How did you decide on your goal weight?

[LapNYC 3]

In my ticker (and in my mind) I have 159 as my goal weight because that would put my BMI in the "normal" range. But I just started thinking about that number. I've been a very unsustainable 140 a couple times (I'm 5'7"), looked pretty decent in high school at 170 (I used to be a big athlete), could take a spinning class without feeling like a horrendously fat chick at 200 (a very in shape 200 though). So I'm not sure what I want. With the band could I conceivable get to 150 and stay there without suffering? Would that be a bad thing for 43 year old skin that's also dealt with having twins? Do I even care about being an actual fully thin person? That's so not ME. Obviously I can assess how I feel at every step along the way, so I'm really just ruminating a bit. But I'm curious...

How did others come to this decision?

[mousek 4]

For me it''s because from 120-130 I look really great.

[L12 13]

At first I reasoned that I at least wanted to get to 170; I would still be "fat" but not obese. Then I decided on 160 with the input of my doctor; that later changed to 150 as I was progressing. I'm now one pound away from that, and I am extremely confident that I can get lower and feel comfortable in what I eat and my energy level. At least down to 140, maybe 130? I don't know yet--overall I want to be healthy, but if I can be thin, be a healthy weight, and at a good BMI, I'll go lower.

[IAmJacksLapBand 5]

I decided on 265 because it was lighter than when I remember being happy. I was happy at 285. But that still made me in the obese category.

My long term goal is 220 after speaking with my surgeon. He said I would be in the overweight category but it would still be a great benefit for me. If I get there or below that is great.

I just want to be at whatever weight lets me sit in a coach airplane seat and ride as many roller coasters as I want.

[Jachut 487]

I knew that at 5ft 10 and about 170lb for a lot of my mid teens, I was always the big fat chick in any group of people - I certainly didnt catch the eye of the boys. At about 16, I made a concerted effort and slipped down to about 154 - better but still far from the petite girl I longed to be.

I knew however that 154 is a good, healthy, sustainable weight for me, so that was my initial goal.I also knew I'd want to go a bit further, which I have. But what surprises me is that 154 at my adult weight is WAY thinner than it was when I was a teen - partly perception becuase everyone around me is fully grown now, but also becuase I guess now although I was sporty as a teen, I'm now at a much higher level of fitness and I'm probably more muscle, less fat.

As it turns out, I have a fairly slender body type and could easily get down to 140 without getting scary skinny, but I havent managed it and am not sure I could sustain it. 150ish suits me pretty well. I maintain it absolutely effortlessly, my weight never wavers and I'm also almost 43. For me, its a BMI of about 22, for you it will be a point or two higher, and really, what's unrealistic of maintaining a healthy BMI of 24ish? Its not really thin, its just healthy.

[bella71 0]

I am 5'11.5", and I have a very large frame (broad shoulders, big ribcage, huge hands & feet). I chose 185 as my target because it is at the upper end of a normal BMI for me. But when I was 19, I got down to 220, and I looked and felt healthy. I'll just play it by ear. Whatever weight is sustainable with a healthy diet and an active, physically fit lifestyle is the weight for me. I don't want to be caught up with a specific number.

[BetsyB 9]

I chose a weight toward the bottom of the healthy range for my height. I didn't have surgery to simply achieve a lower-risk, but still fat, weight. (I am short; for me, fat kicks in at a pretty low weight.)

My surgeon will be happy when I hit the "normal" range. Actually, at my first consult--the one where they divulge that the average one-year loss is 52 pounds---he told me that even if that is all I ever lost, my health risks would be far less than they were. (And having lost nearly that much---in 4 months!-this has proven correct.)

But "good enough" and "lowered risks" aren't enough for me. While lowered risks were a huge motivator, so was getting to a weight where I am comfortable in my body. Having been thin (though the memory fades with each passing year), I have a good idea where comfortable lies. And that is what I'm aiming for.

I may find, along the way, that it's appropriate to stop a bit sooner than I anticipate; the number I chose is based on a low I've achieved in the past, but I know that if I hit about 9 pounds more, I will be at a weight where I long maintained (and looked and felt good). If I get there and feel that it's the right spot, I will work to maintain at that weight.

For what it's worth, I'm much more active now than I was then---but I'm also lots older, with a far crankier metabolism!

As for extra skin---well, pregnancies, nursing, and gaining and losing weight have wrought havoc with my skin. But having it plumped full of fat doesn't really make it any less horrifying! My skin is a concern--but not enough of a concern to hold me back in terms of losing. That's what plastic surgeons are for. (I'm pleased to see that some parts of my body are rebounding far better than I expected. Others are terrifying at this point--but when I get down to a low BMI, things will be very different....and then is when I will make the decision.)

[leroyspuds 0]

I'm 5'1" with a large frame. I set my goal at the highest weight in the "normal" BMI category, which is 132. In three months I've lost 25 or the 62 pounds I should lose. I'd be satisfied at 140# though. I can live with being a little overweight, but not obese. It's been fun to be able to say to myself "goodbye 190's, goodbye 180's, goodbye 170's." Can't wait to kiss 60's and 50's goodbye!

[LeighaMason 19]

At the beginning I was scared of being disappointed so I set my goal at 150, BMI 25. But once I saw that this was going to work I decided that since underweight started at 119, I could add 11 pounds to be fit so I went with 130, BMI 21.6. That should be enough for a grown woman not to look like a teen, however, I would like to state that if I never lost another pound and stayed here at 144, BMI 24 I would still be thrilled to death.