Anyone else whose goal is still not a "healthy weight"?

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  • lilbearzmom
    lilbearzmom Posts: 600 Member
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    [/quote]
    Ideal is a weight where you feel comfortable, have no weight-related health issues and are happy with yourself.
    [/quote]

    100 times this. Took the words right out of my keyboard.

    I have 12 lbs to go before my goal, which is 11 lbs above "normal" weight according to BMI. Not saying I won't go below that number, but it's a NUMBER I think I'd be happy with as of right now. My doctors concur with me, and my recent blood work is immaculate, even 20 or so pounds above a "normal" BMI.
  • MattLBennett
    MattLBennett Posts: 24 Member
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    Don't know if this has been posted before but maybe of interest to the BMI people, a supposed error in the formula and corrected calculator : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9816596/Interactive-calculator-do-you-win-or-lose-with-the-new-BMI.html

    Personally, it works out about right for me but i use it in conjunction with body fat percentage. The last 16lbs are proving stuborn to shift.
  • 210007027
    210007027 Posts: 1 Member
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    I am a big guy, 6'3, I was 325 at one point, but have been a weight lifter most of my life. I am down to 265, and plan to get down to about 240. I have tuned my lifting to more reps and less weight and put at least 30 minutes of hard cardio in a day and of course, watch what I eat. If i can maintain muscle and power, and do not have any health issues I don't plan to go too much below 240. The other thing I watch is measurements, my waist has gone from a 45 to a 38, and I have a 50 inch chest. At 240 I still have a BMI of 30 - obese, but I see my doctor regularly and he supports a 240 ish target, if I stop lifting I will have to be smaller, but for now I feel ok at a 240 target.

    FYI I had a doctor tell me that I should weigh in at 160, I asked him which leg he plans to amputate, we decided not to see each other again.
  • OzarkNana
    OzarkNana Posts: 18 Member
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    I am a physician and I can tell you, BMI is unreliable at best. It was originally designed in the 18th century in Europe as a demographic tool and has no medical or scientific origin. It has been used as a category in medical studies, and for most "normal" build people is a fairly good indicator of ideal weight. Unfortunately, it cannot take into account people whose build falls outside that range. I am a very stocky, broad-shouldered person myself. The best shape I was ever in (high school and college) I was about 215. I am 5'8". I had defined abs, was a runner, and played multiple sports. I will never be able to get to my 'ideal' weight of 155-175 unless I have terminal cancer and am severely malnourished. The thing to keep in mind is that if you're making healthier choices, feeling better, and losing clearly excessive weight then you are on the right track. Don't be a slave to BMI or 'ideal' weight charts.

    Finally, a voice of reason....people that hang their hats on a chart and a number are doing an injustice to themselves. Consult with your Physician, they are the ones that know you, that know your medical issues etc. THEY are the best judge of what is healthy for you, not someone on this website. If I was to weigh what the "BMI chart" says I would look anorexic, I'm pushing 60, take thyroid meds for hypothyroidism and steroids for a severe asthma condition. My Doctor laughs when she hears anything about a BMI chart and my desire to weigh within my "range". Her exact statement was "you'll never get there, it's just not possible for you. Eat healthy, go light on the meat, make it lean protein, exercise and your body will drop what it can. Your health, your blood work and I will let you know when your "there". " Sounds good to me....don't "diet" to a number, change your eating habits to better health.
  • Leah_Alexis
    Leah_Alexis Posts: 139 Member
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    My goal right now is to get to 225lbs (that is another 25lbs and would be a 100lbs loss for me). At that point I'd like to keep working until I got under 200lbs.
  • AprilMae1975
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    My goal is to fit comfortable in a size 9/10. I'm not concerned with what the scale says at that point because my body will be the only thing that matters :)
  • Keke1968
    Keke1968 Posts: 10 Member
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    My goal is 63kg at the height of 159cms. Anything below that would be too skinny for me, and I do not want to be skinny.
  • tfpdunn
    tfpdunn Posts: 68 Member
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    I started at 260 (5'10") and have lost 35-40 lbs. My target weight is in the 198-203 range, still well above my "healthy" BMI number. OP, you and I are very much in the same place.

    Bottom line is BMI isn't really that important.
  • StheK
    StheK Posts: 443 Member
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    I have never been able to maintain a weight within my supposed "healthy weight" range. I can do it if I devote myself to it and work at it all the time, but people don't even seem to think I look good when I'm that thin. My body seems to be its happiest at about 20 lbs above my maximum healthy weight range.
  • bestjuneever
    bestjuneever Posts: 33 Member
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    My ideal weight is supposedly 138 lbs. But when I had gotten down to 175 lbs I was perfectly happy with my body. I wanted to lose another 10 lbs just to rid of the last little bit of fat on my tummy but I felt like a million bucks and would be happy to be there. My goal now is 150 lbs, and I might try and go down to 140 lbs so I can have a little bit of a safety net if fun times roll around and I eat like a mad woman.
  • sammniamii
    sammniamii Posts: 669 Member
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    Yeap, I will never be "thin" - it just won't happen nor would I be happy if it did. According to BMI, I'm supposed to be "111.2 lbs - 150.2 lbs" with my Frame allowing me toward the upper limit. But I know even that will probably not be a long term goal - I honestly think I will look sickly and have bones showing. (5'5" - but w/ scoliosis, thus my legs & arms are longer than my torso. Both sisters range in the 5'9-5'11").

    I don't want bones showing - EVER. :indifferent:

    I too have been stuck in the 215-225 range since the beginning of this year. I am able to maintain this weight, although I do want to be closer to the 170 mark. Once I can get some medical issues (and stress) I do hope to get back in the grove of things and into my weight lifting (again :love: ). I've lost nearly 10 pant sizes, more inches than I care to think about and are 100% stronger & healthier than I was this time 1.5 years ago when I started.
  • Quasita
    Quasita Posts: 1,530 Member
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    I started out at 485 pounds, and am down to 445 (I have lost more and gained back and then lost and gained and lost and gained). My initial goal was set by my spinal specialist, who said I couldn't really consider surgical options for my spinal condition until I lost 200 lbs. It's been a really hard road and I struggle a lot, and it's a really lofty goal, but I'm working at it. Even still, after 200lbs from my heaviest, I would need to lose another 100 before I was considered "healthy weight"

    I decided to gauge my weight and goals by when I was at my fittest and healthiest at this height. That means that my final goal is around 215 pounds. For a woman of about 6'1", this is still considered heavy, but after discussions with my physicians and a critical look at my life and body, we have decided that the goal of 175-185 was just a little too low.

    Personally, I say, always defer to your doctor and your intuition. Setting modest goals that can be met can be really helpful for the motivation, and I don't think there's any harm in starting with 40lbs. Who knows, you might get there and decide another 40 is the way to go. You won't know until you start to see some results.
  • megalin9
    megalin9 Posts: 771 Member
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    I will still be considered "overweight" on the BMI index at my goal weight of 170 pounds at 5'6". However, I will have a lean body mass of 125 pounds, and I will absolutely be fit and "healthy."