I am currently at 187.5, and I started at 238. I really need a goal, but I am not sure what it should be. My short term goal is 168, but that still leaves me overweight (not obese though!) What should I aim for as a long term goal? Being in the normal BMI range? Ahh! I need help!
Well, I once read that as a woman, the first five feet account for 100 lbs. and every inch more in height counts as 5 lbs. So, your goal weight could be 115. However, there are variations. Some women would not feel or look good at that weight because of body type variations. You could give yourself a range: between 115 and 138 for example (I used the weight you posted under G for s/c/g. Mainly, you can just go with the weight that you can comfortably maintain and feel best in. Some women love to weigh less but they would have to create a caloric deficit that is just too difficult to maintain.
Try to find the happy place where you can eat in a way that makes you happy while being healthy and comfortable in your own skin.
Last edited by luckymommy; 11-06-2013 at 11:15 PM.
Yeah, I'm in the same spot. I don't really believe in mini goals; but if I go for "ideal", about 125, that seems unattainable. So I've decided on what it was when I got married, which means I have another 55 to go. Still about 20 pounds overweight, but much better than the thought of losing 75. So I'm going for 145 as my ultimate number which I can live with, call it a day, and then just let the last 20 hopefully take care of themselves as I continue on.
Last edited by Mad Donnelly; 11-08-2013 at 01:12 PM.
I suggest picking a target weight near the upper limit of the suggested weight range for your height. Then live at that weight for a little while. See if you're comfortable at that weight or think you should lose a little more. I know its tempting to keep losing when you've got momentum going. But, you may find that it is too hard to maintain a lower weight or decide that you look great a little bit higher weight.
I remember after losing 50lbs I was about 5 lbs from my goal weight. The weight was just at or above the suggested range for my age/height...but in retrospect, I think that was the ideal weight for ME - espeically after losing 50 lbs.
Is there a weight you were once at that you think might be ideal?
My goal weight kept changing as I got closer. Right now, I think I might call it at 135, but I would have never made that my goal number when I was 299 pounds. In fact, if I remember correctly, my original goal was to get to 199 pounds. It's how your body feels. I'm very close to 135 right now, and I'm not sure I can get lower because I don't really have a need to (I'm healthy and the extra 10-15 pounds are probably just vanity).
after 199, I chose to go by BMI as goal (although I'm sure we've all heard the reasons as to why BMI isn't an accurate measure of health) and now I'm choosing to go by how I look and feel.
I set a range for my goal, that being 117-130 but I am only 5'1" so 130 is just the other side of overweight. According to BMI, 133 is overweight for my height. But I chose 130 cuz I can remember weighing that and still being able to eat. I chose 117 as my lower range cuz I can remember looking really good at that weight. I once weighed 105-115 but I ate nothing so that's out. I want to still eat cuz I love food and that would just not be sustainable. If you have never had a healthy weight you might not have this experience to go on and might want to just see how it goes. It's a good idea to know what "healthy" ranges are so you don't shoot too low but being a little overweight is not the end of the world if you are happy and healthy. Lots of "overweight" people are healthy. I say don't shoot too low. 100lbs + 5/inch over 5 feet seems a little skinny to me. And there is nothing wrong with playing it by ear as long as you aren't going to widdle away to nothing cuz you are never satisfied or have unhealthy ideas of beauty. I like the range because I give myself the option of stopping or slowing down my loss once I get to the upper range and I have a pretty good idea what is too low for me personally. For me this range jives with what a BMI calculator (Google one and check it out) would say is healthy. I also know that less than 117 is still healthy according to BMI, but that I don't need or want to go that low.
Last edited by Fluffypuppy; 11-22-2013 at 11:10 PM.
Well, after not really wanting to go mini goals, I have landed on the BMI as my mini goal markers. First is no longer obese, which is 10 more pounds. Second is no longer overweight, which is 30 pounds from that. So in 40 pounds, I'll see where I am, what I look like, what I've been doing, what more I can do, etc.
Now, since I've honed in on belly fat (both the dangerous invisible visceral and the unsightly subcutaneous), I've decided that getting rid of that is my ultimate goal so a random number won't be helpful, although I have a sneaking suspicion 145 won't give me that.
I am 5'3 and went for the upper limit BMI chart for healthy weight. Its around 140- 145 I think. I've lost a bit more but plan to stay in that upper range.
Need help coming up with a goal!
