Metabolic Research Center - Anyone else argue over goal weight?

Okay, question for you all. Has anyone else had trouble convincing their center that they can still grab WAY too much to be done? I originally wanted to set my goal at 130... they said no, that's way to low, it'll be too hard to maintain. Let's go 145. Well #1, that would still put me at 26 BMI and #2, been there, done that, not happy with the body. So, the time comes to put me on stab. and I tell them no. I'm not done nor will I be at 145. They re-run my #'s and say, okay, how about 140?... no, 135?... no. Well, let's just set it at 135 because that's going to put you so low, you'll probably be in a size 4 by then. Umm... I'm in a 10 now. No way will I reach a 4 in 15lbs. Not to mention, any moms out there will probably understand, but 3 kids in 3 years did a reall number on my tummy. There's just way to much there going in directions it has no right to go in. I'll be lucky if 130 will get me where I want to be. They still argue. I'm about to go on stab/maint and just stick to green and tell them I have no idea why I keep losing. Hmmm, one of life's mysteries. They are a WONDERFUL center in every other respect. One gal has so many tricks up her sleeve to help me break plateaus, she's been a sanity savor, but this is driving me batty! I'm even willing to re-up so you'd think they'd jump at that! It's a constant fight. Anyone else had this problem?

I started at 243 and set MY OWN goal at 130. No one blew me any smoke about my goal at all. NOTHING was said.

Nothing was said at the time I signed up but on Monday when I went in they said that they are going to start adding foods in at 150 instead of 140 since I will be in the middle part of the healthy ranges and I am losing so many more inches than pounds. I don't know about that...I decided to wait to see how long it takes me to get to 150 and if I am happy there...if not I will continue to go down to 140 since that is what I signed at...legally they cannot change that, correct?

Guys I am not doing your program ... so I hope it is okay for me to post... cuz what I am hearing is so much what I have been going through... I have had years and years of doubting myself... and when people in power (doctors, bosses, lawyers) I doubt myself... and that really frustrates me. Lately I have been sticking up for what I believe... and I know what is best for me - Listen to yourself... Cathy

C

Good advice Cathy, no one knows you and your body like you do. I'm no where near stabilization, I just started but they did argue with me from the get go about my goal. I wanted 130 they listed 150. We'll see what happens when I get there but I will chose to do what I think is right not what they think is right for me.

Yeah...they're basing it on your non-fat weight...(so weight of bones, organs, etc) so they don't want you to go lower than that...but really, there is fat in some of those organs if you're overweight so that number will change a little bit. They do want you to be at a weight you'll be able to maintain, but didn't they just teach us how to eat responsibly? Isn't that what stabilization and maintenance are about?

I say, put your goal at what you want to. Tell them you want to lose more weight and don't start stabilization early. You need that time to seriously reaquaint your body with other foods and you might as well have the support you paid for to do it. I'd keep fighting them...but thats just me.

When I joined MRC, they set my goal weight at 150, I am only 5"1. I told them that I need to be at 130 and they seemed fine with it.. Now I am kind of rethinking my goal weight, I am down to a size 8 and quickly will be in a 6. Not so sure I want to go that low in a size. I still have 14 pnds to go and am thinking maybe I should stop at 135 or 140. Now I am wondering if they will let me do that.. I didn't know I would lose so many inches to put me down so many sizes. I started at a size 14.. I guess we will just see how it goes at the end of my time..
Cheers!

Ronnie

When I joined MRC, they set my goal weight at 150, I am only 5"1. I told them that I need to be at 130 and they seemed fine with it.. Now I am kind of rethinking my goal weight, I am down to a size 8 and quickly will be in a 6. Not so sure I want to go that low in a size. I still have 14 pnds to go and am thinking maybe I should stop at 135 or 140. Now I am wondering if they will let me do that.. I didn't know I would lose so many inches to put me down so many sizes. I started at a size 14.. I guess we will just see how it goes at the end of my time..
Cheers!

Ronnie

That is fantastic that you have lost so many inches. What pills are you taking?
Will the inches come back once you stop the pills & HNS's even though you maintain the weight?

Why don't you just have your regular physician write them a note telling them what goal weight he thinks you should be at. They can't argue with your doctor.

I think when I reach the end of my contract on Dec 15th at that time if I am not 130 I am going to tell them to put me into stabalization. I see no need to drop any further at that point. I feel well and people tell me I look healthy. No one has ever told me that before, so I think I will just kind of see where I am in Dec.. I don't think the inches come back unless you regain the weight. Hopefully they don't..

Ronnie

Thank you all for your replies! I was just so shocked that they'd put my goal at 26 BMI when that still put me overweight. I'll just keep telling them no go until I'm happy and comfy with where I'm at. It just all seems so odd... to argue with MY goal. Huh. I was just wondering if anyone else had run into that. I was starting to wonder if they tried to keep us at the high end of BMI which may be easier to maintain and therefore more success stories for MRC. I know, cynical, but man it's frustrating. Everyone's bodies are different, for instance, Ronnie, we're about the same weight now, I'm 3 inches taller yet you're still several sizes smaller than me. (Way to go by the way!!) They can't cookie cut me. Like I said, 3 kids so fast did a real # on my waist. I know I'll never see the old pre kid waist again, but I'd like to be comfy with myself. Lori, I may just do that if it becomes an constant fight. Also, wonderful stats! What an inspiration!!

Here's to staying strong!! Onward to goal! (my goal that is...)

Why don't you just have your regular physician write them a note telling them what goal weight he thinks you should be at. They can't argue with your doctor.

Lori, WOW. With your success, I would put stock into any advice you are willing to share! AWESOME!

They tried to argue with me a little over my goal. I said I wanted 130, then they looked at my stats and said 150. When I just stared at her she realized that I wouldn't be happy with 150 and asked if I chose between 150 and 145 where would I want to be, to which I obviously replied 145 and we finally agreed on 134. I don't know why they argue, they get more money the more weeks you're OP.

Yeah, they tried to talk me out of my goal of 150. They wanted me to set it to 162. I can't figure it out either. Maybe when you get to your goal they'll want you to resign to lose more so they can get more money...I don't know; just a guess.

I remember asking about the goal weight as well (I was hoping mine would be below 200.) Apparently they took my goal weight from the Tanita strip, or a calculation involving my body mass percentages on the Tanita strip? They said my Tanita might change as I lost weight and if it did, they would reconsider my goal at that time.

I think they're not realizing it's unrealistic to expect to preserve *all* lean body mass when losing more than a few pounds. Especially if you're losing 50 or a 100 or more pounds, you just are not going to keep *all* the lean mass. Imagine carrying around 50 or a 100 pounds all day - it's constant strength training that is lost when the fat is lost. It's too bad they don't realize that.

At my last WI, The scale calculations were that my goal weight should be 147.
The first read out was goal of 160. I haven't seed 147 since I was in my twenties and I just turned 60 today....I'm confused. I'm not sure I wast to
get down to 147. I don't think that I can maintain that.

I was reading content about metabolism today and came upon a site called caloriesperhour.com and found it useful, in particular they offered a variety of calculators, RMR, BMR, BMI, goal weight, etc.,. Others may find it useful - as we continue to lose weight, our goal weight by the tanita scale is known to change as well. Hope it's a useful tool for you.

I was reading content about metabolism today and came upon a site called caloriesperhour.com and found it useful, in particular they offered a variety of calculators, RMR, BMR, BMI, goal weight, etc.,. Others may find it useful - as we continue to lose weight, our goal weight by the tanita scale is known to change as well. Hope it's a useful tool for you.

Thanks for the web site, I like to know the whys and hows of this program. I am reading Jillian Michaels book on Metabolism. It is encouraging because she is explaining the whys and hows of what we are doing.

My goal weight is not at all what Tanita thinks it is. It's what Sam thinks it is (Sam is me by the way). I know where I want to get, but I know that I've got tanita's stepping stones along the way. So once I lose what Tanita thinks i should, I'll keep on keepin on and lose more until I get where I want to be. And trust me...thats alot of weight to lose, so I'll be around for a while.

My goal weight is not at all what Tanita thinks it is. It's what Sam thinks it is (Sam is me by the way). I know where I want to get, but I know that I've got tanita's stepping stones along the way. So once I lose what Tanita thinks i should, I'll keep on keepin on and lose more until I get where I want to be. And trust me...thats alot of weight to lose, so I'll be around for a while.

I like when I see people coming back to the program. That tells me you think a lot of the program enough so to come back after the baby.
I agree that we should be able to set our own goal. I was told that they set the goal in order to meet a 4 month deadline for their guarantee.

I always knew i wanted to come back to MRC. I need the structure that it provides. It's a no brainer kind of plan. Eat this...period. No flex days, no crazy whatevers...just eat the things on this list...drink a ton of water and the HNS. Boom. Weight loss. Sign me up.

yes, you are so right about the plan. I also like that you meet behind closed doors with a counselor to discuss problems. This program is not so "public" as Weight Watchers, thank God.

Thanks for the feedback.
I will check out the web site, and the book sounds interesting too.
I've relaxed alittle now that I've had time to think about it...After all I'm still along ways from "my" goal of 160. I'll see what the tanita says when I get there. I just don't want to be told I can't start stabilization when I think I'm ready....I want to complete the program thru maintenance,,,I do not want to gain this weight back again.
The MRC staff said that I't easier to maintain the weight loss if you get the numbers down where they are supposed to be. I've never heard that before, but they have been guiding me to success so far, so I'll just wait and see.

Congratulations to you amazing weight loss. This is my first post. This is a very interesting string. The center told me my goal should be 170....i am 5'2''. At that weight i would still be concidered obese and i can't get insurance until i weigh under 163. I thought that was interesting.

That is interesting because I am 5' 3" and my center said my goal should be 135.

Morning everyone,

Just wanted to share some info I got at WI on Friday. When I first started I set my goal at 160. Now that I'm fairly close, I was asked how I felt, if I wanted to change it, etc. After talking for a little bit and looking back at Tanita readings along the way, I was told that the actual weight isn't necessarily what they look at. They want the total fat % to be less than 30%. This isn't the bmi, but the fat %. I was told that it should be at least 30% or under. The reason for that is they have found that for those that stop at a higher % have a much harder time maintaining the loss. Makes sense. At my last Tanita, it had my goal weight at 147. I've always told them I didn't know what the number would be, I just want to be at a healthy weight and look healthy as well.

Thank you, That does sound reasonable. I guess I'll just wait and see what the numbers say when I get to 160. I certainly don't want to gain this weight back, and i don't want to make maintenance any harder. I am worried about my staying power though. I've been focused on the 17 week time to get to my goal...perhaps I'll just have to set a new goal if more time is required.
Thanks again.

Morning everyone,

Just wanted to share some info I got at WI on Friday. When I first started I set my goal at 160. Now that I'm fairly close, I was asked how I felt, if I wanted to change it, etc. After talking for a little bit and looking back at Tanita readings along the way, I was told that the actual weight isn't necessarily what they look at. They want the total fat % to be less than 30%. This isn't the bmi, but the fat %. I was told that it should be at least 30% or under. The reason for that is they have found that for those that stop at a higher % have a much harder time maintaining the loss. Makes sense. At my last Tanita, it had my goal weight at 147. I've always told them I didn't know what the number would be, I just want to be at a healthy weight and look healthy as well.

I was told this very thing last week. As I only have 10 or less to go they told me they wouldn't let me stabilize until I got some of the body fat gone. And they gave me the same reason which made lots of sense to me. She even gave me a paper showing me how to circut train. Pretty easy excercises that I can do to help this process along. I haven't had the time to do them yet, but I will start on it tomorrow cause I want to be done with the weight loss part and get to the harder part of keeping it off..

Cheers!

Ronnie

My stabilization meeting is set for week after next. I'm nervous about it because I don't want to hear that they want me to lose even more than my goal of 140. I am not an athlete by any means (LOL) and will probably have a higher fat percentage because I don't exercise much. Yikes! I'm keeping my fingers crossed because I'm so ready to move to the stabilization phase of this program.