WW -- Setting weight goal

[bunnyfoo]

I have a question about setting my Weight Watchers goal ... I've been reading that it's better to select a weight that's slightly higher than your own personal goal ... that way you can start attending the meetings for free much sooner Personally, I would like to weigh 130 lbs ... I was wondering, if I set my WW goal at 138 lbs (that's 5 lbs lower than my 10% target) and continue to lose while on maintenance, is WW going to suggest that I stop losing weight? I guess I'm not too familiar with what happens during the maintenance period... Any help or suggestions would be most appreciated! TIA

 

[KathyTX]

Bunnyfoo,

Weight Watchers will be concerned mostly with the lower and upper limits of your goal weight range.

If you get below the minimum weight for your age and height, THEN they'll suggest that you stop losing weight. (There is a point at which you won't be allowed to attend meetings without a doctor's note... I'm not familiar with the specifics, as moving below my range has never been one of my challenges. )

Actually, I've done exactly what you've described. My WW goal weight is at the top of my range, my true goal about 15 pounds lower. I maintained that weight for a while (years ago ) with the full support of my WW leader.

As long as your weight is within that "healthy" range as defined by WW, you're fine.

 

[Nancy]

I have a question. When do you set a goal with them? I've been going for 20 weeks now, I passed my first 10% goal way back in June..do they suggest setting a goal or do i have to suggest it?

 

[MelanieC]

My feeling is that you should set your WW goal at the highest number. Then when you are in maintenance, you are allowed to go 2 above your goal. You can loose as much as you want, just as long as you don't go below the lowest range.

The range that WW has for my height (5'2") is 106-131.

I picked 131 for my WW goal. My personal goal is to get to 125 and then keep it somewhere between 120-130.

If I set it at 125, I could only go as hi as 127 or I would have to pay. When I get older, it will be more difficult to maintain, so I want to keep it at the highest range that WW's will allow. It doesn't mean though, that I can't try to get down to 115.

You can set your goal with them now, or wait. I have 21 pounds till I hit goal, and I haven't told them yet. I figure I will wait till I get closer.

Good luck guys!

Melanie

 

[bunnyfoo]

Thanks for the help everyone The receptionist who weighs me in has been starting to ask me if I've thought about a goal yet. I'm hoping to reach the 10% target this week, so I figured that she'd want to know something for sure.

The weight range for me (5'6") is 124-148 ... so I guess 138 lbs is right in the middle. I'm hoping for 130-135 though *lol*

 

[KathyTX]

Nancy- about setting your goal weight:

When you start to get close to the upper limit of your weight range, you and your leader should talk and set your goal together.

My experience has been that when someone gets within 10 or 15 pounds of that number, our leader notices and intitiates the conversation. I don't know if this always happens everywhere- we have a VERY supportive and organized leader! And I don't know if WW gives leaders firm guidelines regarding when to have members set the goal.

My advice would be to plan to talk to your leader somewhere around 10-15 pounds over the maximum of your published weight range, if she hasn't talked to your first. At that point, you have a good idea how much more you REALLY, REALISTICALLY want to lose.

(This is only my experience and observation at my meetings with a limited number of WW leaders... Someone else might have more insight as to what the WW leaders are instructed to do!)

 

[Nancy]

Thanks for the answers. I'm still a long ways from any kind of final goal. I like my short term mini goals much better.