This is totally my personal opinion here! I'm going back and forth with the same issue. I probably will lower my goal, perhaps to 150. I'm really close to my original goal and there are so many factors to consider. I've been exercising and lifting weights all along. I thought with lots of muscle mass 160 lbs would be it for me. However, I'm losing fat faster now than I was for the past few months. So, I'm still losing and my goal says I have only 13 more pounds to lose. Well, the mirror tells me a different story. I look in the mirror and I think I see more than 13 pounds. My thighs, my abdomen, upper belly, upper arms, butt and my back still have visible fat to lose. I can't imagine the fat on all those parts only adding up to 13 pounds!! But you know what? I've worked my booty off!!! For now, I'm leaving my original goal alone BECAUSE I DESERVE to hit goal and ENJOY that moment. I'll probably readjust it, downward either in 5 or 10 pound increments. You never really know until you're close to goal, especially if you're just going by what your body looked like at a certain weight years ago on a different way of eating. I can wear a smaller size and actually "look smaller" on Atkins at a higher weight. Even at 180 lbs I was able to wear size 10 jeans. I'm still in them for a short while!
Waist size? Great question. Dr. Oz on Oprah is all about waist size being the biggest predictor of health....or not! I believe 30 inches or less is the safest bet. It's a totally individual thing. I'm not sure what I will end up with, I just intend for it to be under 30 as long there is no other human being in there trying to grow and expand!!
My advice? Wait until you get closer to goal to reset your goal. You'll have a better idea then of what your body is capable of doing. You'll have a better idea just by looking in the mirror of how content you are with where you are. I would have felt crushed to add another 10 or 15 pounds to my ticker in the beginning!
Truth is, I never thought I'd make it this far! Certainly never thought I'd get close to seeing 160. That's like my junior high school weight! HA!! Size 10?? I have no previous memories of size 10.
Here's a link or two....
Normal Waist Size Excess Fat Around the Waist May Increase Death Risk For Women, April 7, 2008 News Release - National Institutes of Health (NIH)