What does your doctor say you should weigh?

serenapitala

I am 5 feet 4 inches and had set my UGW at 140. It was exactly 100 lbs less than I started and well within the "normal" BMI. This week I went to my doctor and found out I had set my goal too low. He told me that because of my body type, I should actually shoot for 155 (which would technically be in the overweight category, but he said that the BMI guideline doesn't really fit my type) and only go lower if it seemed necessary after that. Even if I go lower, he told me that I really shouldn't go below 145, which is just barely in the "normal" BMI range.
I honestly didn't realize that my body type could make that big of a difference in what my goal weight should be. Has anyone else had this happen?

Edit:I feel like I need to defend my doctor really quickly. He said that the number isn't important, but I asked for a weight to put into things like MFP and BodyMedia sites. He isn't pushing anything, I just wanted a number. I know it isn't the most important thing. I just thought it was interesting.
Also, as I said above, he didn't base it on BMI.

LetsGetFitMama

I am 5'7 and my Dr wants me at around 130lbs which isn't even my goal weight. I would be just as happy around 160-170 if I can get there.

geekyjock76

If my GP ever told me I had to weigh a certain amount, I'd search for another doctor. BMI tells me a "healthy" weight range for a guy just under 5'8" is between 130-161 lbs - I view that as tiny. My goal is to get back to at least 185 lbs at 7% body fat. Scale weight isn't the metric I go by.

MoreBean13

I would worry about it later, honestly, when you get closer to goal. You can make all the predictions you want now, but really you should base your decision on your body composition when you get close. At this point it's hard to say what your LBM will be, and any goal weight that doesn't consider LBM and BF% is just silly, IMO. It's body FAT that puts you at high disease risk, not the number on the scale.

kuger4119

My doctor didn't get caught up on any particular weight but did tell me that 160 lbs was a good weight to be at. The charts say that I'm supposed to be 140-160 lbs with the "target" at 149 lbs.

cnelson1974

I would worry about it later, honestly, when you get closer to goal. You can make all the predictions you want now, but really you should base your decision on your body composition when you get close. At this point it's hard to say what your LBM will be, and any goal weight that doesn't consider LBM and BF% is just silly, IMO. It's body FAT that puts you at high disease risk, not the number on the scale.

I'm with her, I wouldn't get so hung up on a number right now. I'm on the high end of the BMI too, because the last time I weighed 140 Ibs. even I thought I looked sickly. Just keep doing what your doing!

nancycaregiver

I'm a big boned woman 5' 10" tall. I had a number in mind when I went to the doctor last February. I asked him what he thought and he said about 176. My number was 175 so I'd say we are on the same track. However, now that I am getting close, I will be happy with 185. That's only 10 pounds away. :happy:

Gizziemoto

My doctor said my body was happy where it was. Well it is not and I want to get to 170.

bgelliott

No offense to doctors out there but generally they haven't a clue because they base it on BMI which is a bogus #. "In my opinion", 155lbs at 5'4" is still a little heavy unless you have super low body fat.

serenapitala

I feel like I need to defend my doctor really quickly. He said that the number isn't important, but I asked for a weight to put into things like MFP and BodyMedia sites. He isn't pushing anything, I just wanted a number. I know it isn't the most important thing. I just thought it was interesting.
Also, as I said above, he didn't base it on BMI.

hopsonc24

My nurse mid wife told me my body is probably most comfortable at 168. I am almost 5'8. I am currently 174 and would like to be 155 again.

twinketta

I am 5 feet 4 inches and had set my UGW at 140. It was exactly 100 lbs less than I started and well within the "normal" BMI. This week I went to my doctor and found out I had set my goal too low. He told me that because of my body type, I should actually shoot for 155 (which would technically be in the overweight category, but he said that the BMI guideline doesn't really fit my type) and only go lower if it seemed necessary after that. Even if I go lower, he told me that I really shouldn't go below 145, which is just barely in the "normal" BMI range.
I honestly didn't realize that my body type could make that big of a difference in what my goal weight should be. Has anyone else had this happen?

I am the same height as you and before I started MFP I was 175lbs and morbidly obese. My doctor prescribed Xenical and liposuction. I took the Xenical tablets and I went for the prep talk with the surgeon. He told me to lose at least 28 lbs for the lip to work.


A few weeks later I went out for lunch with my Dad who is quite elderly and some guy started shouting at my Dad cos he was taking too long to order the food at the counter.

I went over and called the guy out..he called me a fat f**k `big wake up call forget BMI and doctors`

I joined MFP and started losing without the meds/docs/surgeon Sometimes you just got to take a hold of your own life x

MoreBean13

I feel like I need to defend my doctor really quickly. He said that the number isn't important, but I asked for a weight to put into things like MFP and BodyMedia sites. He isn't pushing anything, I just wanted a number. I know it isn't the most important thing. I just thought it was interesting.
Also, as I said above, he didn't base it on BMI.

That makes more sense. The difference between 140 and 155 should not impact your approach much, though. Modest deficit, whatever activity you choose to include, appropriate macros will get you where you need to be.

MoreBean13

I am 5 feet 4 inches and had set my UGW at 140. It was exactly 100 lbs less than I started and well within the "normal" BMI. This week I went to my doctor and found out I had set my goal too low. He told me that because of my body type, I should actually shoot for 155 (which would technically be in the overweight category, but he said that the BMI guideline doesn't really fit my type) and only go lower if it seemed necessary after that. Even if I go lower, he told me that I really shouldn't go below 145, which is just barely in the "normal" BMI range.
I honestly didn't realize that my body type could make that big of a difference in what my goal weight should be. Has anyone else had this happen?

I am the same height as you and before I started MFP I was 175lbs and morbidly obese. My doctor prescribed Xenical and liposuction. I took the Xenical tablets and I went for the prep talk with the surgeon. He told me to lose at least 28 lbs for the lip to work.


A few weeks later I went out for lunch with my Dad who is quite elderly and some guy started shouting at my Dad cos he was taking too long to order the food at the counter.

I went over and called the guy out..he called me a fat f**k `big wake up call forget BMI and doctors`

I joined MFP and started losing without the meds/docs/surgeon Sometimes you just got to take a hold of your own life x

WHAT?!?! I can't even....

taso42

huh. good thing i don't take diet and fitness advice from doctors.

18guyhornet

If my GP ever told me I had to weigh a certain amount, I'd search for another doctor. BMI tells me a "healthy" weight range for a guy just under 5'8" is between 130-161 lbs - I view that as tiny. My goal is to get back to at least 185 lbs at 7% body fat. Scale weight isn't the metric I go by.

^^^^^THIS

chelovik

huh. good thing i don't take diet and fitness advice from doctors.

I didn't take her advice she was thrilled that she could drop my meds down and took me off one completely

aproc

I wouldn't trust doctors on that.. I've been told I should be 10 pounds more than I am. I'm actually trying to lose some because my bodyfat is higher than I'd like.
I've also been told I was just fine at a time where I was underweight years ago. I even told him I was working on re-gaining weight and was there about dizzy spells! He told me I didn't have to worry about it and was fine where I was.

neverstray

Ugh! Doctors. Don't get me started. They have like one Heath and nutrition class and think they can tell you things about it because they are an M.D.

Some of them might know things because they are people too. Mine is active and runs and surfs and eats a healthy diet. So, he knows stuff similar to the way I know things. But, that doesn't mean he should be providing that as professional advice.

VelociMama

I would worry about it later, honestly, when you get closer to goal. You can make all the predictions you want now, but really you should base your decision on your body composition when you get close. At this point it's hard to say what your LBM will be, and any goal weight that doesn't consider LBM and BF% is just silly, IMO. It's body FAT that puts you at high disease risk, not the number on the scale.

^ Great answer!

ElizaRoche

I have never understood what ppl mean by - big frame- , - small frame- ...

Bones in all the ppl are the same, its the muscle/fat what makes you skinny or overweight/obese. Mom always said i had a ´big frame´, I found out how to discover if im really into the big frame side only to discover that im not, im a small one.

Ppl that say that honestly I think its because we have been fat all our life and they are just scared to see us skinny.. or way too afraid to see a big change in us.

mem50

I told my doc he was crazy when he told me what I should weigh. 5'8" here and he said 130. Puh-Leese.....I tried 140 out for "size" and looked like someone should bury me quick!!!!!

ironanimal

My Doctor told me my weight wasn't an issue (yes, really) because my body fat was dropping so well between visits.

dsjohndrow

I am 6'1" and he wants me at 187. Currently 203-4

Weebs628

I'm just playing it by ear right now. My original goal weight was 150. Hit that and I can lose more so I changed it to 130 which is how much I weighed when I graduated high school. I started lifting now and am paying more attention to my body fat percentage. I'm only 5'2" and I've seen goal weights for my height from 98 to 145 pounds. I'm trying not to get set on a certain number too soon.

Lyssa62

my doctor only asks how I'm doing it....she's never told me how much to lose.

dsjohndrow

All doctors would be negligent by not telling you to get to the top number of your healthy range.

Athena98501

I am 5 feet 4 inches and had set my UGW at 140. It was exactly 100 lbs less than I started and well within the "normal" BMI. This week I went to my doctor and found out I had set my goal too low. He told me that because of my body type, I should actually shoot for 155 (which would technically be in the overweight category, but he said that the BMI guideline doesn't really fit my type) and only go lower if it seemed necessary after that. Even if I go lower, he told me that I really shouldn't go below 145, which is just barely in the "normal" BMI range.
I honestly didn't realize that my body type could make that big of a difference in what my goal weight should be. Has anyone else had this happen?

I'm about your height, with a very large frame (same wrist measurement as my 5'10" large-framed husband), so I thought I could offer a little insight here. I had more than one doctor recommend that I lose weight when I was at 142. I have been most happy with my weight when it was 135. That would've put me in the low 20s for body fat percentage, which is healthy. I would recommend you work backward by determining your lean body mass, and then add a healthy range of body fat, and make that your goal (possibly adjusting as you go, as your lean body mass could change as you go).

Oishii

The only comment a Dr has ever made about my weight has been to tell me I'm too thin to be diabetic (some had started in the family. My mum, even when within a healthy BMI, is told to lose weight by the Dr because of heart health issues, therefore I keep that in mind when thinking what my weight should be. I'd rather stay lighter and hopefully not develop the issues she has than have to try to lose weight once I start to have issues.

cwolfman13

huh. good thing i don't take diet and fitness advice from doctors.

I didn't take her advice she was thrilled that she could drop my meds down and took me off one completely

This is what my doc and I are shooting for. My goal is currently 180, but I want it to be a lean 180.

Legs_McGee

I'm 5'10. My doctor told me I shouldn't weigh less than 145 because I'd be putting myself at risk for osteoporosis, but I decided my goal of 138 was close enough. I run, lift weights, and have lots of calcium in my diet so I think my bones are just fine.