128-174 lbs IS THAT A JOKE?

awelch79

I just looked at my BMI chart. According to the chart at 5'10" and 187 lbs I am overweight (Im not surprised by that part!). In order to be within the healthy weight range, I should be between 128 & 174 lbs. SERIOUSLY--a 48 lb range? This is why so many people get discouraged! If I weighed anywhere near 128 lbs, you would actually see every bone in my body and 174 is still extremely close to the overweight category and my goal is 175!

Do you feel that these numbers are realistic? Is there anyone who is within their BMI goal weight?

janemartin02

I agree.I should wt 150,haven`t seen that since high school and I was thin then.I don`t think it is realistic,doesn`t take in consideration body structure.

eating4balance

The bmi is just an approximate calculation. The large range is used to account for the different weights of small to large bone structures and for scrawny to overly muscular people.

I would aim to be halfway in my bmi range.

Really though, as long as you are in a healthy bmi range, I would concentrate on how your body looks and feels to determine what is right for you.

Good luck!

kmm7309

BMI is very inaccurate and impersonal. I would talk to my doctor about a specific weight loss goal. Your doctor should be able to guide you in a better direction.

sarahsmom1

My BMI is 132.7-179.3 And I do believe it is correct Im 5'11

mandr97

Agree!! Glad it's not just me!

sarah44254

I'm 5'3" and my bmi range suggests: Target weight range: 104.4 - 141.1 lbs , which is also a huge range for 'normal'.

I am at 150lbs now and barely feel overweight. As I get closer to my first goal (135) i am seeing my body become more of a body instead of a flubby mass, and I am noticing that as I lose more fat I just get healthier and healthier looking. this range seems very reasonable for me personally, as someone my height could be very thin yet healthy at 105, and someone like me could be strong and healthy, yet a bit thicker at the 140 area.

I am aiming at 135 now, but hoping that 125 feels good on me

alisonnicole84

I try not to focus too much on my BMI (even though I did celebrate when I got my BMI under 30). I'm 5'9 and 186, according to the chart I should weigh 128 - 169. I think 169 is a bit high, but 128?? WTF? I would look like Skeletor and you would too!!

alienblonde1

The BMI is really not a good way to look at it. I think when I was at my healthiest I was in the 140's which according to the BMI I was overweight. I was a black belt in Karate Tae Kwon Do.

UcallMeJay

My BMI is 132.7-179.3 And I do believe it is correct Im 5'11

Mine is the same. I topped the scale at 245lbs. Haven't seen 180 since high school.

HelenTheKitchen

BMI is very inaccurate and impersonal. I would talk to my doctor about a specific weight loss goal. Your doctor should be able to guide you in a better direction.

This is so true. According to my doctor my body fat level is actually lower than what's considered average (19.5% so not unhealthy low, just like a 1/2 of a percentage lower than what's considered perfectly healthy for my age, gender and ethnicity) but I'm still overweight on the BMI scale. Go figure. It's a good base point, but like all things not perfect.

Samerah12

BMI is based on a normal curve created by some statistician who never meant it to be applied to individuals. It is meant to describe POPULATIONS not INDIVIDUALS. Its really unfortunate that its gained the popularity it has as a means of categorizing individuals. We're just built too differently!

For what its worth I haven't been in a "normal" BMI range for my height (5'7, range of 122-149) since I was a freshman in high school. I'm shooting for a weight of 155, which on my frame will be really thin.

redxmasqueen

My doctor said I should weigh 140. I just laughed at her. We both compromised and agreed that 165 would be acceptable.

chnkydnknmomma

The BMI charts say I should be something like 129-150. About 20 years ago, I weighed 138 and you could see all of my ribs and my face was so thin, I looked sick.

I recently joined a gym, and they have something called a Tanita scale. It sends electrodes up through your feet and measures and weighs your bones, muscle, body fat, water, etc...It gave me a goal weight of 185, which I think is very reasonable and doable. My original goal weight was 190, I weighed that about 12 yrs ago and was comfortable, but I think I'll go for the 185.

melodyg

I am nowhere near a healthy BMI now but have been at low-midrange before (admittedly, in college and not toned at all, so I'd guess that toned and at that size I'd be at the mid-high to high end of my BMI). My range is something like 98 pounds (ha!) to around 130 and that is a HUGE range on someone just over 5'! For now, I'm aiming for 130 and then I'll see from there what seems realistic.

isabelk

http://www.cordianet.com/calculator.htm

I like this site because it explains the limitations of the BMI formula and the origins of other formulas. I used this information to decide that on a healthy weight for myself (I'm short) and not to worry too much about BMI. My ideal weight is within a healthy BMI range, but that range, as you noted, is huge. But at least I know the lower end of the BMI range is pretty ridiculous for me.

ckkh

I agree that BMI is a bit of a gross generalization. Everyone's body structure / build is different (part of the reason for such a huge wight range for healthy BMI). If you are concerned about that range being realistic for you, I would suggest talking to your doctor as they have access to more information about you.

The healthy BMI range does work for me. Like you, I am also 5'10". I would consider myself a "medium build". I topped out my pregnancies at 215lbs. 5 years after having my daughter (2nd child) I had crept up to 194lbs (dangerously close to pregnancy weight!) I have been on MFP since Jan '11 and stated it at 180. I am now 158lbs (definitely within healthy BMI), but I know I am not done yet - my goal has become a moving target (I set one, re-evaluate, and set another). Right now I am thinking I would like to be between 150-155lbs, but it is not really about the number on the scale anymore - it is about how I look and how I feel.

justsummie

I think it depends on your bone structure/frame 128 being small framed and the higher number being for a larger frame.

I am 5'8 and large framed. I was always under the impression that my healthy BMI range was 140-170 but now I may have to look into it further.

Besides, I think BMI's are terribly inaccurate. It really pisses me off that so many insurance companies use them as a way to measure health.

lilchino4af

I'm 5'9 with a BMI range between 128 and 169 lbs. The Air Force used BMI to determine how many points on our fitness test we could get for the body composition part. I was at 172 and made an effort to get back to 169 so I would get max points for that portion (it was worth 30% of the overall score!). I have since gotten to 140 and fluctuate between 138-142 and am perfectly comfortable with this weight. I was 125-130 through high school and it was just too skinny, but thin I didn't work out either so that might have had an impact on me looking too thin; had I been toned it might have looked good. But I honestly have no desire to be that thin again because with my job and activity level now it would be too difficult to maintain anything less.

gatorflyer

BMI is just crazy. It takes nothing about you personally, your body structure, bone structure, anything other than weight and height. Use that as your gauge at your own risk. It's a general number at best and highly discouraging at worst. Your doctor should be consulted and if you feel good and look good, other things like cholesterol, BP and other clinical tests are good, that should be your gauge.

arewethereyet

Ha! mine is 105-136! I think it has to do with age, and bone stucture. When I was 20 104 looked hot on me. Now I would be one sammich away from from the hospital.

I would love to be 125!! sigh

AngelsKisses75

I am in the same boat as you. I have my sight set on 175 too. :drinker:

The way I see it no chart will tell me where I am comfortable being me, and being healthy. If I am happy once I reach 175 then I will work at maintaining that, if not ... well we shall see when we get to that point. :happy:

I say do what feel right to you. :flowerforyou:

maurapie

I'm also 5'10", and the best shape I've ever been in was right after Basic Military Training, when I weighed somewhere between 160-170. And I was pretty darn skinny then- if I weighed any less I'd probably look unhealthy... I can't even imagine 128!

awelch79

Ha! mine is 105-136! I think it has to do with age, and bone stucture. When I was 20 104 looked hot on me. Now I would be one sammich away from from the hospital.

I would love to be 125!! sigh

One sammich away from the hospital! I LOVE THAT!

rachpiper720

I am also 5'10" and when I was at my thinnest, I was 180, and I felt too thin. I would go off body fat %, and not BMI. It is way outdated and not even accurate.

corsayre8

Girl, I'm right there with you. 5'10" and 185 as of yesterday. My goal is set at 160, was there four years back, and realistically, i still could gave stood to drop 10 vanity pounds. That being said, I amdown from 220, and the weightless is slowing, so know I am getting closer to a healthier weight. Going to keep concentrating on exercise and building muscle to see where my body wants to be.

Annie5859

I am also 5'10" and when I was at my thinnest, I was 180, and I felt too thin. I would go off body fat %, and not BMI. It is way outdated and not even accurate.

I agree. I am just over 5'9" and I used to weigh 140. My body fat % was 2% below average. If I went down to 128, I would probably have been a walking skeleton.

Zaggytiddies

My BMI says I should weigh between 85 (hardy, har har) and 119. Sooooo yeah... That's completely ridiculous.

Surfergurl29

That's so funny...I actually thought the same thing when I viewed my BMI Range....I guess they have to have an outrageous "target range" to include everyone

Surfergurl29

That's so funny...I actually thought the same thing when I viewed my BMI Range....I guess they have to have an outrageous "target range" to include everyone

dougstevens

BMI? Every time I see or hear those letters, I also hear in the back of my mind, Donny Brasco saying, "forgetaboutit". I've never liked those height/weight tables.

Seriously, when were the BMI tables created and last updated? Was it back in the day before we had a better understanding of muscles mass versus percent of fat?

Many years ago (heck several decades ago), I proudly served. According to some chart I was overweight, by 15 lbs. Every other time there was a PT test, I had to be taped (to calculated percent of body fat). I always got high scores on my PT test and was the either the fastest or second fastest runner in my unit.
(Incidentally, when you leave the service and stop being as active, but your appetite still craves thousands upon thousands of calories per day, watch out. That's how I gain my first 20 lbs.)

Therefore, BMI, forget about it.


Personally, for me, on my journey, I've ignored BMI and been focusing on notches on my belt. Incidentally, I'm going to need a smaller belt in a a week or two, (Can ya say woo hoo!). Periodically, I check the percent of body fat on the bathroom scale, its dropping as well. It works for me.