realistic goal weight

"Ignoramus13725" wrote in message
...

Are you an unusually muscular man?

If not, then you can take BMI and adjust it a bit if you are "big
boned".

My personal opinion is that it is much easier to set a goal that is
officially at normal weight, but is not too slim. My personal goal is
to be around BMI of 24, which is where I am right now.

The people who set out to get to much lower weights seem to be
reporting a lot more problems maintaining. That's just an anecdotal
observation.

I am not unusually muscular. At 6'4" tall, a BMI of 24 would put me at
about 190- 200, a weight range I haven't seen since I was 15 years of age.
A number of years ago I did a underwater weighing that indicated I had about
205 lbs of bone/tissue mass with a body weight of 235-240 lbs, but that was
then. Given that I am much older, heavier, and way out of shape I felt I
needed a goal that is obtainable and realistic. I have set up a short term
goal of a 40 lbs loss, then intend to add exercise to my program until I
reach some final goal. I felt I needed to get some weight off first rather
than risk additional knee and back problems. Once I near the final goal
weight, I intended to take a good look and re-evaluate.

In article bCF%c.37869$xu6.2409@okepread02, says...
I am new to LC'ing and have a question regarding setting a realistic goal
weight. I've looked at the BMI charts, looked at the charts in Atkins, and
looked at charts on various other websites. BMI seems to be little help as
a muscular man and a fat man can weigh the same and have identical BMI's.
Charts very so much even when my medium frame size is taken into account. I
have never weighed near any of the goal weights they suggest, so a track
record is little help. Any suggestions on setting some realistic goal
weight?

I picked a goal weight based on the midline of charts and what has been, for me,
a low weight in the past that I might actually be able to maintain. I picked it
because I needed a goal weight for my sig for this newgroup, but really, I just
plan to lose weight until I feel like it's enough. As long as I exercise
reasonably often and eat well, I figure I'm doing my best and the body will
follow if it's so inclined. What's my body fat percentage? I have no idea. I
may care more about it at some point, but I'm not worried about it at the moment.
Since I AM exercising and eating well, I know I'm probably not wasting away
muscle mass as I lose. I may never reach my goal weight or I may surpass it.
I'm just so damn happy to look like ME again and to FEEL so much better that
anything more is just icing on the ca-- um -- salad dressing!

--
Saffire
205/149/125 - 5'1.5"
Atkins since 6/14/03
Progress photo: http://photos.yahoo.com/saffire333

In article bCF%c.37869$xu6.2409@okepread02, says...
I am new to LC'ing and have a question regarding setting a realistic goal
weight. I've looked at the BMI charts, looked at the charts in Atkins, and
looked at charts on various other websites. BMI seems to be little help as
a muscular man and a fat man can weigh the same and have identical BMI's.
Charts very so much even when my medium frame size is taken into account. I
have never weighed near any of the goal weights they suggest, so a track
record is little help. Any suggestions on setting some realistic goal
weight?

I picked a goal weight based on the midline of charts and what has been, for me,
a low weight in the past that I might actually be able to maintain. I picked it
because I needed a goal weight for my sig for this newgroup, but really, I just
plan to lose weight until I feel like it's enough. As long as I exercise
reasonably often and eat well, I figure I'm doing my best and the body will
follow if it's so inclined. What's my body fat percentage? I have no idea. I
may care more about it at some point, but I'm not worried about it at the moment.
Since I AM exercising and eating well, I know I'm probably not wasting away
muscle mass as I lose. I may never reach my goal weight or I may surpass it.
I'm just so damn happy to look like ME again and to FEEL so much better that
anything more is just icing on the ca-- um -- salad dressing!

--
Saffire
205/149/125 - 5'1.5"
Atkins since 6/14/03
Progress photo: http://photos.yahoo.com/saffire333

Ignoramus13725 wrote:
In article VzI%c.37885$xu6.34977@okepread02, Jimmy wrote:
I am not unusually muscular. At 6'4" tall, a BMI of 24 would put me at
about 190- 200, a weight range I haven't seen since I was 15 years
of age.

are you big boned or small boned, based on wrist measurement? That's
relevant too.

A number of years ago I did a underwater weighing that indicated I
had about 205 lbs of bone/tissue mass with a body weight of 235-240
lbs, but that was then. Given that I am much older, heavier, and
way out of shape I felt I needed a goal that is obtainable and
realistic. I have set up a short term goal of a 40 lbs loss, then
intend to add exercise to my program until I reach some final goal.
I felt I needed to get some weight off first rather than risk
additional knee and back problems. Once I near the final goal
weight, I intended to take a good look and re-evaluate.

That's an extremely sane and realistic strategy. Do what you can, then
look again.

I would agree with that.

Sounds like you're about my size. Don't fret over the goal weight too
much. Set it for something you're comfortable with and then reevaluate as
you get closer to it.

I set mine at 180 initially but am finding that I will probably need to
adjust it upwards. It was based on what I weighed in the Army but I seem
to be carrying more muscle now from moderate weight training.

I'm going to get a proper BMI measurement with underwater weighing to see
where I stand.

Dan
325/199/180
Atkins since 1/1/02 (yeah, it was a New Year's Resolution)
Besetting sins: good beer, German bread, and Krispy Kremes

Ignoramus13725 wrote:
In article VzI%c.37885$xu6.34977@okepread02, Jimmy wrote:
I am not unusually muscular. At 6'4" tall, a BMI of 24 would put me at
about 190- 200, a weight range I haven't seen since I was 15 years
of age.

are you big boned or small boned, based on wrist measurement? That's
relevant too.

A number of years ago I did a underwater weighing that indicated I
had about 205 lbs of bone/tissue mass with a body weight of 235-240
lbs, but that was then. Given that I am much older, heavier, and
way out of shape I felt I needed a goal that is obtainable and
realistic. I have set up a short term goal of a 40 lbs loss, then
intend to add exercise to my program until I reach some final goal.
I felt I needed to get some weight off first rather than risk
additional knee and back problems. Once I near the final goal
weight, I intended to take a good look and re-evaluate.

That's an extremely sane and realistic strategy. Do what you can, then
look again.

I would agree with that.

Sounds like you're about my size. Don't fret over the goal weight too
much. Set it for something you're comfortable with and then reevaluate as
you get closer to it.

I set mine at 180 initially but am finding that I will probably need to
adjust it upwards. It was based on what I weighed in the Army but I seem
to be carrying more muscle now from moderate weight training.

I'm going to get a proper BMI measurement with underwater weighing to see
where I stand.

Dan
325/199/180
Atkins since 1/1/02 (yeah, it was a New Year's Resolution)
Besetting sins: good beer, German bread, and Krispy Kremes

"Daniel Hoffmeister" wrote in message
...
Ignoramus13725 wrote:
In article VzI%c.37885$xu6.34977@okepread02, Jimmy wrote:

I would agree with that.

Sounds like you're about my size. Don't fret over the goal weight too
much. Set it for something you're comfortable with and then reevaluate as
you get closer to it.

I set mine at 180 initially but am finding that I will probably need to
adjust it upwards. It was based on what I weighed in the Army but I seem
to be carrying more muscle now from moderate weight training.

I'm going to get a proper BMI measurement with underwater weighing to see
where I stand.

Dan
325/199/180
Atkins since 1/1/02 (yeah, it was a New Year's Resolution)
Besetting sins: good beer, German bread, and Krispy Kremes


Thanks for all the feedback from everyone, there were a lot of good
suggestions. For now I will set a goal weight of about 200 lbs, then
re-eval once that has been obtained. Again, thank you.

Jimmy
LC since 9/1/04
291/281/200

Saffire

writes:

I just
plan to lose weight until I feel like it's enough. As long as I exercise
reasonably often and eat well, I figure I'm doing my best and the body will
follow if it's so inclined. What's my body fat percentage? I have no idea.
I
may care more about it at some point, but I'm not worried about it at the
moment.
Since I AM exercising and eating well, I know I'm probably not wasting away
muscle mass as I lose. I may never reach my goal weight or I may surpass it.

I'm just so damn happy to look like ME again and to FEEL so much better that
anything more is just icing on the ca-- um -- salad dressing!

This makes sense. I had initially set a goal of 140, based on the fact that
last time I weighed 140, I thought it was a good, healthy weight. When I hit
145, though, my clothes were fitting loosely, my thighs were no longer rubbing
together when I walked, I felt great, and I couldn't think of a good reason to
lose the remaining 5 pounds. So I reset 145 as the upper limit of my normal
weight fluctuation, and that's worked pretty well. I've since dropped as low
as 139, but my weight usually does hover in the 143-145 range. (I was 144.5
this morning.)

On another note, I've had a respiratory infection and have been taking cough
medicine and sucking on cough drops. Regardless of the sweetener used, this
stuff is all intolerably sweet! It's gross and disgusting. And I finally
visited the doctor yesterday and had the lowest blood pressure I've had in 15
years. I tend to get white coat spikes in bp, but even factoring in the usual
nerves, it was 128/74. So that was welcome (as were the drugs I got so I can
stop using all this otc cough medicine).

Anyway, back on topic, I am very skeptical about the BMI. They used to be more
realistic, IMHO, when they factored in frame and gender. I am very tall, but I
have tiny bones. My BMI was in the normal range even when my butt was
enormous. There was no question that I needed to lose weight, but I would have
had to gain another 10 or so pounds to be heavy according to the BMI. My SO
has a large frame, and when he lost weight on Weight Watchers, his doctor wrote
a letter saying that his ideal weight was one that the BMI would list as
overweight. So I think once the OP gets to the point of looking and feeling
good, s/he should think about the relevance of the BMI, maybe visiting a doctor
before making a final decision. It could very well be that a higher BMI is
appropriate.

Daria
166/under 145/under 145
sugar-free since 2/1/04
low-carb since 2/17/04

The key to goal setting is to be realistic. If you have a lot to lose
you can set intermediate goals. It helps to keep you inspired.

By the way, Saffire - You inspire me! I looked at your progess photos
and I look like your first picture. At 203 I am started Atkins again
on Sept 1st. I am having great results on induction. Lets hope I can
stick with it for life this time.

WebDiva
203/195/150
LCing(again)since 9/1/04


Saffire wrote in message . ..
In article bCF%c.37869$xu6.2409@okepread02, says...
I am new to LC'ing and have a question regarding setting a realistic goal
weight. I've looked at the BMI charts, looked at the charts in Atkins, and
looked at charts on various other websites. BMI seems to be little help as
a muscular man and a fat man can weigh the same and have identical BMI's.
Charts very so much even when my medium frame size is taken into account. I
have never weighed near any of the goal weights they suggest, so a track
record is little help. Any suggestions on setting some realistic goal
weight?

I picked a goal weight based on the midline of charts and what has been, for me,
a low weight in the past that I might actually be able to maintain. I picked it
because I needed a goal weight for my sig for this newgroup, but really, I just
plan to lose weight until I feel like it's enough. As long as I exercise
reasonably often and eat well, I figure I'm doing my best and the body will
follow if it's so inclined. What's my body fat percentage? I have no idea. I
may care more about it at some point, but I'm not worried about it at the moment.
Since I AM exercising and eating well, I know I'm probably not wasting away
muscle mass as I lose. I may never reach my goal weight or I may surpass it.
I'm just so damn happy to look like ME again and to FEEL so much better that
anything more is just icing on the ca-- um -- salad dressing!

The key to goal setting is to be realistic. If you have a lot to lose
you can set intermediate goals. It helps to keep you inspired.

By the way, Saffire - You inspire me! I looked at your progess photos
and I look like your first picture. At 203 I am started Atkins again
on Sept 1st. I am having great results on induction. Lets hope I can
stick with it for life this time.

WebDiva
203/195/150
LCing(again)since 9/1/04


Saffire wrote in message . ..
In article bCF%c.37869$xu6.2409@okepread02, says...
I am new to LC'ing and have a question regarding setting a realistic goal
weight. I've looked at the BMI charts, looked at the charts in Atkins, and
looked at charts on various other websites. BMI seems to be little help as
a muscular man and a fat man can weigh the same and have identical BMI's.
Charts very so much even when my medium frame size is taken into account. I
have never weighed near any of the goal weights they suggest, so a track
record is little help. Any suggestions on setting some realistic goal
weight?

I picked a goal weight based on the midline of charts and what has been, for me,
a low weight in the past that I might actually be able to maintain. I picked it
because I needed a goal weight for my sig for this newgroup, but really, I just
plan to lose weight until I feel like it's enough. As long as I exercise
reasonably often and eat well, I figure I'm doing my best and the body will
follow if it's so inclined. What's my body fat percentage? I have no idea. I
may care more about it at some point, but I'm not worried about it at the moment.
Since I AM exercising and eating well, I know I'm probably not wasting away
muscle mass as I lose. I may never reach my goal weight or I may surpass it.
I'm just so damn happy to look like ME again and to FEEL so much better that
anything more is just icing on the ca-- um -- salad dressing!

I feel one should have both short term and long term goals. Short term goal
could be a weight you hope to achieve in a month.

IMHO: Low carb with a high fat percentage really works. I had doubts at the
beginning. So, I would say to set a long term goal that is aggressive. A
weight that is just below being overweight on the charts could be a good
number.

Cubit
311/219/165
LC since 12/01/2003

"Jimmy" wrote in message
news:bCF%c.37869$xu6.2409@okepread02...
I am new to LC'ing and have a question regarding setting a realistic goal
weight. I've looked at the BMI charts, looked at the charts in Atkins,
and
looked at charts on various other websites. BMI seems to be little help
as
a muscular man and a fat man can weigh the same and have identical BMI's.
Charts very so much even when my medium frame size is taken into account.
I
have never weighed near any of the goal weights they suggest, so a track
record is little help. Any suggestions on setting some realistic goal
weight?

Jimmy
LC since 9/1/04
291/281/???