How to determine "ideal weight"
 

I know what I consider my ideal weight. However, when I see ideal weight charts my ideal weight is still outside of the "ideal". Not all bodies are the same so I don't see how these charts can be all that accurate. Any thoughts?

Your ideal weight is where you are happy with your weight. Its really hard to measure an ideal weight with the scale although a body fat measurement would give you a closer expectation to what is ideal.

I think women generally should be in the low 20s in terms of body fat and I've heard 18% is a good fit percentage but it really depends on you and your goals.

Wow, that seems low, but then again I'm fat so it would! lol

I think you're right about every body being different. I know that I, for example, looked really trim and got a lot of comments about it when I was only at just below the boundary between "ideal" and "overweight" according to BMI for my height. People didn't believe me if I told them how much I weighed. But both sides of my family have a larger frame, like big rib cages and wide-set hip bones and stuff, so I dunno.

I know that Dr. Ian on Celeb Fit Club busted the myth of being "big boned," so I think it's probably less about your bones being bigger or heavier and more about the way your bones are shaped, how you carry the weight.

I know I'm rambling, but I also saw a study once that said people who are SLIGHTLY "overweight," meaning like less than 10%, had the lowest risk of death!

Bottom line: Your side panel says that your goal is 160 and that you're 5'8," which would give you a BMI of 24.3. That IS in the healthy range and is NOT in the overweight range! Check it out by googling BMI and then calculating yours. =)

how to set a goal
 

I struggled a great deal trying to determine a goal for my "ideal" weight. I think if there was a time in your life when you felt confident about your body, that would be a good starting point. At least for now, I have chosen my weight in High School as my my ideal weight that I will strive to achieve.

In HS (20 years ago) I was within my recommended weight range, though at the high end. So I know that weight is achievable for my body type. When I went to college I got a bit heavier but I think I acutally looked better; the additional weight had redistributed from my belly and gave me a more curvy appearance that I had been lacking as a teenager. So perhaps my ideal weight is actually a bit higher than my high school weight.

I think it's all about how you feel, health wise, when you get to the weight. Also, I've heard that it's healthier to aim for a weight above your ideal weight than one below it.

I would use the top range of normal according to your body frame. Once you reach that, you can adjust accordingly. You can determine body frame by using the "elbow" test and then measuring between the space of your bones. I used to tell myself I was DEFINITELY a large frame. What I have come to discover and realize is that I am medium. By telling myself for years I was large-framed, it was a way to give myself permission to be overweight. I still am not at goal, nor do I know what my goal is.

Even when I was thin, I weighed more than those stupid charts. So did my Mom. We joke that we're Italian... and have heavier bones! But seriously, some people just have heavier frames.

this is what i learned from nutrition class for people wanting to be a dietician.

"For women, allow 100 lbs for the first 5 feet and 5lbs for each additional inch. For men, allow 110 lbs for the first 5 feet and 5 lbs for each additional inch"

and then to accommodate ranges, in my class my prof said to add 10% and subtract 10%

for instance. im 5'3. so that is 100 + (5lbs x 3inches)= 115.
10% of 115 = 11.5
115+11.5= 126.5
115-11.5= 103.5
healthy range is 103.5-126.5, or was that the ideal range?

so with this formula does that seem on par with your height? does it seem too low?

here is my resource www dot halls dot md / ideal-weight/ devine dot htm
there is some good info on different theories on ideal weight as well as charts

okay i just reread the website where i posted and it says its supposed to be + or - 15% for women and 10% for men. but i couldnt sworn in class they said it was 10 percent. esp cause i think 15% below 115 would be too low, wouldnt it? i dont know now!

I'm 5'2" and if I get below 125 I look sick. I have broad shoulders and wide hip bones and when I get below 125 you can clearly see all my ribs. ew. I think that formula is whacked.

I believe my goal weight is actually 20 lbs heavier than what my supposed ideal weight should be. It really doesn't bother me. If I make it I am going by how "I" feel and if I like how "I" look.