What is normal?

[LindseyClan]

Hello!

My name is Maggie and I am 32-years-old. I "did" Atkins a couple of years ago solo and lost some weight but fell off the wagon into some potato chips. I am back now and this is my first day.

I have a question...how do you know what your goal weight has been. I once read people should try to get to the weight they were as seniors in high school, but I have always been fat so I am not sure what "normal" would be???

Maggie

[julirama723]

Geez if I did that I would have stopped 20 pounds ago!

Pick a weight that is healthy, one that is attainable, and one that makes you feel good. If you don't know where that would be, check out some BMI charts. One warning--if you do strength training, your BMI will be higher because of muscle.

My goal weight is 170. On a BMI chart, that's listed as obese, but I have lots of muscle, and I'm guessing that 170 will be a size 8 or size 10 for me. I'm picking something that's healthy and a place I'll feel good.

[LindseyClan]

Julirama,

Thanks for the advice. I have lots of leg muscle and arm muscle from playing softball for years. It is my middle and face where I am fattest. I am 5"6' though. I was looking at your picture and if I looked like you do now, WOW I would be happy! You look awesome!

Maggie

Originally Posted by julirama723

Geez if I did that I would have stopped 20 pounds ago!

Pick a weight that is healthy, one that is attainable, and one that makes you feel good. If you don't know where that would be, check out some BMI charts. One warning--if you do strength training, your BMI will be higher because of muscle.

My goal weight is 170. On a BMI chart, that's listed as obese, but I have lots of muscle, and I'm guessing that 170 will be a size 8 or size 10 for me. I'm picking something that's healthy and a place I'll feel good.

[ghelen]

I've always heard- and I think this is a good rule to live by-that you should take every inch over 5 feet and count it as 5 pounds. Then add that to 100.Take that number and add and subtract 20 pounds to get your range. So, for 5'6 you would get 130 as your weight and then add and subtract 20 pounds to get a range of 110-150. Variances would be muscle, frame etc...
It's always seemed right to me.

[ValidRouge]

Dr. Atkins says to think back to a time in your life when you liked what you weighed...I did that and picked 185. At 185 I'm still in the overweight category on the BMI charts, but its a weight that I can remember. The last time I weighed that, i was a senior in high school and wore size 14.

Today I weigh about 190 lbs and am within 5 lbs of that goal. I comfortably wear size 12 and can squeeze into some size 10's. I can fit into my junior year prom dress. And I'll probably set my goal weight a little lower, maybe 175. I've got lots of sexy muscle, but it seems that gravity has pulled a lot of weight/fat/skin...whatever it is, lower on my body and I'd like to see it gone.

[higgies]

Yeah, I had an original goal weight of 200, which again is considered obese for me on charts, but I have a pretty broad, muscular frame. I got to 200 and decided to go further. I got down to about 190 and I looked sick. My face was gaunt, and I didn't like the way I looked or felt. I gained 10lbs back through eating more legal foods and lifting weights. Now I am very comfortable where I am at. I even increased my goal weight. The clothes are even the same size as when I got down there...well almost...

As you can see, the girls that provided you with some good advice certainly look great! So it's not about charts and societal pressures.

[attek]

As you can see, your goal weight can be modified as you are further along - even in Maintenance if you are unhappy with your weight. I would say stick with 199 and then when you get there you can re-evaluate that.

Julie - wow, it's hard to believe at 170 you could wear an 8 or 10. At 160, I wore a 16 or 18! We have very different body frames and muscle mass! You look terrific right now!

[julirama723]

Yeah, let's just say those BMI charts are *NOT* my friend.

And I just wanted to add that it's ok to change your goal. Once you set it, it's not carved into stone. Remember, it's what feels good for YOU.

[Tiggerdagibit]

I think another good way is to choose a size instead of a weight. I would like to fit back into size 8's again! If I can do that, I won't worry about what the scale says. I'll worry more about how I look and feel and adjust my goal if necessary. I remember a board member that weighed the same amount as I did, but she looked 10 times better because of exercise!

[SugarFreeSheila]

Since one's ideal weight is so very subjective, you might want to check out this website. http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm