How did you decide on your ideal weight?

[green-tea]

your thoughts please

[tofi]

A general rule: 100 pounds for the first 5 feet of height. THen add 5 pounds for each inch over that. 5'6" = 100+30 =130 pounds.

Insurance tables tend to be too low for women for sure, although they do allow for differences in bone/frame size.

The other thing is that LCers tend to weigh more when they are happy with how they look, than people who lose weight by low fat or low cal. That's because LCers lose fat while keeping & even gaining muscle, while low fat types lose both muscle and fat.

[cs_carver]

Long distance runners weigh about 2" per inch of body height. Long distance runners are about as thin as you can get, and a) I don't want to look like that and b) never will.

That takes me to 140# base. If I go with the 5# per inch, I get to 160.

From there I take the fact that the one time in my adult life I hit 172 heading down (there must have been a time heading up but I can't remember when), I still thought I was pretty chuncky in the butt.

Playing with the body model ??? some website that's been mentioned on here--gave me some info, too.

Point is--I'll decide when I get there.

[featherz]

I got to 135, then I figured 128 would be a good weight for me at 5'4 (120 is too low - I couldn't even maintain that as a thin teenager! Been stalled around 132 for about three weeks, so maybe my body is telling me that's my goal. :)

[BadgerGirl]

I looked really really good at 140 before. ;)

[Mousesmom]

I started with the idea of 100# plus 5# per inch when I started my weight loss journey 20 years ago. I thought even 145 was impossible because it was so far away. I was 235 then. But I when I got to 145 (this year) I still wasn't happy. I still had belly flab and heavy thighs but lots more muscle. I was at 137 for a little while in February 2004 after surgery and that felt closer. Have to see, but I think 130-135 is good for me with my small frame at 5'9".

Julie

[DarthRaidr]

I'm 5'6",medium build, i didn't go by the height chart thing, I am going by my pants size...At 170lbs i'm a 12... in some brands I can do a 10 but not eat or sit that day :lol:
So I figure at 150lbs I'll be a roomy 10 and maybe even some 8's.

[Steve175]

I was around 200 through my 20's, and I lost some weight when I was 29. I got down to 180 and thought "I could go for dropping just a few more pounds"; hence the 175 goal. Plus, for my height and build, that is supposedly at the top end. If I get there and see that it isn't quite enough, I might shoot for 5 or 10 more.

[green-tea]

Wow, if I use the "general rule" I would need to be 110? :lol: Wow! This reminds me of when I was about 13. I went to stay with my aunt for a few weeks during summer vacation and made friends with the most "popular" girls in the neighborhood, something I would not have acheived in my hometown. Now, they were "popular" because of their looks, of course, teenagers are so shallow sometimes. Anyway, one girl proceeded to tell me she had weighed herself that morning and low and behold she had passes the 100 mark. I almost had a cow :help: , I was so embarassed! I wasn't even able to save face by coming up with something smart. She caught on quick that I had passes that mark way before her and I just wasn't "cool" enough to hangout with them anymore. I returned home devistated that I hadn't been able to hold my own with these "popular" girls. Even though I got over that, 100 pounds and her image are still a defined marker in my head! If I ever way 110 I will go to where ever it is you are Tofi and kiss you, I promise!!! :lol:

[Dodger]

I decided that getting my BMI under 25 would be nice.

[tortoise]

Just as a bit of a counterpoint - I don't have a goal weight, because I don't think my *head* can know ahead of time what weight my body will function best at. Also, I think our body "setpoints" can get pretty screwed up by years of dieting and it may take awhile to undo it.

Also, the older we get, the less I think it may be possible to go back to the youthful weight we only have dim memories of!

[DerBlumers]

Well...to follow that rule, Tofi...I'd have to weigh 115 lbs...a weight I haven't seen since I was EIGHT!!!! :lol:

Now we're past that one....I will add THIS one....a more realistic approach for people like me is mapped out in one of the low carb oriented books (can't remember which one...sorry) in which a person figures everything out according to current weight, age, height, etc.....it helps you decypher approximately how many grams protein you should eat daily...and what weight you should be able to reach that would be healthiest for you. According to this formula I arrived at a goal of between 140-150 lbs...

Of course...115 and 140 lbs.....THAT would be the difference between IDEAL weight and true GOAL weight....

Now...if I can only remember which book that was.....hmmmmm....

[kindergrrl]

I just remember what weight I used to weigh and work hard to get back to that.

[Jeffrey_]

Two schools of thought represented here so far:
1. Calculate it based upon what others weigh (height/weight/body fat charts).
2. Remember what you used to weigh.

I vote for #2. Just after high school (where I ran track and played soccer), I was 145. That's my ideal weight. My goal is 150 because I'm giving myself some room after aging.

[RCFletcher]

I just remember I felt my best as an adult when I was 11 stone. I had been as skinny as 8 stone 6lbs but I think this is unrealistic as I was then very thin.

So I'm aiming for 11 stone (154lbs if you don't know what a stone is).

[HoneyBones]

I'm 5'4" and I looked my best when I was under 130 pounds. I naturally tend to have quite a lot of muscle, so although my goal is 120 I think I'll look quite reasonable at anything under 135.

[Bronx_Guy]

Um.. I jus tlike the way 170 sounds.

[emily8]

I thought about being happy. I know 175 is still over weight, but I think I will be happy there. Last time i wore a sixe 14, and I am fine with 14. when I get there, I may want to change and lose more. For now, my goal is a weight that I think I will be happy with. Happiness is all that counts.

[Orang]

I choose the last weight I was at when I felt and looked really good. What I am finding as I LC is that I weigh more while at the same size so I may revise my weight upward as I approach my goal. My goal is to look and feel great again - I don't care what number is on the scale when that happens.

I have kept a journal for years. I have dated photos of me wearing some pieces of clothing and know what I weighed on that date from my journal. Before a recent auto accident, I could wear dresses that fit before when I weighed 155 to 160 lbs - I weighed 170 - 175 lbs before the accident. I can't weigh right now due to being a wheelchair and am very limited in what clothing I am able to put on.

[BabyPhat]

Pretty much same as above, I chose a weight that I could remember being happy with, and wearing at least a 12 or 14 which was around 170-175 pounds... that is how I decided...BUT if this thing goes well and weight comes off like I hope that it should, then I might go lower than that.

[dodg4kat]

In high school I was such an avid athlete that at nearly 5'8 I weighed about 135 lbs. I had the upper half of a six pack on my stomach and was relatively "cut" for a girl. I was an A size bra cup barely.

I will never be that weight again. The booby fairy visited first once I gained to 200 lbs and a second time when I had my son. I am a C cup now. I have also gained lean muscle from working out in the (many) years since high school.

I use two methods to determine my *ideal* weight. I look at BMI for a beginning reference. There are plenty of websites that will determine that if you enter your current weight and height. Then I look at body fat percentage. A local gym will use calipers or tape measurements to calculate that for you or (like me) if going into a gym just isn't going to happen, then there are websites that can estimate your body fat by tape measurements.
Most ideal weights should between 25% and 20% body fat, the recommended amount by doc's. Most female athletes are around 17%. Less that 15% for most women is just unhealthy as it starts to mess up hormone regulation and menstruation.

My ideal weight at 20% body fat is about 160 pounds. I currently carry about 124 lbs of lean and skeletal mass. At 160, I can wear a 10 in many brands, and even a few 8's.

Here is a website to calculate BMI (http://www.nocarbzone.com) and Body Fat % (http://www.nocarbzone.com)

[Marge]

I based mine on the highest healthy level of the BMI for someone my height. I'm also relying on past history knowing that 140 was for when I was twenty so now it's 155 to 160. Once I get down to this weight, it is a weight I can maintain with exercise and good eating choices. I did it before and I can do it again.

[WantsMore]

For now it's the only weight that I can truthfully say I see myself getting to. It may be lowered.

[bioteclady]

By looking at the charts, I looked at my height and what they suggested. I know they are outdated, but the upper end seems very reachable for me. So that is my goal. Once I get there, if I can keep losing I might go for it, and see where I even out. But I did maintain that weight for some time before my first marriage. And it was easy for me to maintain, so we shall see, after 2 kids it might be different now.

[4biddenEve]

I used the BMI calculator to figure out where I should be.
My highest should be at 154lbs.

[star-fish]

The weight that I used to be.

[nikkil]

I read somewhere that you should look back to a weight that you stayed at effortlessly and that was very comfortable and you felt healthy at. THEN, add 1 lb for every year that it's been since you weighed that amount and then add another 5lbs for every baby you've had (for women ;) )

That, for me, would be 125 + (gulp!) 17 (I was 15 years old) + 15 (3 babies) = 157 lbs.

Nope, not low enough for me, but I'm guessing that it's supposed to be a REALISTIC goal, not necessarily an optimal goal.

Heck, I'll take the 157 (for now) :lol:

[ElisaB]

Two schools of thought represented here so far:
1. Calculate it based upon what others weigh (height/weight/body fat charts).
2. Remember what you used to weigh.

I vote for #2.

Ditto :agree:

I went back in time and figured out my weight at the point when I looked my best. I was at 62 kilos (136). Since I have been strength training and I want to gain some more muscle, I'm aiming for 143. I might re evaluate when I get there or when I'm apporaching my goal - I definitely don't want to be at a weight that's too hard for me to keep. Something I can keep in check with maintenance and regular exercise.

[iwill]

I too, remember when I looked and felt the best. When younger I agonized over every pound over 120lbs. No more. Older and wiser!! :-)

[jro]

i got my goal number by caculating a reasonable bmi.

[Sweetcake]

I looked at the online weight charts and BMI index for my height. I settled on 125 for my height I think I am small framed but am not sure so I decided on a weight that is on the high end of a small frame and on the low end of a medium frame. As I get closer to my goal weight I will revaluate my decision of 125. I may stay at 125 but may increase my desired weight to like around 130 once I am exercising more and gaining more musclle. Currently at 140 lbs my bmi is 24. If I get down to 125 my BMI will be 21.5 witch is in the middle of normal for my height.

[tigger64]

I went with pre-baby weight. If I went by Tofi's method, I would need to get down to 90 lbs--I am 4'10". I don't think that would be possible.

Tig :)

[ProfGumby]

your thoughts please
I SWAGGED it. (S.W.A.G.= Scientific, Wild A** Guess) :lol:

Seriously though, 240 is only a goal for me I wont know till I get closer. I have a 54 inch chest, long torso, broad shoulders and an 18 inch neck. I have always had extremely muscular legs and well defined muscular calfs. Built like a tank, my uncle used to say....

When I weighed 235-240 I felt great so that is where I'm shooting. I looked at the body weight/frame size charts and they all say I should weigh around 190..ya good luck! I weiged 190 in the 7th grade!!!

Also, as has been pointed out before, if you are LC'ing and excersising, you will be building muscle mass as you burn fat, so it is possible to be built like a Mack Truck, and weigh more than your goal, but look better than you'd hoped.

All I am shooting for is a long and healthy life and a long time to share it with my young boys!

[MetalMom]

I just went by the previous weight that I remembered being happy at and set my goal

[Nancy LC]

I looked great at 125 when I was in my thirties, I'm in my mid 40's so I figured I could excuse myself another 25 pounds. Actually, I don't really care what I weigh, I'd be happier just to fit into size 10's or 12's again!