The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[MerryMary]

Hi everyone!
I have a question about how to determine a goal weight. I thought I was being realistic with a goal of 130 lbs but I went to MyMedifast site and it suggested 118! I know it's calculation is based upon BMI but does age have any bearing upon what a final goal should be?

Mary

[DogMa]

If you Google "BMI calculator" (or I think there's also a link around here), you'll come up with several to see. Most do account for age, but they can't account for muscle (so if you lift weights and are pretty muscular, it'll be off).

It also should give you a range. There's no one exact goal weight. For a reference point, I'm about the same height you are and about 10 years younger. My goal weight was originally 125, but I settled on 130 because of all the weightlifting I was doing. Either is in the acceptable range on the BMI charts. At 118, I'd look anorexic. Lizabette is a bit shorter than us and a bit older, and her goal weight was originally 135 and then she decided to go for 130.

OTOH, a friend of mine is our height but she's Asian with very delicate features and bone structure. She's around 110 or 115.

[KeleeGrl]

Mary, I think your goal weight should be what your comfortable with. I don't think those weights take everyone's body types into consideration. I set 150 for my first goal. When I get down to that and I think it needs to be more I will change it, but for now that is my goal. I think it is an individual thing. [/i]

[nickieluv]

Yes, goals can change as we progress. Right now my ticker says 199, because getting to my final goal was originally just too much for me to think about. When I get there, I will reset it to 140. I'm not sure if that will be my final weight, though. I'll have to see how I feel and how I look at that weight. Maybe I will end, but it's at the high end of the BMI recommended range - even then maybe I weighed too much. You just have to wait and see, I think.

[blondeangel7782]

I have set myself for 135 because that's what I was when I met my hubby and I loved the way I looked and felt I might say 130-125 once I get there depending on how I feel since that was almost 7 years ago...

[Tawanda]

I had some difficulty with setting my goal weight also. Wanting to be at the spot where I felt 'good' 20 years ago (before I began gaining) but also realizing that I am now older and more sedentary than I was 20 years ago. I am 5'7 and set it at 135 which is about mid range for the 'normal BMI' (121# - 158#)---I use to like to be 124 to 127. I am wondering if 135 might be a bit too low but I have a small (fine?) bone structure and think I'm okay.

See? ......it is a tough decision and don't be surprised if you keep second guessing your choice once you've made it.

[Amber]

Hey Mary,
A BIG consideration for me was being able to maintain without having to have a daily battle with food. I want to be able to have the occasional bites of cheesecake or prime rib or french fries! If I weighed as litttle as was recommended I would NEVER be able to have any of those occasional treats and would feel really deprived. A life of deprivation is not what I have in mind.
I am soon to be 49 years old and am a comfortable size 4, I don't NEED to weigh any less~
You'll know, when the time comes, what your goal will be; the above is just one more thing to consider~

[Serendipity]

I had some difficulty with setting my goal weight also. Wanting to be at the spot where I felt 'good' 20 years ago (before I began gaining) but also realizing that I am now older and more sedentary than I was 20 years ago. I am 5'7 and set it at 135 which is about mid range for the 'normal BMI' (121# - 158#)---I use to like to be 124 to 127. I am wondering if 135 might be a bit too low but I have a small (fine?) bone structure and think I'm okay.

See? ......it is a tough decision and don't be surprised if you keep second guessing your choice once you've made it.

T, I'm 5'3" and I weigh 132. Of all of the women I know, I'm the thinnest! Most everyone is a little pudgy these days. I didn't want to be and at my current weight, I'm not. At 5'7", you may find that somewhere in the 140's or even 150 would be more like it.

OTOH, do you want to wear size 2-4? Cuz I wear size 6! If you do, then go for it!

[Tawanda]

Hi Jo,

No, I'm not trying to get to a certain numerical size. What I want is to not have any rolls and to be able to tuck my shirts in once again without looking like I am wearing a inner tube around my waist.

At 127 I wore a size 9. At 142 I had pudge and began dressing to 'hide' it.

I don't believe I'll really know what weight would be appropriate until I get down to 150, or 145, or 140........or maybe 135 will be okay even though I'm older?

I hate to set 150 and then find that I'm still a pudge. I don't want to be a pudge........I want to be fit and slender enough that there aren't rolls, or inner tubes hanging over my waistbands.

[nickieluv]

Remember, too, that what you say your goal is doesn't have to be the end of the story. Remember, Tony and Karli, and I'm sure others, had an original goal and just kept changing it as they felt the need.

[Tawanda]

Mary, the BMI Table says for 5'2" the 'normal' range is 104 to 135 (at 136 the label of 'overweight' starts). I guess the 118 was a mid-range which probably doesn't take into account age. So, it sounds like the goal on your ticker is just fine and falls within the 'normal' range nicely.

This is truly something I've pondered and struggled with.....I just don't know where to place myself. The normal range for 5'7" is 121 to 158 (159 is where the table says 'overweight' begins). I just did the math again and 139.5 is the middle of the range. I think I'll raise my goal to 140 and then decide once I'm there if that is where I want to stop or if another 5# needs to be taken off.

Thanks for bringing this subject up, Mary......and for the input that has been shared. I've been mulling it over quite often.

[Sojourner]

Hey Merry Mary...yeah, what everyone else said.
It is such an individual thing ~ the charts are really just guidelines. Nickie's right, too, about your goal number not being set in stone.
I set my goal weight according to a previous weight, factoring in my age as well. Due to my previous jockhood, I have dense bones and a solid muscle base. According to the BMI chart, 150 is on the high end of "normal" for me, while 115 is on the low end of "normal." I have not weighed 115 since I was 12 years old - and I had no body fat to speak of then. I weighed 150 and wore size 3 and 5 junior in my 20s and early 30s. At my current weight, I'm in size 9 and sometimes 7 junior Levi jeans...like I said, it's a very individual thing. You'll know when you get closer to goal where you look and, most importantly, feel your best.

Keep up the good work ~ you're doing GREAT!!!

[MerryMary]

Wow! I want to thank everyone for all the information ... You've put my mind at ease.

When I read the suggested weight of 118 I thought, "There is no way I will ever weigh 118 lbs.!" It was a very disheartening to think that I should be thinner than I ever remember myself being! With all your helpful insights I feel confident again and I have a better perspective.
THANK YOU!!

Mary