I could use some of my patients, as well). When I was at my heaviest weight, I had glucose intolerance, and high blood pressure. I was on medication for these. As I hit the BMI of 27, I found I was able to get off my medications, and I am still off at this time. Furthermore, my feet used to hurt to get up and walk to the end of the hall to get to the exam rooms. My feet haven't hurt since the middle of June, which correlated to about a 30lb weight loss. So, I am very happy with the effects of my efforts to this point.

 

[tiggerlover]

BMI is good guideline but as some have said it just does not work for them. Go by that, speak w/ a doctor, play it by ear.

I have to agree with the above, because it is a guideline, but not always realistic for all people. I just had this conversation with one of my fellow WW members tonight and we both came to the same conclusion, every one is different therefore, not everyone will fit into the BMI guidelines the same way. According to the BMI I am still overweight, according to my doctor I am right where I should be. I made goal with WW and I feel good and I am a lot healthier than ever before. Could I lose more weight, probably, would I be able to maintain that weight, probably not.

I have done WW three times, the first time the amount of weight I had to lose seemed overwhelming and I quit because the numbers WW thought I should be seemed so unattainable. The second time I lost 65 pounds, still didn't make WW goal, but felt like I was in a good place. I ended up gaining 25 pounds back. I reevaluated myself and what I wanted and what I thought I was capable of, I talked to my doctor and we came up with a number somewhere between what WW wants and what my doctor thought was right for me and that is the goal that I went after the third (and final) time I joined WW. I have been at that goal for four months now and I find I can live this way, I couldn't live at the low end of what WW wanted me to be.

Evaluate your situation, what you want and what you feel you can live with. This is life and whatever goal you set should be something you can maintain for life. Good luck.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I am so proud of everyone here and their journey. It is amazing to read your stories.

I picked my goal just b/c it says I will not be considered moderately overweight any longer. I know I will never see single digit sizes. I've not been a single digit size since I blew through that growing up. I want to feel stronger and more energized like I do when I am moving more and eating healthier. My goal also is one I truly feel I can reach. To me that is something to set--a realistic goal and if you feel you can adjust as you go, then do that.

Keep on keepin' on!

 

[VernRDH]

I picked my goal weight by my height (4'11") and frame size (small). I am aiming for 115. Which is reasonable. But I may not go there. I may get to 125 and be fit and lean and happy with my body and how I feel. I haven't been below 160 since I got married 10 years ago, so I dont know how anything is going to look and feel. I guess I will know when I get there.

BTW, I personally think the BMI chart is hooey. It does not account for male or female, age or frame size. As others pointed out, being at "reasonable" weights they are still "overweight" according to "the CHART". (off my soapbox now)

Good luck to you!!

 

[disneychrista]

I went with what I was at 18, which is something that was mentinoed in You on a Diet. I was 135 when I was 18 before I got preganant. So 135 is my goal.

 

[Caitsmama]

I am just going by how i felt before when i was at a happy weight.
When i got married (9 yrs ago) i was 155 lbs (5'6") and although i wasn't "skinny", i felt comfortable. I don't think i will ever be "Skinny" and that is ok by me, but i want to be HEALTHY and strong! So, my goal weight this time realistically is 160 lbs. I am at 190 currently.
So, i guess to answer the question, i am going more by how i look, and more importantly, how i feel!

 

[katerkat]

I picked an unrealistic goal because I want to fit into a dress I wore in college. But, my main goal was to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight, which I did, and now my goal is to fit into a size 8. And into that darn dress. By January.

But, I feel a lot better now that I'm exercising (strength training is great, y'all!) and eating better instead of less. And that's worth more than the numbers on the scale - I haven't stepped on the scale near as often since I started South Beach. (Of course, I have to take a fitness test from my trainer this week and he uses the evil calipers on my fatty spots.)