What weight to aim for?

[Damekitty]

I’m in my sixties and just been diagnosed prediabetic. I weigh 15 and a half stone. What would be a good and doable weight to diet to without leaving me with loose skin? I was thinking 11 stone?

it depends how tall you are too. If you're 5ft 1 that's still quite overweight but if you're 5ft 8 it'll put you at healthy weight. What's the upper range of your healthy BMI range? Start by loosing any weight then see where you feel happy and healthier.

Top of a healthy BMI to start.

It will depend on your shape, apple then maybe a bit more towards the lower end of a healthy BMI. Pear might be healthy nearer the top.

I started at BMI 40 and am now about 33, that's 50lb gone. I have no loose skin yet. I assume you need to get to between 20 and 25, didn't the clinic give you any guidance?

I’m 5ft 7. I haven’t been offered a clinic.
Good to know that you can lose 50lb and have no loose skin.
Top of a healthy bmi sounds a good plan, I’ll look it up.
Thanks.

I aimed for bang in the middle of my BMI target. Did it slowly and no loose skin (apart from bingo wings which look better with skin than they did as pork sausages)

Top of the normal BMI range. How tall are you?
Loose skin is a genetic issue more than a weight loss issue.
Stay well hydrated, and maybe consider collagen suppliments.

Who diagnosed you then? I assumed it was the GP, at the clinic

I was diagnosed at the surgery but haven’t been offered a specific diabetes or weight loss clinic.

11 stone is a good goal, it will put you in the top end of healthy bmi. See how you feel at 11 stone. I’ve lost nearly 3 stone recently aged 57 and feel so much happier. Meal plan and grocery shop (don’t buy junk, if it’s not in the house you can’t eat it). Set mini goals of 7 lbs at a time. Try to enjoy the process, see it as a positive process not a punishment. Best of luck.

Yes I’m trying to look at it as an adventure!

Ive lost about 100Ibs and have tons of loose skin!
It does depend alot on genetics, age, wether you have lost yoyo dieted before and changed size alot. Many factors...

I will say I would take the loose skin over the fat any day of the week! Its worth it for the improved physical fitness, mental health and not to mention nicer clothes!😅

I've lost 6 stone over the past four years, 1st on my own and 5 st on injectables over the past year. From a size 18/20 to 8/10, BMI now around 21-22. My method is working out my TDEE and then going into calorie deficit, massively helped by the appetite suppressing effect of the injectables of course.
I'm 51 and feel bloody amazing, so healthy and happy. I don't have masses of loose skin now, less than I thought and in fact I would say pretty similar to friends my age who were always slim. Gravity comes for us all, but to what extent is individual. I haven't been religious about moisturizing but pretty good at taking collagen and Omega3.
Please don't let concerns about loose skin stand in your way. It's not dangerous whereas being overweight is. Best of luck to you.

I’m 56. I’ve read somewhere that post menopausal women’s bmi should be lower to
account for muscle loss. I’d be aiming at least mid range healthy bmi not top

the effects of poorly controlled diabetes are horrific and I’d be looking at mid range bmi rather than top. Nobody’s going to congratulate your lack of loose skin in your coffin 😜

Whether you have loose skin will depend on how much elasticity you have in your skin and not how much weight you lose. Age and genetics is what is going to determine how much loose skin you have.

11 stone will bring you to the top of 'healthy weight' for that height so is a good level to aim for. But set mini goals and reassess as you achieve them.

Good luck on your weight loss adventure OP. I started at 17st 5lbs at my heaviest, I'm now 11st 11lbs and still losing. I'm shorter than you by quite a bit. I agree start by working out your current BMI and go from there. Mine started as a BMI of about 44 and it's now 29 I realise that's still overweight BUT having started out as morbidly obese (or very obese as the NHS so gently put it) it feels like a big achievement to be "only" overweight. I am of course aiming for healthy weight hence still losing! I've gone from a size 20 to a size 12 which I'm really proud of. No injectables, no fillers etc, just calorie deficit and a bit more walking. Some very slight lose skin on my tummy and neck but only noticeable to me if I really look for it. As everyone says- far better that than what I had before. The health benefits are so worth it!

Loose skin is about the type of skin you have. I have extremely thin, non elastic type skin with lots of stretch marks, cue - tons of loose skin all wrinkly after big weight loss. It makes no odds how fast or slow, what exercises you do, what creams you use, your skin is the type it is

What I cannot fathom is why you would be worrying about tht more than the effect of obesity on your organs and frame. Loose skin can be dressed around and covered up. Your health should be the priority.

What clinic are you referring to, or do you mean GP surgery?

Most people just get a notification that their readings are high and are prediabetic, sometimes just by text.

Theres no fancy clinic! (usually)

Just for a counter to the people berating you for aiming for the top of your bmi. I was 14st12 and went down to 10st12. The last four pounds were a fight and took me a solid six weeks. My body did not want to be lower than that and that was the top of my range. I looked and felt perfectly healthy. You are taller than me so would probably be below top end if you got to 11 st. As long as you start feeling healthier that is the main thing. Oh and I had no loose skin to worry about.

Depends on your body type as well. I am going for BMI 24 as I do not look that great lower than that in all honesty, I start to look strange I think. This is because I carry my weight predominantly on my thighs so the rest of me gets really straggly I look a bit gaunt and tired. BMI 24 seems to work in that I still look healthy. Also it’s really hard to STAY at a lower weight so I have a good amount of flex between 24 and 25 before I become over weight again. I’ve spent the past 6 months (total 18 months!) trying to lose the last of my weight and I am tired of it now! I am 5’5 and my goal weight is 10st 6lbs. I’m a size 10 and fit into size small clothes in a supermarket/primark. So I am fine with that! I’ve lost nearly 5st and the only loose skin I have is on my inner thighs when I walk and I don’t care about it, it’s better than being overweight by a mile! I work out and walk regularly and this has helped with my skin.

good luck 🤞🏼

Thanks to all the helpful contributors.