How did you set your goal weight?

[Kent]

We have had a number of posts on setting goal weights. Well it is time for a poll question. How did you set your goal weight in beginning?

[Labarum]

Originally Posted by Kent

We have had a number of posts on setting goal weights. Well it is time for a poll question. How did you set your goal weight in beginning?

By looking at my history.

I was moderately overweight as a boy, matured into 14.5 stone (203lb) and watched it clime to 15 stone in my mid 20s. When I joined the army at 27 I was back down to 14.5 stone and worked it down to 14 stone 2 lb (198 lb). At this I was into a 42 in chest jacket and 36 in waist trousers - this was the late 70's and men's clothes were cut much closer than they are now. I am back into a formal dinner suit (Tuxedo) from that time - it is close, but not uncomfortable. My dress uniforms tailored in 1977 have been reset to their original size and are very comfortable.

When I started Atkins I was 18.5 stone (260 lb) and thought I could get down to 15 stone (age 55) I would be doing well, but the tables give me a top acceptable weight of 14 stone (196 lb).

I have leveled off at 14 stone 4 lb (200 lb), but having seen what is possible would like to drive below 14 stone. I am back in a 42 in jacket and the trousers (plural) I am currently wearing are all 38s and are slack - I can fit some of Marks and Spensers 36s - they size generously! I do not know whether my waist will improve from less weight or better muscle tone. I am not looking for a very muscular appearance I will have little interest in maintaining.

http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm

Gives a 200lb 6ft 3in man a pschological target of 192lb and a medically acceptable range of 152 - 200lb. This site is interesting - the "Ideal Weight" is a target that varies with your current weight. If I enter my 260 lb starting weight I am given an "Ideal Weight" of 222 lb which is outside the medically recommended range, and which I have bettered by a significant margin. Interesting that 222 lb is nearer 16 stone than the 15 stone I thought I might achieve at the start.

When I first started Atkins and joined this board I could get no clear guidance on goals - it is being discussed better now.

In short my intial hope was for 15 stone and is now for less that 14.

All these stones will be confusing for those of you outside UK, but it's the way we still think here, even though the medics measure us in Kilos.

Medical target - below 90 Kg (198lb), and a BMI below 25 (I am at 25 now)

[2big4mysize]

my goal weigh is the weight at which I had to stop cause I added lean body tissue and was at only 14.9% body fat and for ladies that is the bottom of healthy.

[slimndown]

OK - I set my goal wieght to 120 to see if I could get there. I have a lifetime contract with a modeling school and most models are 120 at 5'9" or taller. I'm 5'7" and 120 is in the healthy range for my height so I thought that I could see if I could get to that weight and how I looked. In the meantime, I intend to go back and take some more classes and see if I get any contract offers. I may or may not take them depending on how demanding they are of my time and body, but it would be neat to see what happens.

[tickletussler]

I am aiming for 120 because
(a) I was at this weight for many years until about 25yo.
(b) At 120 I would be at an Australian size 10 (US size 6/small? US size 8?) and I noticed that clothes at this size is cut better. I know this is a more superficial reason but I did compare the clothes I wanted to buy and noticed the same clothes at larger sizes had no waist.
(c) It is under my "ideal" weight of 130lb for my height and age, but after reading DANDR, I think 120lb is doable at 30yo

[sadie@136]

i look good at 121 too,but i would really like to have a atrim body ,weight loss isnt that important for me

[Curveegrrl]

I can remember being 180lbs when I was 11 years old. When I look at pictures of me then, I looked stong and happy. (I stopped growing when I was 12, so it's not like I was reeeeally small and 180lbs) I guess that's what I'm shooting for now.

Really, I just wanna be a size 14. And then see what I feel like doing.

[Kent]

I myself picked a number that sounded good (nothing more scientific than that). To be honest, I doubted whether or not I would ever get there anyhow in the beginning. If I still wasn't happy with myself at goal, I was going to change to either Body Fat % or jean size. It turns out that achieving goal weight wasn't angelic hallelujah singing experience I imagined, and now that I am here I am still making goals to meet only exercise ones this time.

In the end, I am one for diminishing the goal weight as a finish line mentality, and one for thinking it is more a waystop on your journey, like hitting the next state in a cross country trip. It might mean you have to change your speed of travel, put on your seat belts, stop for gas, but you are still on the same journey as before.

OT: Curveegrrl - you have a very cute signature saying and pics.

[Labarum]

Interesting, Kent

http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm

gives an ideal weight of 309lb for a 6ft 4 in male weighing 419lb - way over the medical limit of 205 lb

For me at 6 ft 3 in starting at 260 lb it gave 222lb - again over the medical limit of 198 lb and more than the 15 stone (210 lb) I though might be acheivable when I started.

So this site seems to recognise that psychological goals are needed.

I have always thought I was built on a large frame (you probably are) but after measuring a few bones it seems I am closer to medium build - that shaves anothe ten pounds or more off the optimum.

But as you rightly say, this is an ongoing project - I am happy as I am, but if careful eating and healthy lifestyle means I end up lighter than ever I dreamed that will be a bonus. On the other hand, I do seem to be at a very stable point of balance at the moment.

[dreamof145]

I chose my goal of 145. I looked at the BMI chart and it stated that 131 was good for my height and build. However, I added 14 pounds to that ~ because at the time I thought that it would be more achievable. I'm like Kent in the fact that when I first began I never thought I'd be able to do it. Now, after a year and half I know I will make it, and getting to that number isn't as important as it was in the beginning. I am more concerned over how I feel and the exercise I do.