Normal BMI 18.5-24.9

chrs86

For a normal BMI I should weigh between 122p and 164p. I started at 195p with a low carb high protein diet and only lost nine pounds in two months 7 days a week at the gym. I eventually gave up the protein goal of 1g per pound so I could reach my goal weight of 160p and lost 20 pounds in about a month. After I got to my goal weight I stopped going to the gym and gained 6lbs in three weeks. So now I don't want to stay so close to the highest BMI before I go overweight. I don't want to be a twig either though. I was thinking of going for 145 pound goal but the only time I weighed that much I was 14 and I looked highly malnourished. Where in the range would you recommend I set my goal weight and not look to slim?

crista_b

It's very hard to do at first, but ignore the scale and BMI number. Go by measurements and body fat % instead. If you do it this way, you're more likely to be healthy, and when you reach your goal, you're less likely to be "skinny fat".

deksgrl

BMI isn't the best method because it doesn't take into account muscle mass / body fat %. Pick a projected weight based on a healthy body fat percentage instead. There are charts for healthy body fat % depending on your personal goals, and calculators which will project what your weight will be at the desired body fat %.

cwolfman13

BMI is for the birds. According to BMI, I'm overweight, even though I'm at a perfectly healthy and acceptable BF%...and I'm not like super ripped or anything.

crista_b

BMI isn't the best method because it doesn't take into account muscle mass / body fat %. Pick a projected weight based on a healthy body fat percentage instead. There are charts for healthy body fat % depending on your personal goals, and calculators which will project what your weight will be at the desired body fat %.

Do you have any links to those calculators? I've been trying to find some but can't.

deksgrl

BMI isn't the best method because it doesn't take into account muscle mass / body fat %. Pick a projected weight based on a healthy body fat percentage instead. There are charts for healthy body fat % depending on your personal goals, and calculators which will project what your weight will be at the desired body fat %.

Do you have any links to those calculators? I've been trying to find some but can't.

http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/ibw/

NewMnky1

Losing and maintaing weight takes work. Once you reach your goal you can't just stop exercising or eating right and think you will maintain it, try starting to exercise again, it may help, plus it keeps you healthy!

crista_b

BMI isn't the best method because it doesn't take into account muscle mass / body fat %. Pick a projected weight based on a healthy body fat percentage instead. There are charts for healthy body fat % depending on your personal goals, and calculators which will project what your weight will be at the desired body fat %.

Do you have any links to those calculators? I've been trying to find some but can't.

http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/ibw/

Thanks!

chrs86

Thanks for the suggestions! I was going to ask how to figure the body fat %. Thanks again:)

erickirb

BMI isn't the best method because it doesn't take into account muscle mass / body fat %. Pick a projected weight based on a healthy body fat percentage instead. There are charts for healthy body fat % depending on your personal goals, and calculators which will project what your weight will be at the desired body fat %.

Do you have any links to those calculators? I've been trying to find some but can't.

My issue with these calculators is they assume you wont lose any LBM but in most cases 10-25% of your loss will come from LBM, depending on protein intake, size of deficit, genetics, strength training program, etc.

alladream

Hmm, that site *could* be helpful, but since I don't know the current body fat and it doesn't project without it, I just filled in a ton of guesses and saw what they suggested. Maybe there are others somewhere else--

BMI isn't the best method because it doesn't take into account muscle mass / body fat %. Pick a projected weight based on a healthy body fat percentage instead. There are charts for healthy body fat % depending on your personal goals, and calculators which will project what your weight will be at the desired body fat %.

Do you have any links to those calculators? I've been trying to find some but can't.

http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/ibw/

crista_b

BMI isn't the best method because it doesn't take into account muscle mass / body fat %. Pick a projected weight based on a healthy body fat percentage instead. There are charts for healthy body fat % depending on your personal goals, and calculators which will project what your weight will be at the desired body fat %.

Do you have any links to those calculators? I've been trying to find some but can't.

My issue with these calculators is they assume you wont lose any LBM but in most cases 10-25% of your loss will come from LBM, depending on protein intake, size of deficit, genetics, strength training program, etc.

Yeah. I assume they aren't super accurate since it's an estimation of a future weight. It's just a good place to start. I'd like to get to around 23% BF, but when setting goals on stuff like MFP, it asks for a goal weight and I had no clue what would be a good estimate to put.

crista_b

Hmm, that site *could* be helpful, but since I don't know the current body fat and it doesn't project without it, I just filled in a ton of guesses and saw what they suggested. Maybe there are others somewhere else--

BMI isn't the best method because it doesn't take into account muscle mass / body fat %. Pick a projected weight based on a healthy body fat percentage instead. There are charts for healthy body fat % depending on your personal goals, and calculators which will project what your weight will be at the desired body fat %.

Do you have any links to those calculators? I've been trying to find some but can't.

http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/ibw/

There's lots of calculators to figure out your current bf%. That site even has some.

etoiles_argentees

Look in the mirror.

LadyIntrepid

Why did you stop going to the gym? As someone else noted, this is a lifetime commitment/journey. You can't just stop when you reach your goal -- you need to have established new lifestyle habits that will stay with you. Otherwise, you run a very great risk -- perhaps even certainty -- of going back to where you started. And then starting all over again.

mumtoonegirl

>>>>

susannamarie

Maybe you should work at a more effective transition to maintenance, unless you really want to yoyo your weight.

etoiles_argentees

and BTW, " I don't want to be a twig either though. I was thinking of going for 145 pound goal but the only time I weighed that much I was 14 and I looked highly malnourished. Where in the range would you recommend I set my goal weight and not look to slim?"

You'd probably consider me a twig, or too slim. I am well nourished and healthy. My most recent doctors visit said I was "well nourished. The definition?

Adj. 1. well-nourished - properly nourished
well-fed
nourished - being provided with adequate nourishment

and the pic that went with it? check it out, I'm a happy little piggy eating flowers:) http://www.thefreedictionary.com/well-nourished

chrs86

So I figured my BF is around 17.5-18.3%. What is a good BF% to look lean and buff.

deksgrl

You decide:

http://www.healthygrad.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/body-fat-percentage-men-women.png

PrettyPearl88

For a normal BMI I should weigh between 122p and 164p. I started at 195p with a low carb high protein diet and only lost nine pounds in two months 7 days a week at the gym. I eventually gave up the protein goal of 1g per pound so I could reach my goal weight of 160p and lost 20 pounds in about a month. After I got to my goal weight I stopped going to the gym and gained 6lbs in three weeks. So now I don't want to stay so close to the highest BMI before I go overweight. I don't want to be a twig either though. I was thinking of going for 145 pound goal but the only time I weighed that much I was 14 and I looked highly malnourished. Where in the range would you recommend I set my goal weight and not look to slim?

Like others have said, you're better off using measurements and BF% to reach your goal now, instead of weight and BMI. I personally think the BMI method is very helpful in giving a very basic, general idea of a healthy weight range for most people. Once you're within that healthy weight range, measurements and BF will give you a more precise idea of what's the best weight/size for your body.

Also, I agree that you should continue going to the gym even though you've already reached your original goal. I've found that one thing that has helped me not start gaining weight back after I reached my original goal was to make new goals. For me, those new goals were strength training, lowering my BF%, running a 5K, and now running a half marathon. Making new fitness goals for yourself keeps it exciting and makes you want to keep hitting the gym! Good luck!

jwdieter

So I figured my BF is around 17.5-18.3%. What is a good BF% to look lean and buff.

IMO about 12%. Get under 10% and people start getting different opinions about what looks "good". Depends in large part on your muscle mass too. If you're low on muscle, you will look small at low bf (especially with clothing on), despite the muscle definition. Which might be perfectly fine. Depends on what you're going for.

chrs86

I just went on Livestrong to check my BF% on there and it gave me 12.88%. Now I'm not quite sure which is right.

SteveStedge1

Mention BMI=Automatic fail.

Its absolute nonsense.

deksgrl

I just went on Livestrong to check my BF% on there and it gave me 12.88%. Now I'm not quite sure which is right.

These are estimates. You can get an estimate by your measurements with a tape measure (and there are a couple of different methods which give different results - US Navy Circumference Method is generally higher than the Covert-Bailey method ). Some scales and hand held devices will give you a number as well but those vary. Caliper measurements are said to be more accurate (assuming it is done correctly and in the same location every time). You can buy calipers inexpensively and learn how to take the measurements.

You can also estimate based on comparing how you look to the pictures in that chart linked above.

chrs86

I used caliper for the measurements on Livestrong. I haven't weighed myself in awhile so on the first website I put in a guestimate of my weight plus the measurements. Livestrong only asks for height, M/F, abdominal, and neck. I also been back at the gym the past week 90+ minutes everyday on a high protein (100g) between 800-1000cal diet.

cwolfman13

So I figured my BF is around 17.5-18.3%. What is a good BF% to look lean and buff.

You'll likely have to put some muscle on to look buff. 15% or less with some muscle is the prototypical "beach body" look.

Really, it sounds to me like you need to work on body composition more than anything. At this point I'd say, get your *kitten* to the weight room and eat to maintenance. Get lots of protein and lift heavy things and put them down...shed a little fat, build a little muscle...change your body composition. Dieting and getting to a random body weight or even BF% isn't going to cut it...example:

chrs86

Thanks for the input. I'm in between the 10%vs10% right now. Just can't seem to get the ripped tone going. Maybe it's just my body type. My thing mainly was to get to a weight where I could get some good muscle tone but also have room to gain at least 10 pounds if necessary without going over the BMI. I don't want to look like this if I put on some pounds.https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQpvHiHGKuixvJ2E8FQ1JVs7AT4sKKwr_GgtlR_cZmo64XjO4vp

willdob3

BMI is a very bad tool to use to determine fitness.

I am not muscle-bound & bulky but I'd have to lose LBM in addition to all of my fat in order to meet the high end of the "good" BMI weight range for my height.

No thanks. I'll stick with a goal to actually be healthy instead of trying to fit in a box made by people who have no clue.

jwdieter

So I figured my BF is around 17.5-18.3%. What is a good BF% to look lean and buff.

You'll likely have to put some muscle on to look buff. 15% or less with some muscle is the prototypical "beach body" look.

Really, it sounds to me like you need to work on body composition more than anything. At this point I'd say, get your *kitten* to the weight room and eat to maintenance. Get lots of protein and lift heavy things and put them down...shed a little fat, build a little muscle...change your body composition. Dieting and getting to a random body weight or even BF% isn't going to cut it...example:

That's a great post/picture. If the OP is actually 5'9 170 with ~13% BF, he *should* be looking muscular. The skinny guy at 10% is going to be very light.

chrs86

No way the guy on the right has ever been in a gym. Haha.