# How much do you need to lose to reach your ideal weight? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 30, 2013, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-need-to-lose-to-reach-your-ideal-weight/664916 "2013-07-30T16:12:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-need-to-lose-to-reach-your-ideal-weight/664916/41 "2013-08-02T00:48:30Z")
I’d like to lose somewhere between, oh, 10-15 pounds? Not because I’m overweight, but because I really just need to start eating better. Stop skipping meals or eating out of boredom. I’m about 5’2 and maybe, 143lbs. Skipping meals may sound counter productive, but for me I’d be like, “eh, I don’t feel like eating breakfast/lunch/dinner” or whatever, and then I’d be more likely to end up eating junk food later. Or I won’t be hungry, but I’ll be bored, there’s nothing on TV and it’s like, “oh hey, we have Cheetos”. I think that’s a major issue people don’t think about. I’ll splurge a little bit here and there, but it’s usually just one big thing on a special occasion. Like we went out to eat last weekend when my cousin came in from out of town. I knew I wanted dessert, so instead of an entree, I just went to the salad bar. I also try to eat slowly when it’s something I really love, so I feel full faster. Good luck, peeps. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-need-to-lose-to-reach-your-ideal-weight/664916/42 "2013-08-02T01:59:29Z")
I’m 6’ and weigh 270. I’m trying to get to 180. ---
**Author:** ![vix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a88e4f/32.png) [@vix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vix)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-need-to-lose-to-reach-your-ideal-weight/664916/43 "2013-08-02T02:21:58Z")
I’m about 13 pounds down from when I started trying to lose weight, and I’d like to lose another 10. I’m lazy about it, so it’s taking forever. I’m ok with that. ---
**Author:** ![KinkiNipponTourist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9bcb4/32.png) [@KinkiNipponTourist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KinkiNipponTourist)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2013, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-need-to-lose-to-reach-your-ideal-weight/664916/44 "2013-08-03T11:03:17Z")
I’m 5"2’ and hit 158lbs last fall. I’m down to 129 and would like to hit 120. I’m on the DHC Protein Diet, and drink two protein shakes in place of two meals a day. I’m kind of like Guinistasia in that sometimes I’m ‘meh’ about eating, and at least this way I get some nutrition instead of skipping altogether. ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-need-to-lose-to-reach-your-ideal-weight/664916/45 "2013-08-05T05:18:03Z")
I’m almost 50, medium to small frame and 5’ 2". Lately my weight fluctuates between 122 -124lbs when I weigh myself in the morning. I’d like to lose 10-15lbs. I know it may sound crazy to some, but I feel better when I am under 120. More than anything I want to build more muscle and feel more toned. In 2010 I hit (my) maximum density and ballooned out to 163lbs. I lost 40 lbs in a period of a little over a year with exercise and dietary changes. I did not go on a “diet.” It was plainly just letting go of dumb habits such as – ice cream anytime I wanted, way too much bread and carbs, seconds, sweets every day…etc. The weight crept up slowly…at first, but there came a point when I was absolutely miserable in my own skin. My knees and feet hurt and I couldn’t run 1/8 of a mile without feeling like my heart was going to explode. These last 10lbs are a bitch to lose. I’m frustrated. The only way I will be able to reach my goals is to do exactly what I did last time. I’ve kept up the good diet changes, but I have not been exercising on a regular basis. ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-need-to-lose-to-reach-your-ideal-weight/664916/46 "2013-08-05T12:11:28Z")
I am in a healthy weight range for my height, but I answered the poll that I could lose 5lbs. I am a target member of my slimming club (lost 35lbs to get there) but I am consistently at the top of the target range as I’m allowed 3lbs either side of my stated target. So at the moment, I need to lose 3lbs to get back to my proper target, and a couple more would give me a nice buffer before I go on holiday! ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-need-to-lose-to-reach-your-ideal-weight/664916/47 "2013-08-05T13:53:04Z")
Male here. My highest weight was 245. I’ve been hovering between 205 and 210 for the last 3 years or so. If I’m able to get down to 185 I’d be very happy, but 200 seems to be my wall. ---
**Author:** ![panaccione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-need-to-lose-to-reach-your-ideal-weight/664916/48 "2013-08-05T23:58:12Z")
5-10 pounds, give or take. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-need-to-lose-to-reach-your-ideal-weight/664916/49 "2013-08-06T00:05:40Z")
> [@Cinnamon\_Imp](#): > > I’d be happy losing another 20lbs, but the effing [BMI calculator](http://bmicalc.org/bmi-calculator-for-women) tells me I could lose over 60lbs before I verge on underweight. Feck that. > [@](#): > > Based on 1985 NIH recommendation Any chance those goal posts needed some adjusting in the past 30 years? I’m 5’9", 160, and I’m happy with the weight I am. I’d like to get rid of the last bit of beer belly, but that can turn into muscle (or spread itself around, I’m not choosy). ---
**Author:** ![OurLordPeace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e8c25b/32.png) [@OurLordPeace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OurLordPeace)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-need-to-lose-to-reach-your-ideal-weight/664916/50 "2013-08-07T03:43:56Z")
I’m one of the very few underweight Americans. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-need-to-lose-to-reach-your-ideal-weight/664916/51 "2013-08-07T04:03:42Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > Male here. My highest weight was 245. I’ve been hovering between 205 and 210 for the last 3 years or so. If I’m able to get down to 185 I’d be very happy, but 200 seems to be my wall. I know what that’s like. I’m there right now. Dropping the first 25 pounds was easy, but getting significantly below 240 is going to painful. Once in the last 20 years I made it down to 220. I haven’t been below 200 pounds since the 11th grade. If I can get to 225 in the next year I’ll be ecstatic. I have no idea how I can maintain that once I get there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-need-to-lose-to-reach-your-ideal-weight/664916.md?page=2)