How did you calculate your goal?

We've been having this discussion in my journal for a few days, but I'd love some more feedback.

How did you calculate your goal weight? I think BMI charts are bunk, so I'm not going by that. But according to everything I read everywhere, my goal weight as a 5'2" person should be between 101 and 136 pounds. But is that realistic? I feel pretty good right now...but I wonder if I'm aiming high enough. Should I calculate my goal based on body fat? According to my Omoron body fat analzer I have 29% body fat. That seems high to me, but I feel I look pretty lean (I wear size 6 pants.) I want to be fit and healthy, not an emaciated stick figure. But I also don't want to have come this far and not finish the job.

What do do??

I have to go by BMI, as I need to qualify for an "excess skin surgery" this spring. For that I need to have a BMI of 25 or less. So that is my goal.

I set my goal according to how I want to look. Kind of simple, but I think it is all in how you like yourself.

My weight goal of 155 pounds isn't my actual goal. My goal is when I can get into a size 8 jean without a muffin top. When I can do that, I'll stop losing weight. It was just an aproximation for me.

I did a little searching around and found this link Fit2Fat Ratio that seems to do the math. It calculates your goal weight based on what your body fat percentage is versus what you want it to be. If you don't know your body fat percentage (or a reasonable approximation of it) this won't help much, but it gave me a nice reassurance that I'm pretty close to where I want to be (not as close as I wish I was, but still.)

Of course you could do this math manually, but I'm an English teacher, so meh, I'll let the web do it for me.

Thanks for the help everyone!

Thanks for sharing that link. Just out of curiosity, what do you want your BF percentage to be? I'm as clueless about that as I am about my goal weight! Maybe 25 Sounds like a good round number?

I'm thinking I'll be done when 1) the spare tire is gone and 2)my thighs no longer touch when I walk. Still got some work to do on both counts so we'll see what the next 10 pounds brings!

This is a common chart I've seen regarding body fat percentages. Let's see if it displays properly:

Description Women Men
Essential fat 10–13% 2–5%
Athletes 14–20% 6–13%
Fitness 21–24% 14–18%
Average 25–31% 18–24%
Obese 32%+ 25%+

I do agree with the others that, unless like Kingkeld you need to reach a certain BMI threshold for a specific reason, considering your body fat percentage rather than your BMI is the better approach, because your body fat is going to have a lot more impact on how you look. BMI is kind of a one-size-fits all approximation.

When I was 132 lb as a teenager my body felt almost perfect to me. So I substracted a few lb and arrived at 128. I am aiming for a BF of 24%. According to the link above, my ideal weight is 134 lb. This is higher than I thought but I am willing to adjust my target weight depending on how I feel and look. I am 5'6".

BTW someone at work told me today that I look scrawny But I know that rounder women are more appreciated where she comes from. I quite like my cheek bones

I don't know... I'm a female and my BF% is 26. However, I am 5'0" and 160 lbs. While some of this is likely muscle, I am still obese. Not sure what the BF% is going to do once I lose some more weight (I started w/ a BF% around 35). I am flabby, but muscular too.
I guess I could get my bodyfat% below 20% and be okay, but that seems odd to me.

I know people that are "normal" weight but have a high body fat% and I've seen the articles on people who have lost weight and then toned up and gained weight - muscle weight that is. I wouldn't mind having one of their bodies so I would be okay with having a higher than normal weight if my body looked tight!

I'd like to wear a size 6.
I have a goal weight set in mind of 115-117 lbs. Which would be in the normal BMI range (normal is either 123 or 127 lbs.)
I think that once I get in the 120s (30-40 lbs away), I will probably look at how I feel, my weight, my pant size, body fat % and then take that into consideration. I may even consider doing more extensive body building at that time. I do some weight lifting now w/ dumbells, but would consider more heaving lifting if I can manage a gym membership.

@gnat824: I think I've set my goal % at 27%, though I am sometimes tempted to go 24. I based it on a chart I found that outlined healthy vs. fitness BF% for women of a certain age (I'm 36.) I'd like to make my way to the fitness rage (which starts at 24 for me), but I'm also okay being in the healthy range, which for me is between 25 and 33. I picked 27 because it's in the middle. (I think I'm looking at the same chart philafood is reproducing above.) But again, I just haven't decided what I'm after.

I like how I look now, to be honest. I hate my poochy belly, but I've had two kids and I'm starting to think that may never go away. I never in a million years thought I would wear a size 6 again (that's what I wore in high school!), so that in itself is an accomplishment, I think. I run a 7.5 minute mile and now regularly compete in 5K races and do pretty well. I'm fit, lean, and pretty healthy. So I'm starting to think I'm okay with my 145 goal, but again, I don't want to sell myself short and call this good enough when I could do better. But at the same time, I'm pretty content.

I just don't know which matters more.

I can't even begin to tell you how much I relate to your dilemma! Thing is...I just know that I WILL KNOW when I get there! Be it 5 more pounds or just a reduction in body fat and toning/shaping exercises...whatever...I will just KNOW. I don't care anymore what the number is... and I don't care anymore what the %'s are... when I can wholeheartedly stand buck naked and look myself in the eye...and say "hey, chick, you look pretty damn good for a 48 year old, mother of 3"... I'll know I'm there! (and I'm getting closer every day!)

Great topic. the Fat2Fit Ratio told me 155 lbs for 25% BF. bmicalculator.org tells me about the same. I'd like to be 130 to feel light on a bike for road cycling. I guess i'll know when I get there.

Ive read articles that say a woman at my age and height should be around 145. So that is my "goal" however I would love to be more lean and if it is possible to be and feel healthy then thats what I will go for. I guess I am the same as most and I will go until I feel I look good. But 145 is my high goal.

Personally, my goal is to look as good as Brad Pitt in Fight Club. The numbers are just milestones to help me keep my motivation up.