My Goal Weight

I have had about five different goal weights because when I hit the goal I want to lose more. I have been stuck at 144 for almost a month. I really want to get in the 130's. I am 5'8" and my BMI is 21.9. I am really kicking up the excercise to try to get to mu new goal of 135. Here is the issue. My friends and family think I am going too far. They think I do not need to lose any more and am becoming obsessed with losing. Do you guys think 135 is unrealistic. THanks for your help.

Depends on why you want to get to 135. Once you get there will you want to be 125? At 144 you are 20 pounds safely under the high side of a normal BMI. Is it the need for a goal to keep you motivated? I am not you, nor am I a doctor, but personally if I was 5'8 I'd be ecstatic to be 144, what does your doctor and nutritionist say? Maybe it's time to learn how to maintain and enjoy your success. The new goal is not unrealistic, the question needs to be: is it healthy for you specifically? Good Luck MM

Heather...its not unrealistic. 20.5 (135 pounds) is on the edge of being underweight, so you will have very little cushion if you get sick. I don't think I'd go any lower than 135 if I were you. Your family may be on to something...make sure you aren't getting so obsessed that you can't stop....that would treading lightly toward anorexia.... Me, I could use a touch of anorexia......LOL Just be careful. Hugs Charlie

In my opinion...i think getting in the 130's may not look good on you. i'm 5'8" and got down to 139 and EVERYONE told me i look sickly and fraile. so that's something to consider too. i feel much better at 145-150 and look healthier too. i was obsessed at first too but i'd rather look and feel healthy and not look like a waif. why are you not happy where you are now? are you just trying to see how low you can get? are you starving yourself? all things to think about...be healthy first don't worry so much about the numbers.

I'm 5'7.5" and 158-160 and I consider myself to be at goal. I'm just barely a normal BMI but one has to remember that we have extra skin that adds some weight plus being obese for years makes your skeleton heavier (since it had to support the extra weight). My surgeon uses the goal weight charts and adds 15% to them to set goals because of these factors. I wear a size 6/8 pants, a medium top. I feel no need to go lower. I workout hard and am trying to get more muscle definition where I can. If the scale moves a pound or 2 fine. I'm not looking for it to move at all. I'd say I have a medium build but I do have long hands and feet (11.5). I wonder if sometimes we just stuck on a *perfect number* or if we get addicted to the feeling and excitement of losing, changing, seeing the scale go down. I know when I see the newer ops losing I miss those things and I'm certainly envious. Kathy

Sometimes our families and friends see what we don't. At 5'8", I would think 135 might be a bit on the low side for you. I'm 5'5" and weigh 147-150. I wear an 8-10 and a medium top. I would like to lose another 5-10 pounds but if I don't, I'm happy where I am. My surgeon says I'm great right where I'm at. Like someone else said, if you get down to 135, if you get sick, you have absolutely no reserve. Since we don't really know you, listen to your family and friends and then talk with your doc. He will be the person who can best answer it.

Hi Heather. I have to agree with much of what has already been said. I've been kind of like you in the past, but now I've settled in at a weight that I am happy with. I also got sick and tired of having to buy new clothes all of the time, LOL! Once I got to a size 6 I decided it was time to quit! If you make it to 135 will you be happy with that? Will you be able to quit or will you want to shoot for 130? 125? I think as long as your bmi is in a good range, then you're fine. I've been accused of being obsessed with it too which I do not feel is true. I'm aware, I'm proactive, I'm happy! I also think about the fact that for most of my life I've been trying to lose weight so I really don't know any other way of life. Learning to maintain is difficult and scary b/c I've never been good at it or I wouldn't have ended up at 328lbs. I know for myself there have been times when I've put on pound or two so that I would have something to work on and something to strive for~its a strange thing and probably not the best idea, but I'm just being honest in saying that I have done it in the past~I guess trying to lose is where I'm comfortable, but I am now trying to work on being comfortable with trying to maintain. I wish you continued success!!!!!!!! Tracy B 328/150 5'9"

I believe in a good cushion. My doctor set my goal at 130 I set it at 125 now I have reset it to 110. today I was 116. I am so scared of regaining my weight back that I think if I have this cushion I will keep myself from regaining. I am only 5' 3" . I have alot of skin left over and I think if all of it was removed I would look too thin. My moto in life is you can never be too thin or too rich and since I will never be rich I will have to settle for thin. Something I could never have dreamed of saying before WLS. hugs to all, Terri