How did you decide what your perfect weight should be?

[Linda1]

When I was married at 19, I weighed 115 pounds.
At 25 and two weeks after my 3rd baby, I weighed 108 pounds. (SU said I looked sick)
At 40 I weighed 129 and I thought I looked the best of my life. But, I did a Firm Tape(I have the original 6) every night, and was solid and cut!
I know that even if I get down to 129, I won't look the same as I did when I was 40 because I can no longer do that intense type of workout. My shoulder, back and knee just won't allow it. So, I don't know what to aim for. I need a goal. I'm also afraid that I'll actually look worse thinner if I'm not toned.
What are your thoughts?

[Tundra Aries]

I believe it's more of what you're comfortable and healthy at...I'm a big girl...period, I was 150lbs and was sooooo sick looking, yep at a 150 lbs, I'm only 5' 7", but I'm very large framed, my feet are size 13 and my hands are almost as big as my SU that's 6'7", I had one doctor tell me I should be 125lbs, I actually got into a fight with him, then went to another doctor and she said absolutely now, if I get down to that weight what hospital will you be going to because that's where you're going to go. I think my best weight is at 160lbs or 170lbs, I felt great and was healthy.

If I were you, I would just take it as it comes and when you find that you feel great, then that's it

[Chester B. Dickens]

I've thought about this, too. My doc's only advice was to get back to "...what you weighed in college..." Sad to say, I can't really remember what I weighed from 1981-1985. So I targeted a doable number (200lbs) and decided to take it from there. Once I reached the 200lbs, I kept going, in an effort to get my BMI down to a more healthy level. To get out of the 'overweight' cat for a BMI, I'd have to lose yet 20 lbs more. Not sure I can do that.

But the move from an 'obese' BMI to merely an 'overweight' one is a change for the better.

I'm still trying to get my last 6-8 lbs off before going on maintenance.

[Tundra Aries]

I've thought about this, too. My doc's only advice was to get back to "...what you weighed in college..." Sad to say, I can't really remember what I weighed from 1981-1985. So I targeted a doable number (200lbs) and decided to take it from there. Once I reached the 200lbs, I kept going, in an effort to get my BMI down to a more healthy level. To get out of the 'overweight' cat for a BMI, I'd have to lose yet 20 lbs more. Not sure I can do that.

But the move from an 'obese' BMI to merely an 'overweight' one is a change for the better.

I'm still trying to get my last 6-8 lbs off before going on maintenance.

That's true too Dan, BMI, I have to try to get down to a good BMI, what I'm at now isn't working for me at all

[BillieIsMyKid]

If I went by BMI I'd have over 100 pounds to lose and that's even after the 30 I've already lost in the last 3 years (16 since I started Just Losers and WW). BMI is not the be-all-end-all for measurement IMHO.

I think the general idea is that when you can do the things you want to do without feeling like it's too hard because of your weight, you look in the mirror and like what you see, you can buy the clothes you want to buy in the size you want to buy them, etc. that's a good weight for you. Like Dan did, set an initial goal and once you get there, re-evaluate.

Mine is not a weight goal, it's a jeans size goal. Well that and I want to be able to 30 minutes at the posting trot in riding lessons without thinking I'm going to die.