Should I change my goal weight?

[Gottabringmeback]

I was thinking about it the other day and was wondering if I was too scared to set a goal weight lower then 150 when I started and maybe it should be lower. I'm sure I'll have a better idea when I get there but just curious what everyone thinks.

I am 25, started at 250lb a month ago. I am 224 now...height 5'4.
Also, what is a healthy waist size for me?

[EverLosing]

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)

[Zarabelle]

I agree with Ev. Leave your goal weight as it is. When you hit it, you can set a new low goal weight. It will get harder as you approach your goal weight. Mine is set at 160 but I secretly would love to get to 150. It has taken me almost seven months to lose 31 pounds so I am keeping my goal at 160 and will simply go below my goal weight and not change it if you know what I mean. x

[kibskix]

yep i'm struggling with the same thing. my goal weight of 170 is only about 4 pounds into my healthy weight range, so i try to look at it as this goal is trying to get healthy. Anything else below that totally depends on my body type and since I can't recall actually being below 170, I have no idea where I should fall. But once I hit 170, there's no reason I shouldn't try and find out!

[EverLosing]

Originally Posted by kibskix

yep i'm struggling with the same thing. my goal weight of 170 is only about 4 pounds into my healthy weight range, so i try to look at it as this goal is trying to get healthy. Anything else below that totally depends on my body type and since I can't recall actually being below 170, I have no idea where I should fall. But once I hit 170, there's no reason I shouldn't try and find out!

PERFECT attitude about it, Kibs!! When you climb the rungs and still see weight coming off, it will give you HOPE that you can exceed what you thought was your goal in the first place! That being said, I don't want to lose more than I can maintain.

I have looked at your signature several times and it always occurs to me, if you keep up the exercise and have lots of lean muscle mass, you won't be wearing a size 10/12 at 170 lbs. You'll be SMALLER!!! Sheesh, I'm an inch shorter than you and the size 10's began to fit around 190 lbs. At 172, the size 10's are baggy and almost ready to be retired....which is sad really because they are so dang SEXY.

[phil h]

At one time I had a goal but have decided I really have no ideal what my weight should be.I am eating adequate calories, never hungry and still losing 2 lbs a week.Whem I get to the point where I lose no more and all fats pads are no longer visible, then I will probaly decide that is my goal to maintain.Thankfully I am probably within 10-15 of it.

[msanjelpie]

I felt good and looked good at a certain weight (130), but then someone would take a picture of me and I would be amazed that I still looked fat. That's when I knew I had to lose more. I finally got to a weight where I felt great, and looked great in pictures too... That was 115... so that's my goal.