I have gained to a healthy BMI, but is it normal to see ribs like this?

guacassassin

I have gained about 10 lbs the past year, I am now sitting at 128 lbs and 5'9". I thought I could be done gaining now because I hit a healthy BMI and I am no longer underweight. However, I did notice when taking a shower today that my spine and ribs are still visibile. Is this normal? I know that many people can see them and it just means they need to work on their muscle, so I was wondering if seeing your ribs and spine like this can be normal for people who are NOT underweight as well?

I'm genuinely curious. I don't know if I need to gain more or if I can just do strength training to build muscle?

[photo removed by MFP mods for privacy reasons]

RunsWithBees

In my opinion you could stand to gain 10 lbs then reevaluate as needed. Just because you’ve hit the low end of your BMI it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the best weight for you as an individual. You could also ask your doctor about it and see what they recommend.

collectingblues

It all depends on your body frame. Unless you are smaller framed, and/or of Asian descent, anything below 20 is still on the verge of being underweight, at least according to the WHO, many physician organizations, and a number of different countries.

Ask your doctor. They will be able to give you good advice as to what a healthy weight for you looks like.

hroderick

my taste would be more weight, BMI is a worldwide average and an average of fair-haired cultures would probably be a bit heavier. congratulations on reaching a goal and pondering the next

guacassassin

Thank you all for your help! Yes, I am just all sorts of confused because I know many doctors even go by BMI...for example I have been without my period and when I went to my gynecologist he weighed me and said my weight was fine and not the problem and that also made me under the impression my weight was now fine...

Fflpnari

maurakkownacki wrote: »

Thank you all for your help! Yes, I am just all sorts of confused because I know many doctors even go by BMI...for example I have been without my period and when I went to my gynecologist he weighed me and said my weight was fine and not the problem and that also made me under the impression my weight was now fine...

My personal option would be to gain a little more mass. If your periods have stopped, its most likely due to your weight. I was in the "healthy BMI" zone but actually my period stopped for a year. I actually do better on the healthy/ almost overnight side of the chart. I eventually got my period back.

Try not to listen to people on the internet. I think we all have good intent though, If you feel like you should keep going, you should keep gaining.

AnnPT77

It can be "normal", because there's a wide range of "normal" (and especially as the pose in your photo is one that will tend to emphasize the ribcage and spine (shoulders pulled forward, upper back a bit rounded). But you would still be "normal" if you weighed more.

Some of this, truly, is about preference. Your preference. It's important to be healthy, and reading between the lines I'm thinking you're saying you've had to gain weight in order to be healthy (good for you for realizing that, and doing the work!).

Healthy weight, even for an individual is a range. You, your very own self, are allowed to decide how you should look, once you've gotten into a range where you can be healthy (which is something everyone should want, right? ).

You will benefit from strength training (we all do). As you add muscle, you probably will want to gain a bit of weight (because muscle has weight, and you don't currently have much excess bodyfat to trade off to stay at the same weight while gaining). That would mean it would be a good idea to eat in at least a small surplus, as you do strength training to work on gaining muscle.

If your period is still not happening, it would be a good idea to gain some more weight, and make sure your nutrition is completely on point. (If your period has stopped, and your gynecologist is not concerned, it would also be a good idea to get a new gynecologist.)

Best wishes! :flowerforyou: