How do you choose a "goal weight"?

[Lisa :) 231]

I recently had my body fat tested by a professional and I have 190 lbs of lean mass (bone, muscle, Water, etc). Using the archaic BMI charts, I would need to LOSE MUSCLE in order to be in the NORMAL range!!! I think a lot of doctors just don't get it.

[GonnaLoseIt 33]

Personally, I have made my goal weight much higher than what any bmi test has told me. I figure that if I set it too low and never reach it I will be disappointed. With making my goal achievable I will not experience that. That doesn't mean I have to stop at my goal, but any extra weight at that point is the cherry on top.

Best of luck!

[Felicia 28]

I am almost 5'8 and right now I weigh 245lbs. I told my surgeon I wanted to be 135 pounds. My primary doc thinks that's insane because I am a very broad boned person. He seems to think I will be fine and love the way I look at 160 or 165lbs. I have never in my life been thin so I am playing it by my mirror and how I feel. My goal weight will be whatever I want it to be lol. But as of right now my goal is 199lbs. Then I will re-evaluate myself every 10 pounds after that until I am happy with what I see. Some people can say they are or want to be a "goal weight" but you have to factor so much into that number. So I would say shoot for something realistic, use the charts as a guide, and once you get there you will know.

[Thomas CPA 496]

Newbie,

You and I are similar height and bone structure. I think once you get to about 190 to 180 you will feel otherwise about 165 let alone 135. Most of the people I know don't think I really should lose anymore.But I want to get down to 180.

I am almost 5'8 and right now I weigh 245lbs. I told my surgeon I wanted to be 135 pounds. My primary doc thinks that's insane because I am a very broad boned person. He seems to think I will be fine and love the way I look at 160 or 165lbs. I have never in my life been thin so I am playing it by my mirror and how I feel. My goal weight will be whatever I want it to be lol. But as of right now my goal is 199lbs. Then I will re-evaluate myself every 10 pounds after that until I am happy with what I see. Some people can say they are or want to be a "goal weight" but you have to factor so much into that number. So I would say shoot for something realistic, use the charts as a guide, and once you get there you will know.

[Pixie Jen 7]

My goal weight is what I weighed my senior year of High School. It just happens to be a BMI of 24.7 which is tip-toeing the line between healthy and overweight and I'm perfectly fine with that.

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,281]

[quote name=Lisa ' timestamp='1317502127' post='214154]

My surgeon asked me what my goal weight was and I told her I refuse to have one!!! I told her that I just wanted to be healthy and to feel comfortable in my body. I have spent too many years of my life allowing the number on the scale to define how I felt about myself. Now it's more about doing the things I want to do...and being around for my kids and my partner!!! But if I had to use numbers then I would definitely use body fat %, not BMI and not weight.

^ ^ ^

This post is exactly right for me.

As a matter of fact, I want to get down to 29% Body Fat (I'm about 34% right now). I DO NOT want to lose one more inch on top! I lost so much weight up there I had to have plastic surgery just to feel more proportionate. I am not actively trying to lose anymore weight what so ever.

Here's the thing... I'm 5'7 and weigh 179 Lbs. I believe my BMI scale puts me at around 28.5. Are you kidding me? So I still need to lose another 30 Lbs? Just to be in the high end of the BMI scale even??? Um, no - not now not ever. I did not sign up to look like a bag of bones!! I love my curves and have zero desire to lose them (more than I already have) I am able to get size 4's on for goodness sake!!!

I'm having liposuction to remove the rest of the fat I have on my body in the areas of my choice. Once I do that, I'll be able to fit those Size 4's perfectly (they are always tight in the thighs). I'm good from here.

So... picking a "weight" goal is great - but IMO go up instead of picking a goal that is far below. Keep in mind too that majority of us will end up with some kind of residual fat (we lose weight, but never lose fat cells - they simply shrink). We will also end up with excess skin. All this weighs quite a bit.

Good luck!!!

[ShellBear 26]

BMI charts are fine for some, but are NOT a one size fits all approach. I picked the high end of the chart for my goal weight and thought I would start there. I can NOT imagine being on the low end of that scale. 140lbs would have me looking like a crackhead for sure. I am tall and weigh 170 now and I think I look healthy, fit and normal. I could lose another 10lbs, but that would be it!!

Just pick a number and then when you get there decide for yourself if you want or need to lose more. That is what I am doing and ONLY YOU know what is good for you. If you feel you have lost enough, then stop. If you need to lose more, then set it to a lower number.

Best of luck to you!!

Kelly

Hey Kelly, I think it is about time you shared some photos with us. Would you be willing to share?????

We are all curious and could use some inspiration!

Of course, we understand if that is not your thing.

<3 Shell

[Sassygirl06 962]

i just picked a number that i would be happy with. when i was younger i was 120 pounds and i was super thin. im 5'8" and sometimes i measure taller then that. (not sure why) anyhow, 150 pounds seems just about when i looked the best when i was younger. i looked healthy and fit. i just want to look like that again.

[Sonja 16]

I WOULD like to one day be in one-der-land , but we will see once I get closer.

On an awesome side note.... I GOT APPROVED THROUGH BCBS TODAY!! sooooooooooooo excited!

[NtvTxn 1,262]

My doctor chose a 'goal weight' - 150, that would have put me just under a 25 BMI - I'm sure that is how he chooses a goal weight. My PCP agrees, a healthy BMI is what is important. I wanted to wear a size 8 - priorities! I hit his goal and my goal...and kept going. My mom always said I was big boned, but I'm NOT, who'd have guessed it!! LoL I am 52 yrs old and am go between 137 and 143 (141 this morning). My jeans are 4's and 6's. NEVER in my wildest dreams did I think I'd ever wear this size. In 9th grade I wore a 9, then I gained weight....and when I got married at age 19, my wedding dress was a 9. It's been downhill since then! 50lbs with one child, 35 lbs with daughter #2. My advice is this - do not under estimate this surgery, this tool. It's amazing.

So, this whole concept of goal weight has me baffled. According to BMI charts, I believe they estimate that I should weight less than 179 to have a BMI of 25. That seems really low to me!! I am 347 right now, but my thinnest as an adult was 260 & I felt OK there, although there was a definite want to lose more weight. I am tall & I do have a large bone structure. My feet are a size 12. My fingers are longer than my husbands.

I know that when I get sleeved (come on insurance!! ) I will gauge my success on lots of other factors besides weight.... but it is nice to know what you are aiming for!!

How did you guys pick your goal weight??

[Buckeye Girl 8]

My goal weight is a guess, as you will see, under my post, " I will know when I get there"