Hi all Tomorrow will be my first full week here and I need some validation and input.

10 years ago I weighed 283 lbs. and manged to progress to 165 lbs in just over a year.
I looked good & felt good between 165 - 175.
I maintained that range for many years.

Here's what's going on now:

I've decided that I need to change my "goal weight" to 170-175 instead of 150
170-175 feels more reasonable & attainable and I'm afraid if I keep my "goal weight" at 150 it may be too much for me and I'll get discouraged and give up.
I'm a perfectionist.

I know I can reach 175.

The problem is that I used to be 5' 9" - I've lost 1 1/2" in height over the last 10 years .
So today at 5"7 1/2" I'm still over weight at 170 and would have a more favorable BMI in the lower 160's or upper 150's


Does it seem reasonable to you to give myself permission to set 175 as a good goal weight and figure it's better than where I am today?

Or should I strive for for 150 - 155 and accept the fact that I'm shorter and older and 150- 155lbs. is probably a healthier weight?

I have had similar stats and adjusted my "goal weight" much as you have. I don't have a set number in my mind, I just know I will be where I need to be when I feel really good, am comfortable and happy (most of the time, anyway).

Keep up the good work. You have succeeded in the past and will continue to!

BMI charts are over-rated. You know if you feel good and are healthy. 175 is a fine place to be. I think of Heather here on 3FC. She looks and feels wonderful! Take a page from her book, and set your goal where YOU think it should be.

I just recently moved my goal weight. I think anyone that sets it in the beginning may end up moving it. It is an arbitrary number based upon our past experiences, charts and tables, advice from others, etc. It is not something that should be dictated by outside sources.

Congratulations on your loss thus far!

Do what you feel is best. My dream of dreams is that many of you beautiful people start thinking beyond that scale and into body fat land. If you weigh 165 lbs and your body fat is 32% like mine is I AM STILL OBESE.
Think about it.

I think 175 is a great goal. When you reach it, you will know what you need to tweek with health and fitness and you will make other goals at that time. For now just focus on loosing extra weight and not being obese. My goal is 130, however, once I am 130 I will be overweight/high end of a healthy weight range. At that time I would like to look at my body and give myself some fintess goals to tweek what I have.

I think that you have to know yourself. If you think setting your goal weight too low will destroy your motivation, raise it up. Give maintenance a go, and if you later decide to lower your goal (or raise it) whether that be a month later or a decade later that's ok too. I think all-or-nothing thinking trips up a lot of us.

I think you will need to see how you feel when you get there, and not worry about weight or BMI charts. Also, how would you have to eat to maintain a weight of 155? Would you have to practically starve yourself, and would it be miserable to maintain that weight? Try to figure out a way of eating that would be sustainable once you reach maintenance.

Take care and welcome!
Sherry

Thank you all so much for the feedback & support!
I really needed it

I am a real "all or nothing" person and believe me...it has gotten me into trouble with more than just my weight.

I'm going to make my goal 170 ; work on getting there & then see how I feel.

My new affirmation is:
" 170 is good enough"...."170 is perfect"....."170 is healthy"..... "170 is

You know, I am struggling too with my "final weight". For me to lose 100 lbs, 175 is the number.

Is it better to maintain a loss of 100 lbs (in your case 70lbs) or struggle to keep your weight loss at a lower number to potentially gain it all back? or gain some of it back?

For me, when I get there 175 will be good enough. I might still be considered obese by BMI charts, but Oh WELL. Better than being 275!

And if I change my mind and want badly to keep going down in numbers, then great! But otherwise I will be quite happy at 175.

Cheers, Ginger

I agree that BMI charts are overrated. There's nothing wrong with setting your goal wherever you'd like; you could always see how you feel when you get there and adjust accordingly.