Comments on: Ask a loser: What should my goal weight be?

By: TiredOfWorkingOut

TiredOfWorkingOut — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:05:05 +0000

Just stumbling upon this post. For those who have lost a LOT of weight, all that loose skin translates to extra pounds on the scale. So, if you weigh 140 but have 10 lbs of loose skin from losing, say, 200 lbs, you may really weigh 130.

I’m talking from experience, btw.

By: Bionic Librarian

Bionic Librarian — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:45:47 +0000

@Cindy – I remember that about Weight Watchers. When I was 13 Mom dragged me to WW (don’t even get me started on that!) I was 5’2.5″ and 162. Woman checked the chart and declared my goal weight between 95-107! OMG and I truly have a larger frame. Even my Mother balked at that and pointed out that I had a heavier build. The woman stood her ground and said no I should at least get to 107 and that at 102 I would look ‘really good’… Was it any wonder I then tried purging, compulsive exercising and semi-starving myself? Years later I got down to 163 (5’4″ and 23 years old) and Mom commented that I shouldn’t loose any more weight! I am trying to get to a healthy weight again but the damn BMI frustrates – they say 145 max and I just don’t know if it’s realistic so instead I focus on how exercise, eating right and some weight loss (25 pounds – at 208 now) has helped my PCOS.

By: Lori

Lori — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:49:34 +0000

Hi! First I’d like to say that I finished reading your book last week. I loved it! You inspired me to start blogging my own weight loss journey. I only have a few entries so far, but I hope it will help me as I continue to lose weight.

As far as a goal weight, I completely agree that it’s a personal thing. I’ve lost 50 lbs. and some people think I’m at a good size now. I do feel a lot better, but the thoughts I had when I was previously this size keep coming up. I think I’ll feel really comfortable if I lose another 40 lbs. which would bring me to around 130 (give or take a few pounds either way).

Thanks again for being such an inspiration!

By: Kim

Kim — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 09:28:13 +0000

You are SO right! I’m 5’5″ and if I weigh 140 (supposedly overweight) I am a size 10 and look skinny as a rail.

I’m in the process of losing now (12 pounds in 9 weeks, thank you Richard Simmons and Jazzercise!), and have every intention at stopping at 160. I felt good at that weight, I look good at that weight, and I can eat relatively what I want (within reason) and keep that weight.

To heck with the charts – I am watching the BMI, but I really get hung up on numbers, so I try to avoid them as much as possible.

Viva la body loca! : D

By: Rene

Rene — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 15:32:53 +0000

Just for the record, someone in the process of losing a large amount of weight DID ask me how much I weigh the other day at the gym. It was odd and out of the blue and she was a perfect stranger but, I didn’t get offended and she explained why she wanted to know and I happily answered her. So, not all people will punch you if you ask them what they weigh, especially if you phrase like she did which was “Can I ask you a question?” and I said “Sure” and she said “This might sound weird and I am not trying to be rude but, how much do you weigh? Because, I just lost 100 pounds and I still have more to lose but I am not sure what goal weight to set and you look good and so, I was wondering, what you weigh so I have some idea of what to aim for.” So, she was basically saying she wanted to look like me and well, I was feeling pretty out of shape and icky for a few days preceeding this and hearing that I was actually an inspiration to someone was pretty cool. So, yeah, if you ask that way, it’s almost like you are flattering the person. That being said, what I weigh, might not be the best way to gauge what another person should weigh. It’s a very personal and variable thing. Still it was nice to hear that she found me to be fit and that she thought I looked good.

By: Ruth

Ruth — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:59:36 +0000

I don’t weigh myself.

After years and years of gaining and losing weight, and having been bulimic through my teens and early 20s, it just doesn’t feel like the thing to do to me.

I have a fairly healthy body image these days, and have been losing fat, gaining muscle and eating pretty healthfully.

When I look the way I want to look, I will by a body fat scale and weigh myself once or twice a week to help maintain.

Till then, I just want to keep moving forward, and my clothes are my guide.

By: Amy

Amy — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:13:55 +0000

@plainwater – Some additional data: That 160 number was 25+ pounds more than what I weighed when I entered college (granted, at 17 we are generally thinner than a few years later). After I did all that strength training, I went swimming one day and SANK. My legs had become dense with the muscle. It was really weird. I float just fine now! :D

By: Laura

Laura — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 11:34:45 +0000

I’ve been working the Weight Watchers plan for nigh 8 years now, and I’ve never noticed that they had an emphasis on goal weight, or that they forced you to choose one. (I guess this is a comment to the commenters.) They just recommend starting at 10% to give you something to look toward.

I lost over 100 lbs 5 years ago, and I gained it all back within the last 3 after a big life change. I’m starting over after so many start-overs, after learning from a lot of my mistakes. I don’t want to think about food like an anorexic ever again, and I won’t let it have a pull on me like it did as a bulimic/overeater.

I have a much healthier approach now: eat what I want, what fits into my food plan, and only until I’m satisfied. I don’t have a number goal; I just want to eat, excercise and live so that next week shows a smaller number on the scale or at least a little more room in my pants. Neither of which will effect my happiness or my opinion of self-worth.

Every other way, for me, has proven dangerous and disappointing.

By: plainwater

plainwater — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 10:40:44 +0000

@Amy – OMG, you blew my mind. I always hear that criticism of the BMI and let it pass without thinking. But not one person who’s ever mentioned the Michael Jordan thing has had one percent of the muscle mass he must have had at his peak!

By: Jac

Jac — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 09:03:48 +0000

I’ve spent many hours (maybe?) debating what my ideal, goal weight is. But recently (with my obsession of following blogs) I’ve decided that I will just know when I’m there. No real goal, just to be happy and satisfied with myself.