5 replies to this topic

[claudia12]

I checked the BMI tool on the home page here. My goal weight, 150, still lists me as overweight. I don't have large bones but when I take walks and diet I have gotten to 150 begore. At that weight, I can wear size 10-12 clothes (usually size 12). In my 20s, I weighed 130 but now I would have to starve to maintain that weight. I do strongly believe my metabolism has slowed and I simply can't exercise more than 4 times a week for about an hour each time and get my heart rate to target levels.

So do most of you go by the BMI charts or not?

[ocmimi]

When I selected my goal weight of 140, I'm 5' 2 1/2" tall, I didn't realize that a weight of 140 was just getting me out of the overweight range. Can I go below 140, probably not, since it took me just over a year to reach that goal weight. Then, I went on a cruise and ate more than I should have during the holidays, so I immediately put back on 7 pounds. My body wants to be around the weight I am now, so it is difficult for me to re-lose these last 7 pounds. To answer your question, I will still keep trying to get to goal because it is important to me to get to a healthy BMI.

Good luck to you.

[happineff]

Lots of us set our goal weight at what we feel is comfortable and maintainable, which is perfectly fine. I feel that the BMI index is a little unrealistic. (I've even heard some call it a downright outdated and does not take into account body frame.) If I went by BMI it would put me at 135, which I have NEVER been in my adult life EVER! I set my goal at 160 because that was where I was in high school as a healthy active athlete. Ultimately, choose a goal weight that is realistic and appealing to YOU!

[Susanjt]

I agree with Hannah. There is a lot of discussion out there about BMI and how it doesn't take into account a lot of things (muscularity, frame size). At the top end of my BMI range, I would only be about 15% or little more body fat (based on a lot of BF measurements I've done at different weights). That very low for a woman (in the athletic range). When they set up the BMI, they said this will be so much better than a weight range. I soon as I saw how they calculated it, I saw that it IS a weight range with just some math thrown in - it all converts back to a weight range if you reverse the math. I set my BMI in the overweight range because it makes sense for my body and it's realistic to maintain the weight I've set.

Susan

[I Called Jenny]

At 5'2 and weighing between 130 and 132, I am BARELY in the "normal" range. I'm a size 6!!!

Somehow or other, I don't think you should focus that much on the BMI because obviously it doesn't take into account MANY things.

Eat, exercise, drink water and get healthy. Just don't put all of your feelings of "success" into your BMI rating. There are too many variables for a standard "test" to make it valid - at least for me.

[jennybeth]

Ok, just to show that it IS all relative...I am easily in the normal range (22 bmi) but am overweight for me! My clothes are tight, it's harder to work out and I don't feel as good as when I'm both 10 pounds lighter and around a high-teen BMI. So,I think Susan is on to something when she writes that BMI and weight ranges are pretty interchangeable and, as Hannah writes, it's all comes down to our individual needs and feelings, knowing ourselves and our bodies.