How do we set our goal weight?

[2big4mysize]

Dovemck asked an interesting question.

I'd love to join the Christmas Challenge, but since I'm so new to this, I have to honestly say, I don't know what a realistic goal is for that time frame!

Can someone point me in the right direction as to where I would find this kind of information or would someone help me work this out?

Goal setting is one of the most difficult things. You'd think it would be easy, but in reality it isn't. How do you pick a realistic number? DO you use a height/weight chart? go by percentage of body fat? Use an old number from your youth? An old clothing size? One you see a famous person has? Some folks pick one based on height and weight charts. Many folk remember a weight they looked good at in their youth and decide that is where they should be. Some have been heavy for so long they set their goal high and just decide when they get there they can do better and lower it. Some of us had no goals and were just very happy to see the pounds fly off. Very few sit down with their health care provider and discuss it.


Sometimes due to body reconditioning that weight from a chart or your youth isn't a healthy goal weight. Be realist. Depending on how much weight you have gained you will have more lean body tissue too. Denser bones to hold up the extra pounds, More muscle tissue to move the extra weight, more blood vessels to move nutrients around that larger body, more skin to cover it. You can't go back to the weight you were yrs ago. For example a very successful Atkins loser set her goal according to the charts and when she was younger it was a good weight for her. But during her Atkins journey she had added muscle weight and had achieved a lean body mass larger then she had had the last time she was there making it an unhealthy goal weight for her. She would have been at 11% body fat and 15% is the bottom number of healthy range for females. She is having trouble coming to grips with she is at a very healthy weight 15 pounds heavier and is healthier and smaller at that weight then she was the last time she was at the smaller chart number.
Whatever you chose for your goal be realist and accept that it is just a number and might as you get smaller need to be adjusted and you are not a failure if you don't acheive this number.

[Crimson_Kittie14]

Interesting..Hmm..Does my goal weight sound realistic or a little over the top? (Current weight 159, goal weight 110)

[not2late]

Crimson, you're 14 years old, which means you still have a little more growth and development left, that us older folks don't.

Girls and boys stop bone growth by their late teens. Girls bone growth slows after they reach puberty, but they still add vertical height. http://www.osteo.org/newfile.asp?doc...TML+Fact+Sheet

My advice to you is to make sure your physician is aware of your weight loss and is monitoring it to make sure you aren't losing too quickly.

[not2late]

Here's another link on bone growth and teens
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...26/ai_10713556

And a general one on adolescent growth and development
http://www.adolescenthealth.org/html/nutritional.html

Again, make sure your physician is involved in your weight loss and is monitoring it.

[Dieselbud]

I am 5'3", and was at a healthy 18%BF when I weighed 118lbs when I was 14-17 years old.

110lbs sounds a tad thin, you want to be healthy, not skinny right??

[Crimson_Kittie14]

My doctor said i should lose weight :yes
110 is about average for my age/height. It may be a bit more scince i'm also gaining muscle mass, though.

[Crimson_Kittie14]

Oh, i need to change the height on my stats. I'm actually 5'2"

[Dieselbud]

LOL, I'll give you that, I am actually 5'3 1/2"

Good luck, and don't get too thin

[Crimson_Kittie14]

hehe, thanks good luck to you too

[not2late]

Originally Posted by Crimson_Kittie14

My doctor said i should lose weight :yes
110 is about average for my age/height. It may be a bit more scince i'm also gaining muscle mass, though.

So I assume that your doctor is seeing you once a month or once every 2 months to document your weight loss, do a physical exam to make sure you aren't losing too quickly, and address any problems/concerns you might have while losing weight. Good. That's what should be done because the guidelines for teens/children and weight loss are different than those of adults.