BMI - Where did you (or where do you plan to) stop?
grandmothercharlie
Posts: 1,356 Member
My question is mostly to all you successful people who are on maintenance. How did you decide to stop? What is the BMI you finally chose? I am also interested though to know how you who aren't there are deciding!
I went to my family doctor today and he was thrilled with my weight loss. I began this journey at 45 BMI or 238 pounds (I lost a little before coming to MFP). When setting my goal I was thinking I wanted to weigh 130 (24.6 BMI) and then changed it to 115 (21.7). I picked that goal as that is where I was always happiest and it was just about mid-range for me in the healthy zone (97.9-132.3 lbs.).
I have been reading more and more that after 60 years old, we actually will extend our lives more if we are a little "overweight" rather than in the "healthy" range. (Not so under the age of 60). So I have been very confused.
My doctor said he would agree that after 60 we would be better to have some additional weight and he would have no problems if I stopped where I am at 148.5; but, as long as I was feeling healthy, I could go a little lower. I told him I had thought 115 and he said, "No way!" I suggested 130 and he said he would suggest 135-140. He said the main thing is how I feel. I told him that I feel healthy and strong -- more so than I have in years! I haven't really had any serious colds or flu and what I have had, I've fought off in a few days. My RA is in remission. My ejection fraction for my heart is all the way up to 60. I seldom have any aches, pains or maladies except for this darn constipation since I started dieting. The only thing that we are testing tomorrow is my glucose as it has been a while, but I don't anticipate any problems as I never have had any.
I see my cardiologist next week and plan to ask him the same thing! In the meantime, where did you all stop as far as your BMI is concerned? Did you pick a weight, a size, or did you just "know?"
I went to my family doctor today and he was thrilled with my weight loss. I began this journey at 45 BMI or 238 pounds (I lost a little before coming to MFP). When setting my goal I was thinking I wanted to weigh 130 (24.6 BMI) and then changed it to 115 (21.7). I picked that goal as that is where I was always happiest and it was just about mid-range for me in the healthy zone (97.9-132.3 lbs.).
I have been reading more and more that after 60 years old, we actually will extend our lives more if we are a little "overweight" rather than in the "healthy" range. (Not so under the age of 60). So I have been very confused.
My doctor said he would agree that after 60 we would be better to have some additional weight and he would have no problems if I stopped where I am at 148.5; but, as long as I was feeling healthy, I could go a little lower. I told him I had thought 115 and he said, "No way!" I suggested 130 and he said he would suggest 135-140. He said the main thing is how I feel. I told him that I feel healthy and strong -- more so than I have in years! I haven't really had any serious colds or flu and what I have had, I've fought off in a few days. My RA is in remission. My ejection fraction for my heart is all the way up to 60. I seldom have any aches, pains or maladies except for this darn constipation since I started dieting. The only thing that we are testing tomorrow is my glucose as it has been a while, but I don't anticipate any problems as I never have had any.
I see my cardiologist next week and plan to ask him the same thing! In the meantime, where did you all stop as far as your BMI is concerned? Did you pick a weight, a size, or did you just "know?"
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Hi Charlie.
Right from the start I choose 140 (BMI 23.3). How I arrived at that number....I'm taller than you, 5’5" and was 120 at 18. The next time I was that weight, in my early 30's, I looked and felt like death warmed over. So I knew that was too low. The last time I was 140 pounds, I felt ok with myself. Like you, I had read about the advice to be slightly over in weight after the age of 60. I decided that I would do that and then spend a year in maintenance before making any other decisions. I am now half way through my year in maintenance and still think I had a good plan...for me. I have just put up my calories as my average weight is slightly below my range.
From both my own experience and from reading, I think having a plan in advance is a good idea. There are a few psychological things that can happen at goal that make planning ahead a good idea. Our self image needs some time to adjust to the new us. There are the "perks" of losing weight that one no longer gets. Eg meeting weight lose goals, compliments, new sizes.
It is great that you are consulting with your docs and they seem to be helpful. It's wonderful that you feel good because you look good!
Wanda
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...There are the "perks" of losing weight that one no longer gets. Eg meeting weight lose goals, compliments, new sizes. ...
You have brought up something I never thought about! It is true! There are perks. I have said right along that maintenance is harder than losing, but I never thought about it for those reasons.
I really appreciate this advice, Wanda. You have been so successful and inspiring!0 -
Great topic, Charlie --- and very interesting about being over 60 and keeping a little extra weight. My first goal is to move into the "normal" category for BMI, rather than obese - I will be thrilled with that! But I think it will have to be how I feel that determines the actual goal. I set 126 as an arbitrary goal because when I was younger that was a good weight for me ... but if I don't get there and just get close, that's ok. My real goal is to weigh less than my husband!
(Not an easy task - he is slim and not that tall.) ~ Kathy 0 -
@mchana: There is a "overweight" range (25-30 bmi) between obese and healthy (normal). That is the range my doctor and the articles are all showing. I am already in the "overweight" range at 28.1. That is why he suggested stopping now.
Here is an excerpt from an article on Livestrong (http://www.livestrong.com/article/305703-the-ideal-weight-for-older-people/):
"The overweight designation -- a BMI between 25 and 29.9 -- is an indicator of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk in younger adults, but in seniors, that trend appears to reverse. A Yale study conducted in 2001 using the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's U.S. Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults found no correlation between seniors who were mildly overweight and increased mortality rates. In fact, study participants labeled overweight had lower mortality rates than those in the acceptable range, suggesting that the ideal weight for seniors, as measured by BMI, is perhaps too restrictive."
Vanity makes it hard to stop there though. So part of the question is: Am I doing this to look good, or to live longer and be healthy?0 -
One of the reasons given by US gov't. is that keeping weight lower as we age often leads to improper nutrition.0
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It is also mentioned in some articles that as we get older, our risk of other diseases like cancer is greater. If we have to have chemo, it often causes weight loss. Weighing a little more gives us a "cushion" (no pun intended) to survive the treatments should that happen.0
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grandmothercharlie wrote: »It is also mentioned in some articles that as we get older, our risk of other diseases like cancer is greater. ..... Weighing a little more gives us a "cushion" (no pun intended) to survive the treatments should that happen.
The spare weight argument is one I have heard, for common debilitating illness like 'flu for instance.
I have no set BMI, except normal, I am aiming around 12 stones [168 pounds], I know if I go lower I look gaunt, so comfortable at 12 stones area
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I just decided to stick to 8 stone 7 lbs because that takes me to a size 10 and because I feel good at that weight...it takes my BMI to normal and my waist to below 31 inches......good for heart health. I see my doctor once a year for a thyroid blood test and have never had any other tests ... I guess you all have alot more of those in the USA....our National Health Service would never cope!
So I plan to stick just below my goal .....
Jean0 -
grandmothercharlie wrote: »@mchana: There is a "overweight" range (25-30 bmi) between obese and healthy (normal). That is the range my doctor and the articles are all showing. I am already in the "overweight" range at 28.1. That is why he suggested stopping now.
That's right, thanks - I forgot about that! I am already basking in the glory of being merely overweight. I do want to hit that normal range. Good point about our motivation - mine was definitely for health reasons but, as the weight comes off and the clothes fit better, it does become tempting to go for the vanity.0 -
That's right, thanks - I forgot about that! I am already basking in the glory of being merely overweight. I do want to hit that normal range. Good point about our motivation - mine was definitely for health reasons but, as the weight comes off and the clothes fit better, it does become tempting to go for the vanity.
I think no longer being obese and just overweight is a goal in itself, as is hitting "onederland" where the first digit on the scale is a one not a two
Another good thing about clothes, when you get there, is putting on one of your old shirts or trousers and seeing just how big they are on your new "normal weight" body, and knowing you did that by your own efforts, it is so worth it and you can do it, really
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Oh, I agree that being overweight is a great goal -- I was so excited when I was no longer obese -- as I was when I hit onderland, but I don't think "overweight" seems to be anyone's ultimate goal. I have set goals all along this journey, but I'm talking about how to decide where to stop finally. I think vanity is sort of winning here, not science. I must admit, after all this work, I would like to look the best I can look, but...I originally thought I was doing this to be healthier!0
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