How do you choose a goal weight that is right for you? For many people this is an easy question (if they even think of it at all). They set their weight goal based on the number where their body tends to stay, or their doctor gives them a number based on a chart.
Yet if you are currently in the process of losing weight, this process might be more complex. You might not have been at your goal weight for many years, or perhaps not at all. (That was true for me for most of my adult life until I lost over 100 pounds.)
Let’s explore how to decide on a goal weight that is healthy and realistic for you.
What’s Your Goal Weight?
4. Wait to Decide
Many women choose to wait until they are closer to their weight loss goal before making a decision.
Instead, focus on a smaller starting goal.
Possible smaller goals could be:
- Losing 10% of your body weight (which has been proven to have many health benefits).
- Reaching a personal milestone such as weighing less than 300 or less than 200 pounds.
- Focusing on losing weight in 5 pound increments.
5. Choose a goal weight that is not just achievable, but maintainable.
The best weight for you is not only one that you can achieve, but one that you can maintain while enjoying your life.
Most of us could achieve an unrealistic weight through drastic measures. We could go on a liquid-only diet, eat very few calories, or exercise like a crazy person.
But is that maintainable?
No.
Here are criteria for a realistic, healthy goal weight for you:
- A realistic goal weight is one where you eat healthy most of the time but you enjoy splurges too.
- A healthy goal weight is one where you look and feel good, even if it’s higher than a chart tells you.
- The right goal weight for you will be one where your doctor is pleased with your health and wellness.
By putting these 5 steps into practice, in time you will find a goal weight that’s right for you and your body.
Have you chosen a goal weight? Share about it in the comments below.
Get Help Maintaining at Your Goal Weight
If you are at or near your weight loss goal, check out this short course I created calledMaintainers.
How many of us have regained weight? I sure have! Before I lost weight the final time, I lost and regained hundreds of pounds over the years.
I could lose weight…but I couldn’t KEEP it off.
The Maintainers course…
- is specific to EXACTLY where you are in your weight loss journey right now.
- is short. The materials only take a few hours to complete.
- is practical. The course includes helpful printable worksheets and action plans.
- is affordable. There’s one low cost to enroll, with no ongoing fees and no social media required.
- has a BONUS. Get access to a video library with hours of Maintainers small group coaching to learn how real women are staying at their goal.
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7 Steps I Took to Break a 15+ Year Weight Loss Plateau – Here are the exact steps I took to break a long weight loss plateau, get to goal and achieve Weight Watchers Lifetime membership.
How to Stop Overeating at Night – Do you do well all day and then give in to overeating in the evenings or at night? Break the habit for good so you can lose weight and keep it off.
A Prayer to Stop Emotional Eating – Ask for God’s power to help you end emotional eating.
Janice says
Hello. I cannot get the body weight calculator to work.
Sara says
Hi Janice, I’m sorry that didn’t work for you. I just checked and it is working. What can be confusing is that it’s pre-filled out with sample answers and you have to NOT use those and input your own – male/female (click one), age, height, and then click the button to calculate. Then it should work for you. I hope this helps.