Am I at a healthy weight?

MayaSPapaya

I'm 5'3 and 145 pounds. I've been stuck here for a while (I think it may be because I'm on the pill). Is this an ok weight to stay at?

Sabine_Stroehm

It's more than I would want to weigh. But only you can decide if you're at the weight you want. It's on the "cusp" of over weight by BMI standards. How do you feel? How do you look to yourself?

If you've been "stuck", but want to lose more, maybe it's time to adjust your calories again?

Maxematics

You're right on the normal/overweight threshold, but how do you feel? If you're stuck for a while, depending on how long, it's not because of the pill; you have to increase your calorie deficit.

LBuehrle8

I'm 5'2.5" and I'm 139 currently. I feel my best between 115 and 120 lbs. How do you feel? What are the lowest and highest weights you have been?

Kettle_Belle14

Weight isn't everything. How do you feel? How are your labs? Maybe you can take measurements and check your waist to hip ratio.

Personally, I'm 5'5 and my goal has always been 125. BUT once I got there I found it very hard to maintain, I'm pretty sure my body likes me a little heavier, and I'd rather be between 130-135 easily maintained than struggle at 125. It's ultimately up to you.

Lleldiranne

Just the number on the scale isn't going to make or break your health. Many other factors come in, and you can be right on that cusp and be perfectly healthy.

Have you had recent bloodwork done? (Cholesterol and possibly A1C). Are you sedentary or somewhat active, including regular exercise? Do you have enough energy for your daily activities? Are you happy with how you look and feel?

I actually feel pretty good right at the top of the "normal" BMI, with body fat probably in the lower 20% range. Some people prefer the way they look and feel lower in that range (that's part of why it's fairly big range). So, whether you want/need to lose more weight or not is up to you and maybe your doctor. (And, as far as the pill, it can mess with your appetite and make it a bit harder to lose, but it's still all about CICO)

rainbowbow

I personally prefer to be on the lower end of the healthy BMI range as it's where i feel and look my best.

I'm 5'3 and a 1/2 (gotta count that half inch!)
I look and feel best around 113-116 pounds.


If you have to ask the question "is it okay" it sounds like you have doubts and don't feel it's your best weight. My opinion would be to lose until you feel the most comfortable and happy in your own skin. Also, just FYI- It's not your birth control.

MayaSPapaya

I mean I feel great, and I think I look great. Here's a pic.

Originally my goal was 130, so I'm just getting frustated I'm not reaching it. I'm still at a deficit, so I should be slowly losing still.

caratayloruk

I think you look great. I'm the same height as you and my goal was 133 but now I'm reassessing that as I'm currently 150 and think if i lost another 17lb I'd look too thin as I've a large frame. I'm now thinking that between 140 and 145 may be where i look my best

As long as you are happy with your weight and how you look then there is no reason you can't stay where you are

ardenspark

I think you look great!! Why don't you maintain for a bit and reassess whether you want to lose more later.

ajc1309

I'm 5'3 and am happiest and feel I look best between 126lbs - 133lbs. But like other people have said, it's what you think and feel that matters. I think you look great.

chimaerandi

I think you look great! I'm 5'3'' and 140, but I maintained at 145 for a year, and honestly if I never lose another pound, it'll be fine. It's easy sometimes, I think, to feel like other people's goals need to be your own, but remember that this is YOUR body and YOUR journey, and if you feel great, there's no reason to assume you're somehow doing it wrong.

runningalice

Homestly you look great! And if you are happy it doesnt matter! You may have lots of muscle rather than fat and that weighs more

Nysportsred

I'm 5'10 and 190 so I always ask the same question. I got my waist from a 40 to a 36.5 though so I have been going by that. The doctor said anything over (for men) a 37 is considered risky. Maybe clothing size can help you figure it out? Just don't go overboard. Too many people I know went and made themselves skin and bones and are unhappier now than when they were a "normal" weight.

Springfield1970

This is a question only you can answer. I can't tell what kind of body composition you have due to the black dress covering up.
If you feel firm, strong and smooth lined and YOU are happy then the chances are you are in good shape.
If, however you feel lumpy and wobbly and uncomfortable in your clothes then I would cut some more fat.

You are still lovely though. Don't mind my candour, but it's good to get lots of opinions.
I believe in lower body weights and fat percentages for health.

Ladybird1103

You look good at your weight. I'm the same height as you, and my goal weight is 140. I've been lower, but it was never something I could maintain. That is the key, you don't want to live your life perpetually trying to lose weight. Maintaining is hard enough!

Honestly if I had to guess your weight from your picture/height, I would say 125, so I think your frame carries it well. Same with me, I look good/feel good at 140ish.

SingRunTing

Technically, 145lbs at 5'3" is overweight. The normal BMI starts at 139lbs for that height.

What matters more is your body fat % and how you feel.

peleroja

Springfield1970 wrote: »

This is a question only you can answer. I can't tell what kind of body composition you have due to the black dress covering up.
If you feel firm, strong and smooth lined and YOU are happy then the chances are you are in good shape.
If, however you feel lumpy and wobbly and uncomfortable in your clothes then I would cut some more fat.

You are still lovely though. Don't mind my candour, but it's good to get lots of opinions.
I believe in lower body weights and fat percentages for health.

This is where I'd land on this subject. 145 at 5'4" was my highest weight and it was not a good weight on me because I'm pretty small-framed (my ribcage/underbust measurement is about 27", for example, and I have narrow shoulders and wrists too) and don't have a ton of muscle mass. I looked okay in clothes and most would probably not have called me overweight, but I was soft and definitely looked overfat in a swimsuit or without clothes.

I do a lot more exercise now, both cardio and strength, and sitting around 118 lbs looks a lot more aesthetically pleasing to me, especially without clothing. My body fat percentage is now into the athlete range as well, as well as I can estimate via calipers/visually (I've never had a DEXA or anything so take that with a grain of salt, though.)

I was "healthy" per my doctor at both weights but now I'm stronger, leaner, and feel like I look better now. I say all this, though, with the understanding that that might not be the case at all for someone with more muscle or a larger bone structure. The reason that the "healthy" BMI range exists is to account for people of different frames/musculature/etc., so for some people the low end might not be suitable.

Edited to add: Here are two shots of my heaviest weight vs my current one (apologies for the paint but it's the one with the least clothing I could find):

At about 145lbs:



And at 118:

I think you can tell I didn't carry the extra very well and that even at a relatively low weight I'm not really "skinny" (although the photo was also pre- much exercise so I think I look better-muscled now.)

karmelpopcorn

I think you look great! Stay where you are for awhile and gear up to lose more if you want, but maintaining here might be a worthwhile endeavor for now.

blues4miles

My question for you would be...are you questioning further weight loss because you feel really good? Or because you feel tired of struggling to lose more weight?

I'd be more worried if it was the latter. You could always go on a maintenance break for a couple months and then try to lose again. But if you have been trying to lose and are at a plateau that could backfire, because probably something is off with your logging and if you just increase without addressing that you'll start to put weight back on.

trjjoy

caratayloruk wrote: »

if i lost another 17lb I'd look too thin as I've a large frame.

You don't have a large frame.

trjjoy

I am also 1.63m and 58kg is what I am aiming for. That will give me a nice BMI of just under 22. Perhaps go down to 60kg by adjusting your calorie intake and/or exercise and see how you feel then.

caratayloruk

trjjoy wrote: »

caratayloruk wrote: »

if i lost another 17lb I'd look too thin as I've a large frame.

You don't have a large frame.

That's funny because as I'm 5 foot 3 and have a wrist circumference of just shy of 7 inches every frame calculator puts me at a large frame. Unless you've a different one?

trjjoy

You are measuring bone AND fat. Don't buy into the "I have big bones" myth. Have a look at the "success stories" threads. You'll see that losing excess body weight transforms one's body.

Kristin2626

BMI isn't perfect. I feel terrible when I am a healthy BMI -- if you want a better idea, buy calipers and figure out your body fat % -- they're really cheap on Amazon.

chastity0921

If you feel good at 145, stay there. I mean, its 6 lbs to a healthy BMI. Is it really worth it if you like your body, and 145 is an easier weight to maintain?

I've seen so many people try to lose that last 5 lbs and then feel miserable trying to maintain it, and gain back way more. I've been that person. So, yes, this is a question only you can answer.

cafeaulait7

trjjoy wrote: »

You are measuring bone AND fat. Don't buy into the "I have big bones" myth. Have a look at the "success stories" threads. You'll see that losing excess body weight transforms one's body.

Do you believe anyone has a large frame, though?

I'm in the middle of the healthy BMI range for my height, but I really do have a wide frame. It's why my ribs are very visible even though I'm not skinny. I have wide shoulders (bones, not delts. I want more delts!) and a wide ribcage, like certain breeds of dogs, lol.

arditarose

Your decision. You're on the higher end of a healthy weight but if you're happy, that's cool. I'm 5'4" and definitely was not satisfied with 145 (though I'm almost 145 again, but that is after running a bulk and gaining muscle-I will cut back down to the 130s)

victoria_1024

You could always maintain for a while and see how it goes! There's no reason why you can't start trying to lose again in a few months.

I'm 5'2.5" (that half inch is important, lol) and when I got to 137, which is the top end of a healthy BMI for my height, I went into maintenance for a while. I was perfectly happy at that weight. Felt good, looked good. After a couple months I decided I wanted to lose a little more. I lost about 5 more pounds and I was honestly surprised at what a huge difference those 5 pounds made! I lost 2 dress sizes with those 5 pounds and the comments from people about my weight loss started back up again. Let me tell you, those 5 pounds took a lot more effort than the first 75! I want to lose another 5 but I think maintaining between 130-135 may be a good range for me.

remingtonrosspro

I think you look great. My wife is 5' and has often struggled with her weight, but honestly I think she looks best right around 120lbs. Any less and she starts to lose her natural assets. For your height I would shoot for the 135-145 lb range. Even if your on the pill, if you've plateaued then you need to reduce your daily caloric goal. Eating more frequent smaller meals throughout the day will help keep your metabolism in high gear when compared to less frequent larger meals. Also try a scoop of casein protein in between meals or before bed and a scoop of whey protein first thing in the morning upon waking

chandanista

cafeaulait7 wrote: »

trjjoy wrote: »

You are measuring bone AND fat. Don't buy into the "I have big bones" myth. Have a look at the "success stories" threads. You'll see that losing excess body weight transforms one's body.

Do you believe anyone has a large frame, though?

I'm in the middle of the healthy BMI range for my height, but I really do have a wide frame. It's why my ribs are very visible even though I'm not skinny. I have wide shoulders (bones, not delts. I want more delts!) and a wide ribcage, like certain breeds of dogs, lol.

Yeah big boned really is a thing. Different breeds of dogs is a great way to illustrate it! From what I understand of the wrist test, if I measured it anywhere other than the bone --no fat there--I'd be doing it wrong. I am 5'6" which puts my healthy BMI at something like 120-150. So why I felt so great in this picture at 26.6 BMI:

That's 165 pounds and, IMO, I was pretty proportionate. Could I have lost more and hardened up my stomach? Yes, but due to my body type I felt I looked acceptable while still technically overweight. I was in great shape and ran my first half marathon. I do attribute some of the look to heavy weight lifting but obviously I didn't gain muscle on the deficite.

Anyway to the OP. If you want to take a maintenance break nothing is stopping you. Eat to maintain and stay active for a while. If you feel the need to try again in a few weeks or months then go for it!