Is maintaining a bmi of 23-24 okay?
Olafiina
Posts: 14 Member
Over 2 years ago after losing nearly 40 pounds I stopped at this weight with the idea that I would lose more later on, But I've pretty much settled into it now because I know how to maintain it with flying colors. I really don't want to go back into a deficit again, I feel great as I'm healthier and I'm active. All my clothes fit nice and I like the way I look most of the time. I'm proud I've kept it off for years!
I guess I've been comparing myself to other people around here recently and I've realized a lot of you maintain more on the mid to low range and I started to question if my weight was "low" enough. So I guess my question is, Is there any reason I should try to lose more weight or is being where I'm comfortably maintaining enough?
I guess I've been comparing myself to other people around here recently and I've realized a lot of you maintain more on the mid to low range and I started to question if my weight was "low" enough. So I guess my question is, Is there any reason I should try to lose more weight or is being where I'm comfortably maintaining enough?
6
Replies
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If you are comfortable at the current weight and have no medical issues that are compounding things (where losing weight would affect the solution), then why not stay at your current weight? I know that you see and read about people who are 'skinnier', but that is them - not you. You do you and let them do them.
PS - congrats on the weight loss and maintaining that loss!!8 -
Yes its okay. If you're happy at your current weight then keep on maintaining at that weight. Congrats on your 40 lb loss. It's hard but try to not compare yourself to others.1
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Over 2 years ago after losing nearly 40 pounds I stopped at this weight with the idea that I would lose more later on, But I've pretty much settled into it now because I know how to maintain it with flying colors. I really don't want to go back into a deficit again, I feel great as I'm healthier and I'm active. All my clothes fit nice and I like the way I look most of the time. I'm proud I've kept it off for years!
I guess I've been comparing myself to other people around here recently and I've realized a lot of you maintain more on the mid to low range and I started to question if my weight was "low" enough. So I guess my question is, Is there any reason I should try to lose more weight or is being where I'm comfortably maintaining enough?
If anyone has a legit opinion to offer on that, it would be you, and your doctor . . . not random idiots like me, on the internet.
Statistically, it's not a health-risk kind of BMI. But you're an individual, not a statistical average.
Personally, I prefer myself at a lower BMI, but that's after an assessment of my own very individual body. (Relevant: Narrow pelvic width, body fat percent in a healthy range (not excessively low, in this context), no breasts because I'm post-bilateral-mastectomy without reconstruction, etc.). I'm also fine on other screening metrics like waist/height ratio, waist size for women, etc.
After initially losing weight back in 2015 (50+ pounds), I'd re-gained a bit, super slowly, maybe 10-15 pounds over around 4 years, and was at around your current BMI. I didn't think it was unhealthy, even on my build, so I wasn't stressing about it. Still, I wanted to go back a little lower, and like you didn't want to deal with some major deficit. My personal solution, which was great (painless) for me, was to eat at an ultra-tiny deficit for an extended time period. Over 15-18 months, I lost that 10-15 pounds, which suggests my average daily deficit was around 100 calories. Now, I'm back at BMI 20-point-something again, pretty much where I prefer to be.
I'm NOT suggesting that you should lose weight. That's up to you. I'm just saying that when it comes to losing weight within a healthy range *if a person WANTS to do so*, there's no urgency, so it doesn't need to be a brutal forced march.
Best wishes!8 -
Over 2 years ago after losing nearly 40 pounds I stopped at this weight with the idea that I would lose more later on, But I've pretty much settled into it now because I know how to maintain it with flying colors. I really don't want to go back into a deficit again, I feel great as I'm healthier and I'm active. All my clothes fit nice and I like the way I look most of the time. I'm proud I've kept it off for years!
I guess I've been comparing myself to other people around here recently and I've realized a lot of you maintain more on the mid to low range and I started to question if my weight was "low" enough. So I guess my question is, Is there any reason I should try to lose more weight or is being where I'm comfortably maintaining enough?
You know about the theory of "do no harm"?
Only you know why you're ancy about your weight.
The outcome where someone loses 40lbs and maintains the loss for a year is rare.
The outcome where someone loses 40lbs and maintains the loss for two years is very rare.
The outcome where someone loses 40lbs and maintains the loss for five years is even more rare.
The outcome where someone loses a few lbs and then regains that amount plus a bit more over the course of the next year is very common.
Compound that by starting from an outlook of "I don't want to go into a deficit again"...
Is there some big reward waiting for you if you lose more weight?
Big enough to wager and risk part of your initial loss in order to accomplish it?
Edited to add: but if, for whatever reason, I were in your shoes and not perceiving this as having an unfavourable reward/risk ratio, then I would definitely follow along the lines of Ann's advice above and proceeding with small deficits and frequent refeeds and diet breaks... i.e. going gently.5 -
No opinion. But hurray for you maintaining at a healthy weight!5
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Sounds like it's absolutely fine for you.
For myself my preferance is a BMI of around 24 - 25.
I'm very healthy at this weight, loads of energy, maintenance is easy and enjoyable. I feel no pressure to compare myself to others, my body, my choice.
I have experimented with dropping lower and became hungrier and maintenance was harder and less enjoyable.
BTW - one of the nice things about maintaining at a weight that's OK is if you do want to experiment with getting to a lower weight there's no need to go on an everyday deficit or harshly cut calories, you can take all the time you like.
(I tend to drift towards the heavier end of my accepable range over winter and lose those few pounds sporadically and with little effort by summer just by cutting some calories here and there on days that suit me. No deprivation required.)7 -
Thanks for the insights everyone! I've definitely thought about the losing slowly approach, if I ever decide to go that route it could be interesting.5
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I feel great as I'm healthier and I'm active. All my clothes fit nice and I like the way I look most of the time. I'm proud I've kept it off for years!
To me, these 3 sentences sums it up... you are healthy, active and proud, so why would you want to do anything to change that. You have found a way to successfully maintain your original weight loss so I would keep doing what you are doing and don't rock the boat. You are in within the healthy BMI range, and are happy, so keep doing you and try not to question yourself or compare yourself to other people.
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I was at a 24 BMI in college and would love to get back to that point! Good job maintaining that 40 lb loss. What a major accomplishment.3
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This sounds to me as though it is working really well for you as a maintenance weight and that is what matters. For what it's worth (which is not a lot!) I am also aiming to maintain at around BMI 23. However, unlike you, I lost to that goal and a bit beyond a few years ago and then gained back to being borderline obese (bmi 27.25). Looking back I think the losing "a bit beyond" was too far for me so this time I am aiming to maintain where I feel fit and healthy.3
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My BMI currently varies betwen 23.6-24.3 based on a ht of 5'8" and a wt range between 155-160#. It's within the "normal" BMI range and works fine for me.
Everyone is certainly different but I doubt that you (the OP) would have any problem maintaining your BMI between 23-24, if you are happy w/your wt/shape in that range1 -
I am in another group that has a saying "stay in your lane" -- meaning don't look at what others are doing as a guide for what you should do. BMI of 24 can mean different things for different people. First depends on your physique -- female with small build, male with large build, or anything in-between. Also depends how much of it is muscle. Depends why you lost weight: looks, fitnese, health risks #'s (blood sugar, BP, cholsterol), health conditions, etc etc. Where are you with these things now and are you satisfied? I know people who will probably NEVER get as low as a BMI of 24, and others who will never get that high. They are your goals, you can set them where you want, and there are a whole lot of things to think about besides BMI.2
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Only two people's opinions should count when asking if you should lose weight or not: yours and your doctor. Comparing to others based only on a single number (BMI, body fat %, or something else) is iffy at best, dangerous at worst. Many professional athletes with amazing health are "obese" per BMI... many people of "healthy" BMI have other factors ruining their health.
I have been sitting at 29.1 BMI for years now. I feel healthy and satisfied; my doctor is satisfied. That's good enough for me.3 -
Over 2 years ago after losing nearly 40 pounds I stopped at this weight with the idea that I would lose more later on, But I've pretty much settled into it now because I know how to maintain it with flying colors. I really don't want to go back into a deficit again, I feel great as I'm healthier and I'm active. All my clothes fit nice and I like the way I look most of the time. I'm proud I've kept it off for years!
I guess I've been comparing myself to other people around here recently and I've realized a lot of you maintain more on the mid to low range and I started to question if my weight was "low" enough. So I guess my question is, Is there any reason I should try to lose more weight or is being where I'm comfortably maintaining enough?
Hi @Olafiina !
Congratulations, first of all!
I’m responding because I’ve had the same question.
My BMI is in the 23’s, after deciding I was too hungry trying to stay closer to 23.0. (I think my body frame is large in hips/knees/elbows (LOL) & medium in shoulders/wrists/ankles.)
I asked my doctors (a couple of specialists & my PCP.) They all responded “You’re great!” Or “I just want your BMI under 24.9.”
So I stopped shooting for BMI 23.0.
I’ve maintained for 2 yr 9 months & it feels pretty comfortable. Ever time I inch down (rate for me) I get really hungry (eat more) & go up again to my maintenance.
Sustainable Maintenance has always been my Number One goal.
BTW: I do wonder if the folks with lower BMI’s in here are finer boned. I have a gf at the lowest normal BMI...works out hard daily..tons of energy & I swear her knees are half the width of mine!
Congratulations again! 👏👏👏
Maddie0 -
MadisonMolly2017 wrote: »Over 2 years ago after losing nearly 40 pounds I stopped at this weight with the idea that I would lose more later on, But I've pretty much settled into it now because I know how to maintain it with flying colors. I really don't want to go back into a deficit again, I feel great as I'm healthier and I'm active. All my clothes fit nice and I like the way I look most of the time. I'm proud I've kept it off for years!
I guess I've been comparing myself to other people around here recently and I've realized a lot of you maintain more on the mid to low range and I started to question if my weight was "low" enough. So I guess my question is, Is there any reason I should try to lose more weight or is being where I'm comfortably maintaining enough?
Hi @Olafiina !
Congratulations, first of all!
I’m responding because I’ve had the same question.
My BMI is in the 23’s, after deciding I was too hungry trying to stay closer to 23.0. (I think my body frame is large in hips/knees/elbows (LOL) & medium in shoulders/wrists/ankles.)
I asked my doctors (a couple of specialists & my PCP.) They all responded “You’re great!” Or “I just want your BMI under 24.9.”
So I stopped shooting for BMI 23.0.
I’ve maintained for 2 yr 9 months & it feels pretty comfortable. Ever time I inch down (rate for me) I get really hungry (eat more) & go up again to my maintenance.
Sustainable Maintenance has always been my Number One goal.
BTW: I do wonder if the folks with lower BMI’s in here are finer boned. I have a gf at the lowest normal BMI...works out hard daily..tons of energy & I swear her knees are half the width of mine!
Congratulations again! 👏👏👏
Maddie
I can give you another n=1. I'm BMI 20-point-something now. My bones are not fine (in the sense of having long, narrow, elegant shapes, as I see in some of my friends) - I have more of a "sturdy peasant" build. My pelvic width is narrow, shoulders somewhat broad, head/hands objectively big, and I have no breasts. I'm not devoid of muscle, particularly for my demographic (F, 65), but far from a bodybuilder. From other threads here, it's absolutely clear to me that I prefer to be thinner than some women would prefer for themselves, aesthetically speaking. I personally don't prefer to be at BMI 23 or so (even though I think that can be a fine choice for other women, and would be a reasonably healthy weight for me).
I also happen to find it easy to maintain near this weight on the number of calories that maintain it for me, which is a complex of many factors (probably including genetic factors about hunger hormone levels, comfortable activity levels via both daily life and exercise, body composition, early socialization and current social context, maybe preferred eating style, maybe gut microbiome, etc. - who knows what all?).
I strongly, strongly doubt there's one or a few easily-isolated simple reasons that some people prefer to maintain at a higher BMI than others. Not saying you did this (you didn't), but I find it odd when some people question others' choices, within a reasonably healthy range of weights. I think all of us have a range of reasonably-healthy weights, and where we choose to be is a personal decision.2 -
I'm sitting at a BMI of 23.5 based on height/general calculator (as opposed to anything more fancy). Honestly, I will probably continue to lose very slowly and a little - what I eat, eating normally, is actually a bit below maintenance and I'm always more active during summer.
But the truth is, I no longer care if I lose more. I would LOOK better if I lost another 10-15lbs and I care about that a little bit - but I FEEL fantastic and I care about that a LOT. I'm not prepared to feel bad to look better. Even if it didn't make me feel bad, or made me feel a little better, it's hard to care that much. BECAUSE I FEEL GOOD AND CAN DO ALL THE THINGS.7 -
MadisonMolly2017 wrote: »Over 2 years ago after losing nearly 40 pounds I stopped at this weight with the idea that I would lose more later on, But I've pretty much settled into it now because I know how to maintain it with flying colors. I really don't want to go back into a deficit again, I feel great as I'm healthier and I'm active. All my clothes fit nice and I like the way I look most of the time. I'm proud I've kept it off for years!
I guess I've been comparing myself to other people around here recently and I've realized a lot of you maintain more on the mid to low range and I started to question if my weight was "low" enough. So I guess my question is, Is there any reason I should try to lose more weight or is being where I'm comfortably maintaining enough?
Hi @Olafiina !
Congratulations, first of all!
I’m responding because I’ve had the same question.
My BMI is in the 23’s, after deciding I was too hungry trying to stay closer to 23.0. (I think my body frame is large in hips/knees/elbows (LOL) & medium in shoulders/wrists/ankles.)
I asked my doctors (a couple of specialists & my PCP.) They all responded “You’re great!” Or “I just want your BMI under 24.9.”
So I stopped shooting for BMI 23.0.
I’ve maintained for 2 yr 9 months & it feels pretty comfortable. Ever time I inch down (rate for me) I get really hungry (eat more) & go up again to my maintenance.
Sustainable Maintenance has always been my Number One goal.
BTW: I do wonder if the folks with lower BMI’s in here are finer boned. I have a gf at the lowest normal BMI...works out hard daily..tons of energy & I swear her knees are half the width of mine!
Congratulations again! 👏👏👏
Maddie
I can give you another n=1. I'm BMI 20-point-something now. My bones are not fine (in the sense of having long, narrow, elegant shapes, as I see in some of my friends) - I have more of a "sturdy peasant" build. My pelvic width is narrow, shoulders somewhat broad, head/hands objectively big, and I have no breasts. I'm not devoid of muscle, particularly for my demographic (F, 65), but far from a bodybuilder. From other threads here, it's absolutely clear to me that I prefer to be thinner than some women would prefer for themselves, aesthetically speaking. I personally don't prefer to be at BMI 23 or so (even though I think that can be a fine choice for other women, and would be a reasonably healthy weight for me).
I also happen to find it easy to maintain near this weight on the number of calories that maintain it for me, which is a complex of many factors (probably including genetic factors about hunger hormone levels, comfortable activity levels via both daily life and exercise, body composition, early socialization and current social context, maybe preferred eating style, maybe gut microbiome, etc. - who knows what all?).
I strongly, strongly doubt there's one or a few easily-isolated simple reasons that some people prefer to maintain at a higher BMI than others. Not saying you did this (you didn't), but I find it odd when some people question others' choices, within a reasonably healthy range of weights. I think all of us have a range of reasonably-healthy weights, and where we choose to be is a personal decision.
Thanks @AnnPT77. Yes, I would never question another’s decision on their weight preference! There are so many factors — and preferences!3 -
I'm not sure most maintainers here maintain at lower to mid range.
But I personally maintain at BMI of 23 and am quite happy with that.2
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