I'm 5'7" and weigh 242lbs.

I haven't been under 200lbs in about 7 years...even then, it only lasted a few months.

In high school, I was about 170 for the most part.

I've never been a "normal" weight (based on BMI).

When I first started planning for all of this, I thought 170 would be a good target weight...then I thought 165...maybe 160. Even at 160, though, I'd be "overweight." by BMI standards.

How did you decide on your target weight?

Granted, just getting under 200lbs is my primary goal, but I can't even fathom being 155lbs (and thus have a BMI under 25).

How did you decide on a target weight for yourself?

I originally chose 140 (I'm 5'5 SW 237 CW 191) but my doctor suggested 130 since it's right in the middle of a normal BMI range for me. I don't think BMI is always a great measure for health when you get down into a normal size for you, and my goal is to build strength while I lose weight and so I would definitely be totally content with a higher weight and more muscle. That being said, I wanted to set my goal at a level where I wasn't selling myself short by thinking that I can't get there just because it's such a foreign number. For me, believing that I can achieve a normal weight means using BMI as a guideline. I underwent surgery because I want to fundamentally change the way I view myself, and part of doing that is telling myself it's okay to think that I can get there even if it seems physically and mentally overwhelming!

I had surgery at 185lb. I am only 5' 0 tall so with that much weight it was getting a little hard to be comfortable doing anything including sitting. I thought about all of the weights I had been in the past 15 years. I think I looked the best and felt the best at 140lb. I recently found that it puts me in the overweight category so I went 10lb below that and have decided I will allow myself anywhere from 130-135ish. My Dr. seems to think I care about that cute little BMI chart of his that says I could weigh less. In the back of my mind I always think "Good luck with that thought".

I don't have a specific goal yet. My PCP and surgeon are ok with that. I've stated, to both, that I have some sizes in mind- size 12 or smaller and they both think that will be no problem.

Conversations with the psychiatrist were different. He helped me realize that I won't be happy unless I'm under 200 and he thinks I will probably be happy around 150. It's been so long since I have seen any number that starts with a 1, I might pass out! It will be ok though, at that weight, the paramedics will be able to lift me then

My goal is to get down to 130 pounds, my former weight when I was 18-21. Even at those ages I was very sedentary. So if I can get toned and go back to wearing size 10, it'll be a NSV for me.

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I searched the App Store just now and found an app that tells you how obese you are, and tells you "what's normal" for your height. I'm 5'5&3/4" so I put in 5'5".. And got 120-142... My goal weight I had preset was 138.. So I'm right on target!

I'm 6'2" and I started at 350lbs. I set my goal when I got my band to 200lbs. I reached 190lbs and now getting my revision my dr says he thinks I could get down to 180-175. It makes me nervous because looking at the pictures of me from my lowest weight I felt I looked like I was at a perfect weight. We shall see tho. It gets addicting when you pass your goal weight. For me I wanted to keep pushing to see how far I could go. It's scary

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Edited April 29, 201610 yr by Doc'sWife