So the talk of 'excess weight' has me thinking... (Dangerous, I know)

So by definition excess body weight- in generic terms would be anything above a normal bodyfat number. In terms of BMI that would be the anything above the top number of normal for your height.

Realizing of course BMI is a generic number as well, and even though we maybe the same height it does not mean we have the same lean body mass- whi*****les muscles, bones organs, blood, etc.

Body-fat testing is accurate and tell you the numbers for you not in general terms. Bodyfat Dexascans (not bone density dexascans) are becoming the standard. It used to be dunk testing but Dexa is as accurate, gives more information and obviously easier to do.

When I went for my first Dexascan (which you can read about on my OH blog) I changed my goal weight. According to BMI charts the top end of normal for my height was 179. I chose 170 as a goal so I would be a little under. When I went for my first dexa I found out I had higher than average muscle mass- which makes sense as I was carrying around 300+ pounds for 20 years - so I changed my goal based on what was accurate to me... to 189. That was a tough mental change- but the numbers were there.

That being said finding a final resting place for a goal number is not easy. Last June I was about 12 pounds heavier than I am now but tested at a lower bodyfat percentage. Then I had my epic summer last year with 6 weeks on couch duty and when I went back for my dexa in December I had lost 8lbs on the scale but lost 10lbs of muscle and gained 2lbs of fat. So while the scale number was lower I was actually fatter. I remember the PHd Biologist who did the test was a little freaked out by the results...I don't think she thought it was humanly possible. That is where they get the term 'skinny fat' Being small on the scale doesn't make you fit.

Are you following this? LOL. So no easy answer. I think as you get closer, you take it 5lbs at a time...and at some point it is what you can maintain as well. If you are always banging your head against the wall for a number, that is not a way to live. We all are going for normal but we can't forget healthy...

Healthy for me is far more important than normal. When people ask me how much more I want to lose, I honestly have no idea. When I was in high school I was in the 170s and thought I was fat. I was in the 190s when I started to date my husband. I think 140s might work but who knows?

When I was starting this journey I couldn't really imagine getting into the 100's...even though I set myself a normal BMI goal, but in reality I considered it a fantasy goal.

When I got closer I realized I did want to be below 200lbs. There was no reason to be over 200lbs even at 5'11" tall. When I hit 195 I said I'd take it 5lbs at a time, because like you said, when you have been MO for so long, who knows?

So much of it depends on your height! (and maybe even age, as I don't want my face to melt too much, and if I were in my 30's I might consider going a bit lower too)

Me being at 5'5" tall, and you being at 5'11" tall, there's a huge difference between good healthy weights for each of us.

I went looking for an official definition, and found this at the Cleveland Clinic:

Excess body weight (EBW) is defined as the amount of weight that is in excess of the ideal body weight (IBW). Ideal body weight is... a BMI of 25 kg/m².

So to do your math for you:

Starting at 5'5", 260lb: BMI 43.3

BMI of 25 at 5'5": 150lb

Excess weight: 260 - 150 = 110lb

I don't even want to read another response, Julie, because you spelled this out so perfect for me!!! It also makes me very happy to see your numbers and know that I have lost over 100% of excess body weight I like overachieving!

I have had a hard time with this, and seeing different posts about excess body weight, and I just wanted (for once) something black and white, with no rainbows in there to mess it all up...

Awesome, glad to help!

Can I still post rainbows anyway??

I adore rainbows!! Keep em coming!

Rainbows perfect, especially lately!

LOL! When I was told I had lost more than 100% of my excess weight I said HUH? Somehow that didn't compute at the time!