BMI / Ideal Weight just doesn't seem possible

mroger801

I've now been working on loosing weight for the past 8 weeks with MFP and a physician supported program and have already lost 21.5 pounds! When my doctor did testing of my body, she determined that my minimum weight based on bones, organs, etc., is around 220 pounds and ideal would be around 240 being toned.

However, this is about 100 pounds over what MFP and other online tools say my ideal body weight and BMI should be. I've always known that I was built on a wide frame, but this seems like a huge difference. Does anyone else have this same problem? I'm not 100% discouraged, other than the fact that I'll never have a 32" or 36" waist again, but it seems crazy that there are not tools out there that recognize that not all bodies are built the same way.

How do you stay motivated when your body can't be "ideal"?

sculptandtone

How tall are you? It's hard to imagine 120 to 140 pound recommendation for a man.

SHBoss1673

sculpt, he said 220 and 240 not 120 and 140.

mroger, I concur, we need a height and age (and activity level) to make any comments. But I'll say this, unless you're about 6'5" or above, 220 is very high, and 240? Unless you're talking about putting on massive amounts of muscle then that's extremely high for just about anyone in the normal height range.

Put it this way, I'm 6'2" and currently I'm 180 or so, I wouldn't mind putting back on 5 to 10 more pounds in muscle mass, but that's it. I've very athletic, and don't look "skinny" at all, I have good muscle definition and about 12% body fat.

babydull

How do you stay motivated when your body can't be "ideal"?

Your body can be ideal, to you.
Don't get too caught up and stressed out by what other differing, conflicting people/programs think you should be. Just concentrate on getting happy and healthy, and getting your body to a place where you feel good about it.

babydull

How do you stay motivated when your body can't be "ideal"?

Your body can be ideal, to you.
Don't get too caught up and stressed out by what other differing, conflicting people/programs think you should be. Just concentrate on getting happy and healthy, and getting your body to a place where you feel good about it.

Oh and congrats on all your good work so far.

bella8282

BMI is not an exact science. My brother is super Fit super super healthy Man. His BMI would have him as obesse. But he is far from it. He is not only tall but built like a tank! Very "big boned" as they say. Very broad shoulders and muscular.
He weighs more than what he should for his BMI to be correct.... But he is the perfect image of a healthy 28 yr old male!

I on the other hand have always been lower in Bmi than what I should be for my height. But i'm a small frame.

BMI does not factor in your "Build" only your height.......
Listen to your Doctor ... Not MFP
Good luck

BerryH

How about aiming for a healthy waist size? It's very simple and one size fits all. For men, a waist measurement of below 37" significantly reduces the risk of weight-related problems.

mroger801

I'm 5'8"

RhonndaJ

For me, I don't want to be 'ideal'. I want to be what is right for me. Right now I don't know what that weight is so I've set an arbitrary goal weight for the last weight I felt comfortable at and knew what weight I was. What I do after I reach that weight I'll decide when I get there.

The only reason I'm paying attention to BMI at the moment is as another marker or success. I get a kick out of seeing it drop every week I lose. But other that that I don't take it too seriously.

Trust in your doc, and if when you get there you feel you could lose a few more, talk it over with your doc and go for it.

kate2004rock

BUMP

-- I've sort of been wondering the same thing about myself. My Normal BMI range is between 119 and 155 ?? That's a HUGE range, I'm a medium/athletic build with hips and boobs, so I only hav to assume I should really be in the top half of that range.... I think I would be TOO skinny in the 120s...

(I'm 25 and 5'6")

katkins3

I agree with Babydull when she wrote: Just concentrate on getting happy and healthy, and getting your body to a place where you feel good about it.
I would also add to celebrate your NSVs too. A change in clothing size, progress in exercise, or a new activity tried can give you a boost. Not all progress is on the scale. A feeling of progress or lightness in spirit are wonderful fitness motivators! :happy:

SHBoss1673

I'm 5'8"

there is NO WAY you should ever be thinking 240 is a good weight for your height. Not unless you have steel plates for bones. I could see 200, maybe even 210 for someone with a lot of lean body mass, but 220 and up, I reserve that for someone over 6 foot, and even then, it's for people looking to build significant lean body mass. I can't even think of a way someone 5'8" can put on enough muscle to approach 240, there would have to be at least some extra fat for that to be the case (well, steroids aside that is).