Setting a Goal Weight

[FishingNurse 1,210]

Any input on goal setting?

I had first set my final goal at 165lbs (I'm only 5'4'') and changed it to 155, and now I am feeling like I want it to be 145! Am I setting my self up for faliure? Did anyone else do this?

Any responses are appreciated!

[Lissa 2,631]

I picked the weight I was the day I graduated high school. My doctor thinks it's a reasonable goal, so I'm cool with it. I'm 5'8, so 170 pounds will be a good weight for that height. If I get there and feel like it's not low enough, I'm betting I can keep losing. However, looking at a few others who are similar weights and heights, it looks like it will work.

[KateMarie 15]

I am 5'11". I started out 9 weeks ago at 311lbs and a size 22. Not even my surgeon thought I weighed that much...but I did.

The surgeon asked me to set a goal and we would discuss it at my 2 week check up. I knew that at 200 I was a size 11/13 so I thought 180ish would be lovely.

The surgeon thought my goal was too high. He has set my goal at 145. My 18 year old daughter,who is also 5'11" weighs 155-160 and is a size 7. This goal is too low for me!

I have decided on 175.

My advice would be to aim for a healthy but realistic weight. Your goal seems more than realistic. Good Luck.

[LVikingFan 14]

I chose the weight I weighed when I got married, 165. I am a male 5'7" and my doctor thought it sounds reasonable. My more immediate goal is to weight under 200 by Christmas. I am about 227 now and I really have to start working out, but I think I can do it.

You can achieve whatever you want, just pick a goal and aim for it. Good luck and congratulations.

[Amanda131 214]

I also struggled with setting a goal. I orginally chose 165 because that would put me in the right BMI range but as I've lost weight I have amended that goal. I officially say 175 now but I will truthfully be okay once I hit a size ten. I'm 5'10" and wearing a loose size 14 at 209 so who knows when that will be.

I think you should pick a goal that sounds good to you now but be open to modifiying your goal as you lose more weight and learn about your body. I recently had my body fat tested and was told that my body fat composition would be about 20 percent at 190 which is really good. So who knows, if I am all muscle (and skin :/) at 190 then that may be my stopping point. Good luck to you!

Amanda

[minniekitty 44]

I set my goal weight at 145 lbs, the same weight my doctor recommended to me. I'm 5'4" (almost 5'5"), and 145 lbs would place me at the highest weight for a "healthy BMI". I didn't go lower because I have a large body frame AND I wanted to be realistic in my goal. There's a chance I'll keep on losing weight and go lower, but 145 is a nice goal for me.

I have a "goal weight range" of 135-155 lbs. I'll be content anywhere in between those weights. I know a lot of sleevers aim for a lower BMI, but 145 sounds ideal and healthy for me personally. In the end, what matters most is if you're healthy and happy with your body and appearance.

[klus263 9]

I have changed my goals as after I change my underwear... :purplebananna: LOL. I am aproximately 5'5" and started at 232. My first thought would be around 125 so if I gain a few pounds back I would still be good. I then revised it to 135 then 145. I am currently at 155. My body decided that is where it was happy at no matter how hard I try to lose that final 10 lbs. My collar bones are starting to show so I think if I lose much more I may look too skinny. I wear pants size 8 or 10 and tops in large or size 14. I would love to lose those final 10 lbs but I am happy where I am at and will not obsess over it. My doctor never gave me a goal weight so it is just my decision. It is okay to change your mind. I think that is a normal process. Good Luck.

[Thomas CPA 496]

Be flexible. My original doctor said 150 based on height and bmi of normal weight person. Okay, I am 25 years out from college and 150 was inane. I set original at 170. Now at three months I am at 190 and my new primary doctor and I both think 180 is the limit. I am happy with the person I see in the mirror and now that I can feel pain in the tail bone while sitting due to loss of cushion and can feel my ribs and shoulder blades quite easily - yeah anything much below 180 will make me a skeleton.

Be flexible, be willing to adjust goal as you go. Don't just stick to some arbitrary goal, like high school graduation weight, a dress size, bmi index (though we all want to get rid of obesity diagnosis). My goal changed twice since it was originally set.

Enjoy the change and stop when you are comfortable.

[FishingNurse 1,210]

Be flexible. My original doctor said 150 based on height and bmi of normal weight person. Okay, I am 25 years out from college and 150 was inane. I set original at 170. Now at three months I am at 190 and my new primary doctor and I both think 180 is the limit. I am happy with the person I see in the mirror and now that I can feel pain in the tail bone while sitting due to loss of cushion and can feel my ribs and shoulder blades quite easily - yeah anything much below 180 will make me a skeleton.

Be flexible, be willing to adjust goal as you go. Don't just stick to some arbitrary goal, like high school graduation weight, a dress size, bmi index (though we all want to get rid of obesity diagnosis). My goal changed twice since it was originally set.

Enjoy the change and stop when you are comfortable.

Thanks! I currently weigh my high school graduation weight, so that will not be my goal :-) :-) Hoping to see ONDERLAND in the a.m. for the first time since 17 tomorrow!

[elise 5]

I agree that you should try for the weight that makes you feel and look healthy. You should try work with your doctor and his suggestions. He should try and work with you. My doctor wanted me to get to 125 lbs at first. I wanted to be about 160 lbs. But we decided on about 145-155 lbs. At that weight I feel I will look "right". I have big bones and high bone density, so we think this will be OK. I probably would still be listed as obese, but I know I will be healthy at this weight, too. Good Luck!