Weight Labels & Emotional *kitten*

erickita89

OK so... i recently realized that my 150lb goal weight (which is roughly 4 lbs away) is still considered to be in this stupid "Overweight" category. Look, don't get my wrong because before I was "Obese" so this is awesome for me, a dramtic improvement! (my starting weight was 202lbs)

but hearing that stupid label "overweight" bothers me. i know its just a word and an arbitrary label and the whole sticks and stones and bones jazz should apply, but for some reason it doesn't here. im usually not one to care about the labels, but I've worked really hard and the word "overweight" honestly bothers me.

140lbs is considered the larger end of "normal" weight for a person of my height ( which is 5'3-4ish ) Should i switch my goal? or should i enjoy my 150lb self? and go about my merry way?

Smallest part of waste: 29 inches
hips & booty: 40 inches

neandermagnon

5'1" was 130lb, currently deliberately gaining weight to 140lb (or thereabouts - my main focus is strength). I've deliberately put myself in the "overweight" category. Although according to Jackson Pollack, my body fat percentage is around 20%

base your goal on body fat percentage and what you're aiming for (e.g. a particular look, strength, ability to run marathons, etc) and chuck the BMI chart in the bin. If you're in the healthy body fat percentage range (looking at your after pic in your profile, I'd say you are!!) then seriously, screw BMI.

Mokey41

Why not aim for something middle of the road but work on getting a lower BF% instead of just weight on the scale? I'm 5'2" and at 150 lbs I would have a high BF% for sure and be considerably overweight.

herblackwings39

I'd suggest keeping your goal at 150 lbs. When you get there and live with that goal for awhile there is nothing to keep you from setting a new goal if you find 150 really isn't where you want to be and nothing to force you too if you're feeling good at 150.

erickita89

5'1" was 130lb, currently deliberately gaining weight to 140lb (or thereabouts - my main focus is strength). I've deliberately put myself in the "overweight" category. Although according to Jackson Pollack, my body fat percentage is around 20%

base your goal on body fat percentage and what you're aiming for (e.g. a particular look, strength, ability to run marathons, etc) and chuck the BMI chart in the bin. If you're in the healthy body fat percentage range (looking at your after pic in your profile, I'd say you are!!) then seriously, screw BMI.

oh gosh... well my Body fat is like 29-30% which i don't think is healthy? Then again i used one of those little digital scales with the electrical pulse detection thingy. (which i heard really isn't all that accurate) meh

toutmonpossible

but hearing that stupid label "overweight" bothers me. i know its just a word and an arbitrary label and the whole sticks and stones and bones jazz should apply, but for some reason it doesn't here. im usually not one to care about the labels, but I've worked really hard and the word "overweight" honestly bothers me.

It's not "arbitrary." Over time, doctors and researchers and others have determined what is a healthy weight range for an average person, i.e., not an athlete, of a particular height. Your weight is an important gauge of your health. I would try to get to the top of the healthy weight range for my height.

nwg74

Average BF% of women is 25–31%. Perhaps aim for 25% ?

BigGuy47

Switch your goals from a number on the scale to fitness. The arbitrary label based on BMI becomes meaningless. There are some incredibly fit users on this site that have been labeled as overweight by the BMI scale. I doubt that they lose sleep over the label.

erickita89

Why not aim for something middle of the road but work on getting a lower BF% instead of just weight on the scale? I'm 5'2" and at 150 lbs I would have a high BF% for sure and be considerably overweight.

I know to some people, 150 lbs is a death sentence! lol

When i set my goal weight, i wasn't going for a label or anything, honestly i thought more like "What weight was I when i last felt comfortable in my own skin? and didn't feel self conscious/chubby?" I came up with 150.

i'm not sure i need to do more research on body fat percentage i guess. I took a reading at my gym using a digital scale and it said btw 29%-30%

erickita89

Average BF% of women is 25–31%. Perhaps aim for 25% ?

Hey so i fall between that range! If that thing was accurate then thats so cool.

youdontknowwhatyousaw

This old blog post nicely paraphrases why using the BMI chart for anything is ridiculous.
http://the-f-word.org/blog/index.php/2009/07/22/the-history-of-bmi-and-why-we-still-use-it/
Pay careful attention when you read about the lowering of the healthy bmi range in 1998 by a group of doctors, most with ties to the commerical weightloss industry. The obesity epidemic you hear so much about was virtually created overnight because of this change.

If you are really interested you can easily find a pre-1998 bmi chart on the internet.

lithezebra

Here's my suggestion. Don't worry about the label. There is a range of healthy weight and BF%. Celebrate reaching your goal of 150 pounds, and go for 140 next. You can be relaxed about it and take it slowly, no beating yourself up emotionally. You can stop at any point.

CoderGal

Everyone has different opinions. What kind of advice are you expecting? Some will think you are thin, some will think you are not. I don't think asking which people do will bring you closer to a solution. We don't know how you feel, either. Personally, I started at your weight, and I was taller, and I wouldn't want to be that weight, even if I was doing what I'm doing now (a more active lifestyle). But I know others who work their butt off weight lifting and look phenomenal at that weight. Noone can tell you your most ideal scale number. Be active, get all your nutrients, eat healthy for the most part, and don't be to worried about a particular number unless you think you'd feel better changing it for your health.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

neandermagnon

5'1" was 130lb, currently deliberately gaining weight to 140lb (or thereabouts - my main focus is strength). I've deliberately put myself in the "overweight" category. Although according to Jackson Pollack, my body fat percentage is around 20%

base your goal on body fat percentage and what you're aiming for (e.g. a particular look, strength, ability to run marathons, etc) and chuck the BMI chart in the bin. If you're in the healthy body fat percentage range (looking at your after pic in your profile, I'd say you are!!) then seriously, screw BMI.

oh gosh... well my Body fat is like 29-30% which i don't think is healthy? Then again i used one of those little digital scales with the electrical pulse detection thingy. (which i heard really isn't all that accurate) meh

the healthy range for women is 18-28%, so you're very close to the healthy range, and given the innaccuracy of measuring it, you could already be in the healthy range. Your pic looks like you are. You said you have 4 more lb to lose... well that fits with what your body fat percentage reading is saying as well. You could go lower than that if you wanted, as you're at the high end of the healthy range, if you prefer how you look at a lower body fat percentage. But it's about what YOU want. Once you're in the healthy range, it's about aesthetics, which look do you prefer and what you feel comfortable at.

Obese is over 35% body fat. That would be unhealthy.

erickita89

I'd suggest keeping your goal at 150 lbs. When you get there and live with that goal for awhile there is nothing to keep you from setting a new goal if you find 150 really isn't where you want to be and nothing to force you too if you're feeling good at 150.

Very true i guess i can do this...

jdm_taco

You look beautiful, keep it up and forget labels.

erickita89

but hearing that stupid label "overweight" bothers me. i know its just a word and an arbitrary label and the whole sticks and stones and bones jazz should apply, but for some reason it doesn't here. im usually not one to care about the labels, but I've worked really hard and the word "overweight" honestly bothers me.

It's not "arbitrary." Over time, doctors and researchers and others have determined what is a healthy weight range for an average person, i.e., not an athlete, of a particular height. Your weight is an important gauge of your health. I would try to get to the top of the healthy weight range for my height.

It honestly is arbitrary to some extent because many many many athletes fall under that overweight/obese category when in reality they are very healthy and in tip top shape.

Switch your goals from a number on the scale to fitness. The arbitrary label based on BMI becomes meaningless. There are some incredibly fit users on this site that have been labeled as overweight by the BMI scale. I doubt that they lose sleep over the label.

See what i mean?

StheK

You look beautiful, keep it up and forget labels.

This.

StheK

Here's my suggestion. Don't worry about the label. There is a range of healthy weight and BF%. Celebrate reaching your goal of 150 pounds, and go for 140 next. You can be relaxed about it and take it slowly, no beating yourself up emotionally. You can stop at any point.

And this.

snejkaxo

If you happy with the way you look now, then switch to maintenance. If you think you still need improvement, then keep going. I reached my goal twice already. My first goal was to get out of overweight category, then to get to mid range of normal, now I´m working on getting to the other end of normal, so I look most appropriate for small body frame. I personally not a big fan of what people call "booty". I like lean body look. But everyone is different. I bet there are tons of people out there who would look at how you look now and say "damn girl". So as I said, you should do what makes you happy!

A_Fit_Mom

I also recommend getting down to your initial goal of 150. Then maybe take a break from losing weight and eat at maintenance.

Then if after that month, you are comfortable where you are..then stay there. If you think you may need to lose some more, you can restart your plan. And having the time off, may help restart yourself...so you can lose the weight easier.

Zaniejane

Enjoy your 150!!!!! You look amazing:) You'll come up with other goals and they don't have to be weight related. Definitely don't follow some external idea of what you should weigh.

We are all so hard on ourselves, so you're not alone there. Embrace and enjoy your incredible 150! You did this, be proud!:)

paygep

This old blog post nicely paraphrases why using the BMI chart for anything is ridiculous.
http://the-f-word.org/blog/index.php/2009/07/22/the-history-of-bmi-and-why-we-still-use-it/
Pay careful attention when you read about the lowering of the healthy bmi range in 1998 by a group of doctors, most with ties to the commerical weightloss industry. The obesity epidemic you hear so much about was virtually created overnight because of this change.

If you are really interested you can easily find a pre-1998 bmi chart on the internet.

:noway: I never knew this til now!

erickita89

You look beautiful, keep it up and forget labels.

Aww thanks

erickita89

Enjoy your 150!!!!! You look amazing:) You'll come up with other goals and they don't have to be weight related. Definitely don't follow some external idea of what you should weigh.

We are all so hard on ourselves, so you're not alone there. Embrace and enjoy your incredible 150! You did this, be proud!:)

i am very proud. thanks

iheartmy1dog

I can relate! I've lost a lot too but according to BMI I'm still 11lbs from being "healthy" and not "overweight". From height/waist ratio and BF% I'm healthy and an ideal weight/size but I can't just let it go that the stupid bmi says I'm overweight. My dr, dietician, and pretty much everyone else tells me the bmi system is archaic and it even says some professional athletes aren't healthy... But I'm still trying to lose. ..... I probably should let it go and be okay w/ what I am now but I'm not great at listening to advice..

KathleenC12

It's not just the weight you can reach, it's the weight you can maintain.

Personally, I find the "Overweight" BMI label motivating. Was determined to get mine to the Healthy range. Unless you are remakably muscly, BMI is a useful measurement system.

For years I tried to weasel out of its accuracy, saying things like, "But, I'm just big-boned" or "I don't think I look too big." But one day decided right, I'm overweight. Now I'm not, and can look back on those rationalizations for what they were, excuses. YMMV.

Otterluv

but hearing that stupid label "overweight" bothers me. i know its just a word and an arbitrary label and the whole sticks and stones and bones jazz should apply, but for some reason it doesn't here. im usually not one to care about the labels, but I've worked really hard and the word "overweight" honestly bothers me.

It's not "arbitrary." Over time, doctors and researchers and others have determined what is a healthy weight range for an average person, i.e., not an athlete, of a particular height. Your weight is an important gauge of your health. I would try to get to the top of the healthy weight range for my height.

It honestly is arbitrary to some extent because many many many athletes fall under that overweight/obese category when in reality they are very healthy and in tip top shape.

Switch your goals from a number on the scale to fitness. The arbitrary label based on BMI becomes meaningless. There are some incredibly fit users on this site that have been labeled as overweight by the BMI scale. I doubt that they lose sleep over the label.

See what i mean?

It's true that people with more muscle mass tend to have higher BMI's because of it, they also have lower bf%s. I'm your height and my goal weight is 150lbs. But, my goal bf% is closer to 20-25% or so, so I may have to lower the weight goal to get there. However, if I get down to a point and feel good about myself there then I'll stop cutting. I'm not tying myself to a number. I may never leave the overweight category, and I really don't care as long as I'm fit.

If you are happy and healthy where you are, I wouldn't worry about it. You are barely in the overweight category anyway, and you look gorgeous.

CyberEd312

BMI is worthless in my opinion.... I have lost 312 pounds and if I went by that stupid chart I am still considered class 1 obese... lol I think I will be the judge of how I feel and look and not leave it up to a chart that is outdated....... Best of Luck....

MyChocolateDiet

but hearing that stupid label "overweight" bothers me. i know its just a word and an arbitrary label and the whole sticks and stones and bones jazz should apply, but for some reason it doesn't here. im usually not one to care about the labels, but I've worked really hard and the word "overweight" honestly bothers me.

It's not "arbitrary." Over time, doctors and researchers and others have determined what is a healthy weight range for an average person, i.e., not an athlete, of a particular height. Your weight is an important gauge of your health. I would try to get to the top of the healthy weight range for my height.

I'm sorry but I'm gonna have to ask you to back the eff off. This one here is one of my earliest friends and I hold her near and dear to my heart. If just this ONE TIME you could see your way out of this thread. I will promise never to jump on any ridiculous crap you say on other threads ever ever again. Just leave. Please.