realistic goal weight

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/???

BMI is a joke to be honest. It means nothing. You can use the mirror or
get your BF checked by using a caliper. That would give you a good idea.
Or you can just make little goals. Start out with a goal that you know you
can make and then move it down 10-20 pounds at a time until you get close,
then move it down a little at a time. That is what I did.

You are right BMI doesn't make any sense at all. There are people that are
5'8 that weigh 210 in perfect shape with very low body fat.

Curt


"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/???

BMI is a joke to be honest. It means nothing. You can use the mirror or
get your BF checked by using a caliper. That would give you a good idea.
Or you can just make little goals. Start out with a goal that you know you
can make and then move it down 10-20 pounds at a time until you get close,
then move it down a little at a time. That is what I did.

You are right BMI doesn't make any sense at all. There are people that are
5'8 that weigh 210 in perfect shape with very low body fat.

Curt


"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/???

In article bCF%c.37869$xu6.2409@okepread02,
"Jimmy" wrote:

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/???



Why not set a goal body fat percentage instead? Or a clothing size goal?
Or, if you are exercising, some performance goals? I don't have a specific
goal weight, I don't think I need a scale to tell me I'm too fat.

--
Michelle Levin
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick

I have only 3 flaws. My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3 flaws.

In article bCF%c.37869$xu6.2409@okepread02,
"Jimmy" wrote:

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/???



Why not set a goal body fat percentage instead? Or a clothing size goal?
Or, if you are exercising, some performance goals? I don't have a specific
goal weight, I don't think I need a scale to tell me I'm too fat.

--
Michelle Levin
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick

I have only 3 flaws. My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3 flaws.

On Wed, 8 Sep 2004 10:32:41 -0500, "Jimmy"
wrote:

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?

Your observations about the limitations of BMI are certainly valid --
in addition, they don't take frame size into account, however...

Unless one is fairly muscular, insurance charts are generally useful
for predicting a suitable range in most cases. Consider aiming for
the upper range for your height and frame size, then adjust as
necessary as you get closer to goal.

See MetLife charts for guidelines.

Also, consider using measurements in conjunction with setting a
certain goal weight.

On Wed, 8 Sep 2004 10:32:41 -0500, "Jimmy"
wrote:

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/???


Yes BMI is not very accurate for extremely muscular people, but it's
easy to lie to yourself about it. Unless you are built like Wolverine
from the XMen (comic book, not movie) I would only give yourself about
a 10 lbs leeway for working out, and that maybe generous, assuming you
are about 5'10 or so.

At 281, you are very fat, unless your name is Shaq O'Neil.

What has worked for me is setting goals of pants sizes in a certain
time frame. My job lets me wear shorts in summer, so I had a goal to
go down to the next pant size whenever I change over.

On 9/8/2004 1:29 PM, Bryan Schwerer wrote:

What has worked for me is setting goals of pants sizes in a certain
time frame. My job lets me wear shorts in summer, so I had a goal to
go down to the next pant size whenever I change over.


That's a good point. I set my goal that I wanted to be an 8/10 by the
time I was in maintenance mode. I'm actually a 6/8 now but hey... ;-)

--
jmk in NC

On 9/8/2004 1:29 PM, Bryan Schwerer wrote:

What has worked for me is setting goals of pants sizes in a certain
time frame. My job lets me wear shorts in summer, so I had a goal to
go down to the next pant size whenever I change over.


That's a good point. I set my goal that I wanted to be an 8/10 by the
time I was in maintenance mode. I'm actually a 6/8 now but hey... ;-)

--
jmk in NC

"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.