What is my goal weight and how did I set it?
Greg, from Greg’s Transformation, asked me:
What is your target and why did you pick it as the target if I may ask?
When I first started my weightloss and fitness journey I found myself weighing in at 308 pounds. At 6’1″ that put my BMI at over 40. I decided that my initial goal would be to get my BMI into the normal range. For me that would be 189 pounds. However, that meant that I would have to lose 119 pounds and I just can’t live with a non rounded number like that so I decided to shoot for 120.
I’ve since come to realise that the BMI is a pretty flawed tool – you learn a lot on this journey – but it is still a marker that has meaning to us in many respects. The BMI is the tool society uses to judge and I guess I’ll always have a part of me that wants that wider acceptance.
As of this morning I’m at 193.3 which means I’m pretty close to my BMI goal. However, I know that I still have a bit of excess around the middle so I’ve decided that a longer term goal will be to get my weight down to about 176 pounds. To be honest I’m hoping to do so mainly because I’d like to pick up a bit more speed in my running. I’m already at the vanity goal – if you know what I mean. 
In other news I went out for a nice easy 7 km run this morning to test my hip and it seems to be fine. My policy of resting at the first sign of injury seems to be paying off. So hopefully I can get in a bit of a longer run tomorrow.
Comments
30 Responses to “What is my goal weight and how did I set it?”
Daily Mile
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RoadID
Do you still use Traineo? Just seen the widgets on your blog.
.-= mike´s last blog ..6 Weeks To Go =-.
Twitter: Sub6
Agreed that the BMI is not perfect. A good example is our rugby players, nearly all of them would be either overweight or obese according to BMI. Some of them probably are anyway, haha.
I favour body composition analysis, which tells you how much of your system is muscle, fat or water.
.-= Breaking Three Hours´s last blog .. =-.
Twitter: aaron_chai
I think there are many better ways to determine your ideal weight than BMI. I think body composition analysis is a good way to go, too.
.-= Derek´s last blog ..Lost and Found Weigh Day =-.
Twitter: DerekSchwandt
BMI is absolutely not leading in this….
.-= Ann Jefferson´s last blog ..De watervoetafdruk van Nederland =-.
Hi Andrew, this is my first visit to your blog. I’ve seen you on Josie’s and I believe you’ve been on mine too. Great job on your weight loss journey. It’s inspiring. I have a lot of weight myself left to go (down 74 pounds, over 100 left to go) and I’m getting there. I have also found a passion for running which has surprised me. I still can’t go very far, or very fast but I’ve joined Josie, Kat, and a few others in a C25K challenge so hopefully there will be some decent improvement in the next 9 weeks. Anyways… I like your blog. Keep up the awesome work!
Glad your hip is not troubling you now – I know how much your running means to you! Have a great week. Loads of love from all of us xxx
Yea, I am not sure what my goal weight should be. I don’t think 170 which I had hit a year ago is it now that I am lifting more. Right now, I am focusing on the exercise and healthy eating and see where it takes me. Not sure if this is a good approach or not.
.-= Ron´s last blog ..It’s not always about that number on the scale. =-.
Twitter: ronmichel1115yahoo.com
Good to hear you’re feeling better.
I agree that, although flawed, BMI generally gives a pretty good starting point. I like to toss in %-body fat to get a rounded number, but measuring that accurately presents it’s own set of challenges.
Props to you on all the progress though.
.-= Greg´s last blog ..The Wrong Shoes Can Just Plain Ruin Even The Best Intentions =-.
Twitter: livefitblog
Andrew, so glad the hip is better & you got a run in!
Like others, BMI can be off for athletes & people that have a lot of muscle but it is still a good indicator & has been proven to show that healthy BMI’s lead to less disease. Those of us with more muscle like myself, know the drill & that it is not as accurate for us. The general population though is not as muscular so it is a good thing as long as you know that.
I already have my post for tomorrow ready with your comment on getting comfortable but I might add in this link too.
.-= Jody – Fit at 52´s last blog ..Being THIN – How Important Is It? =-.
I think a lot of the time most of us just pick a number that we think we would look good at. I know that sometimes I think, “I looked good at this weight in high school” and then shoot for that weight. At least you had a set plan. For me, I can’t really shoot for a weight or I get too wrapped up in it.
.-= Seth@1010in2010´s last blog ..The Broken Ankle Results are IN. =-.
Twitter: MistrTyler
I agree on BMI not being a great measure, but in the extremes it can be pretty meaningful – and a good motivator. For example, when you were up at 40 I’m sure it was a wakeup, and there was no denying that action was required. Once you’re back in (or near) the normal range, it’s not as useful.
.-= fit36.com´s last blog ..Why I Want to Start Running =-.
Twitter: fit36com
I share your disgust with the BMI. It is 200 years old. I’m amazed the medical profession, insurance companies, the US government, etc. wish to hold it in such high regard when we are likely too lazy to come up with better standards that are as cost effective to measure.
Regardless, I’m 6’0, weighed in at 179.2 this morning and still have body composition to work on so I don’t really know where the bottom is and the right weight all things considered.
Congratulations on your fabulous running progress…you followed me briefly in the early days of C25K. In my last week of running the C25K program, I’ve ignored the limits and ran 3.52 and 3.99 miles. I have one more official day of the program to go.
Your continued progress has been inspiring and I hope to further my endurance and distance only then followed by pace.
Thanks for all your pics as well…
Kyle
.-= Kyle´s last blog ..Sleep, Fuel, and Thought – Only Things Left to Worry About =-.
SO glad that your hip is feeling better. Especially as a runner, that’s something you don’t want to mess with.
Your comments (and all of the visitors’ comments) on the deficiencies of BMI are right on. It’s a useful tool to use as a gauge, but it’s not incrediblly accurate. I guess I kinda think of it like putting your hand on a forehead to detect a fever: it can give you a clue, but there are so many variables, and a thermometer is MUCH better at getting an accurate reading.
Glad you can enjoy running again!
.-= beej´s last blog ..Week 50 =-.
Twitter: jnonis
Echo, echo, echo…Really happy your hip is feeling better. My knee (not a problem I mentioned in my icebath post) is feeling a bit wonky and I’m scheduled for an 8 easy miler today. We’ll see if I take the day off or not
I think the best comment above was fit36′s where he says BMI is a good measure for those of us who are not near the normal value, but that the measurement doesn’t work as we close in on our “acceptable” value. Right now, my BMI is 24.something and I still have a lot of body recomposition to do as well. I’ve reached my weight goal, but not my body fat goal as of yet. I don’t know what’s going to happen to my weight as my body fat decreases to the level that I want. But I don’t really care either because I’ll be smokin’ hot! 
Glad you’re feeling better.
.-= mac´s last blog ..I Took The Plunge =-.
Twitter: fitmacdaddy
I’m glad your hip is better! I think that BMI should be completely stricken from use! My goal weight is 160, and that is still considered overweight for my height! When I get to 160, I will have lost 134 pounds…I think I’ll take 160 and chuck the BMI!
.-= Erin´s last blog ..Oh Honey! =-.
Twitter: ewies84
How cool is it that your refined weight loss goal is being driven by your desire to be a faster runner! You’ve transformed yourself not only into a healthier, leaner person, but into an athlete as well!
.-= FitFunk´s last blog ..Walk, Run, Shoot (photos, that is!) =-.
I only use the widgets and they seem to be broken at the moment…
Twitter: AndrewENZ
Thanks Lynne!
Twitter: AndrewENZ
I’m so glad to hear you’ve completed it. Another runner graduates!
Twitter: AndrewENZ
BMI is definitely meaningless. I’m with you on that one. Glad to hear you are feeling better!
.-= Jeremy Logsdon´s last blog ..Gym vs. Home =-.
Twitter: stellarpath
I’m always interested to see how people choose their goal weight. I have often wondered what my goal should be, so I picked a number from before I had children – 125 lbs. but now that I’m down almost 10 pounds to around 141 pounds, that number seems too low, so maybe I’ll change my goal to 130. I’m hoping I’ll know what the right number is when I get there!
.-= Carla´s last blog ..Spring is in the air (not!) =-.
Twitter: therightfitblog
AHA! Thanks for the answer Andrew!
I didn’t realize how tall you were, that is why I was wondering about your target goal. Now, with the 6’1″ it all makes much more sense. You see, the 186lbs just didn’t resonate right with me, being 5’9″ and all. I just assumed you and I were the same height for some reason.
I agree with what you said about the BMI, and I could not have said it better myself. My goal weight has nothing to do with the BMI but I will naturally fall in the normal zone with my target that is set based on body fat percentage.
Losing weight will improve your pace, no doubt. Check out this calculator just to see how much you could improve your pace with every lbs shed.
I’m also glad to hear about your hip feeling much better! Stay healthy and keep on running!
.-= Greg´s last blog ..Monday Ramblings; Long Run and Shake =-.
Twitter: gregstransform
I picked 180 as my goal weight b/c it sounded good. If it’s attainable, we’ll see. I just wanna fit into smaller clothes. I’ll always have excess skin, but if some nice size 36 shorts fit roomy, I’ll be happy! THEN I’ll see what I can improve on!
22 pounds to go(al)! LOL
.-= Craig´s last blog ..The Final Perfect Ten Update! =-.
What a neat way to figure out your goal! I set my goal just arbitrarily…picked a number that sounded ‘normal’ to me for my height. Not very scientific, huh? That goal is 135 which with my height means my BMI would be 23.9…hopefully I can get there considering I started out with a 45 BMI.
.-= josie´s last blog ..Week 25 – Weigh-In and a First for me =-.
Twitter: startlinejosie
Sounds like you came up with your goal weight the same way I did. I’m using BMI as a guide, giving me a goal weight of 194 to get me into the “normal” range. But, like you, I recognize that BMI is not a perfect measurement, so if I’m sitting at 205 or 210, and it just feels right for me, then that’s what I’ll stick with. I’m not going to kill myself over meeting the BMI guidelines. At this point, I certainly plan on making it to 194, but if it becomes obvious that’s too low a weight for me, I’ll readjust accordingly.
.-= Brandon´s last blog ..Out of sight, out of mind =-.
Twitter: SoLongFatAss
I look at weight as holding me back from running fast too!!
.-= Kat´s last blog ..Hoodies aka My Blankie =-.
You’ve made some smart choices Andrew. Good for you!! Someday, if you are in the mood, look on my column for my take on the BMI
http://www.calorielab.com/news/dr-j
I’ve been reassessing the BMI thing, too. It’s a general tool, but not very helpful in the long run. But you runners with your runner’s addiction, you know that “goal weight” is really just a way to improve your time. Running is like crack, I tell ya.
.-= Camevil´s last blog ..Wednesday Weigh-In: 3/24/10 and I’m An Adult Now =-.
I don’t have a weight goal. I have a waist goal. I’d like to have a waist of 30 inches. My initial waist goal was 36 inches, which is half of my 72 inches height. I achieved that, so its on to the next goal. 30 inches here I come. When I weighed 340 pounds, my waist size was in the high 50s.
.-= Dr. Kal´s last blog ..How To Lose Weight Fast =-.
Twitter: Dr. Kal
“I found myself weighing in at 308 pounds. At 6?1?” I am one pound from where you started at as of this mornings weigh in! lol I got 4 inches on ya in height but man, you just made me feel like I have a LONG ways to go! I don’t believe in BMI numbers or any of those charts that say what we should weigh myself, because if I did I would need to get down to 180 pounds?! I think that my bones weigh more than that!
As Ever
Me
.-= Zeusmeatball´s last blog ..I lost 225 pounds to date?? when did this happen? New low weight for the weigh in! =-.