How do you know what is a reasonable amount of weight to want to lose and what i should be losing? When i was eighteen i was probably about 125lbs... but could probably have lost a few back then. It is now 13 years later.... how do i know what my weight loss goal should be? i don't want to go too hight - and not reach it. But i don't want to cheat myself either out of what i could do!

How about trying to reach the highest healthy BMI, and decide at that point if you want to continue? There is no reason why you have to pick a number today and have it set in stone. If you find you are happy at say... 150 lbs., why continue loosing? But lets say you reach that and decide that another 10 lbs. would be better. Then when you are at 140, who's to say that you cant keep going from there?

I reached 250 several years ago, and felt a ton better than I had at 293. I took a break due to financial reasons, and have recently come back to loose the rest of it. I am currently planning to get down to 150 lbs., but am not too certain that this is what I will ultimately end up doing. The last time I was 160 lbs. I was 18 years old. But then, the BMI chart says I should weigh no more than 127 since I'm only 5'-1". So what is my goal weight? No idea, but I'll know when I get there and in the meantime I am so far away from there that I dont even worry about it. I work with smaller goals... I recently got below my pre-baby #3 weight (240), and am getting close to pre-baby #2 (230). Then I'll work toward getting to my pre-wedding weight (205), and then I'll be working to pre-baby #1 (165).

Long story short, only you can decide what weight you think is best for you!

Take care,
Angela

I know what you mean when you say you don't know about your goal weight. About 15 years ago, after having three girls, I lost the weight - - fast too - - and put it right back on.

Supposedly I'm supposed to weigh in around 125 to 135 at 5' 4". At 150 pounds I decided I didn't want to go any further. I felt great and I didn't like the idea of being overly thin.

Unfortunately, I quit watching my diet and quit being as active. Here I am with 100 pounds to lose.

Good luck . . .

I know exactly what you mean also. 12 years ago I weighed 130 lbs. now I am wondering if 130 lbs will look good on me.

I will just continue to lose and see how I look and if I like what I see...then that will be my goal weight

I remember being 120lbs, and size 1, in my late 30's, and everyone said I looked too thin. I have a muscular build. I am 49 now, and I think 130 would be about right for me. Sometimes, the BMI isn't really a good indicator because everyone is built differently and some have more muscle mass. You will know when you are at your right weight.

I agree with everyone that small goals, with a bit of wiggle room, are a good idea. I have a mini-goal at 170. Then I'll assess body fat and how I look and feel and think of another mini-goal--maybe another 10 lbs. or so.

I know it can be hard not to have that ultimate goal in mind, that final number to reach for, but it's better to reach some goal, even if it's a higher weight than you think it should be, then to make a goal that is unrealistic or too low, and that you'll never reach.