Height and Weight Chart

SteelySunshine

http://www.healthchecksystems.com/heightweightchart.htm

I have seen so many people asking the question, "why is it so hard to lose x amount of pounds?" They go on to say something like I am 5'8" and I weigh 140 lbs or I am 64 kg and I just want to lose 20 more pounds.

I really don't think it's their fault they want to get down to 120-125 lbs even though 120 is underweight. There really is a lot of pressure for people to be super thin even to the point of being underweight. But, what really gets me is when no one says anything about them wanting to get to the point of being underweight. I think we should encourage people to reach a healthy weight and to just be as healthy as they can be. We shouldn't be encouraging people to lose 20-30 lbs when it would put them in an underweight category. But, but, but what if they are skinny fat or something? Well the answer to that is simple, encourage them to lift weights so that they can put on some muscle and work on their body composition, because there is nothing healthy about being 120 lbs and being at more than 36% bf. Losing weight isn't the answer to that problem, lifting is.

And this is advice to anyone that falls within a healthy weight range and still wants to lose weight. I think it's fine of course if you are at the low end of a healthy weight. But, wanting to lose more than a half a pound a week when you are anywhere in the range on this chart is not realistic in the slightest. You may already be at your ideal weight. The thing to do when you get to the top of the chart is to find out your BF% if it is 24% and 36% you are in a healthy range if it is lower then you are in the underweight possibly athletic range, there is nothing wrong with being in the athletic range but that is pretty unsustainable unless an athlete who is in training mode. Most people are lucky if they have an hour a day to work out and that really is fine to stay healthy. But, working out an hour a day, isn't going to necessarily get you to a goal weight that is less than your ideal and if it does it's going to take a long long time, because your body will fight that. It's not starvation mode it's survival mode.

trentwiggly

I couldn't care less what the number is. I'm built like a viking. BMI is never friendly to me. This weight chart looks spot on what is healthy for me. I've been super low before and super low for me is 133lbs and I'm 5'8". I looked emaciated, and I even had a bit of muscle. Now I've got some great muscle mass and know I have to be reasonable for my weight loss. I chose a number just to have a goal, but I'm not married to it.

SteelySunshine

I couldn't care less what the number is. I'm built like a viking. BMI is never friendly to me. This weight chart looks spot on what is healthy for me. I've been super low before and super low for me is 133lbs and I'm 5'8". I looked emaciated, and I even had a bit of muscle. Now I've got some great muscle mass and know I have to be reasonable for my weight loss. I chose a number just to have a goal, but I'm not married to it.

I wish more people had your attitude. I may never make it down to even the top of the chart for my height. I am very large boned and have a lot of muscle mass, I don't even want to think about what I would have to lose in muscle to get down to a "normal" weight. Of course I might just naturally lose some lean mass, so far it's no go, but that could change. I will have a lot better an idea of what is realistic in around 6 mos.

But, this is more or less directed at people that don't even bother to look at the chart and then when they are already at where they need to be weight wise wonder why it's so hard to lose. And it's for those that cheer them on as they try to go 10-20 lbs below a healthy weight.

stwake9596

Thanks for this. It is a reminder that I don't need to weigh 120lbs to be "healthy"!

Hakarn

I can't stand "healthy" numbers either. From those charts, I am in the large frame category. Right now I am at ~22% bodyfat and want to lose another 20 pounds or so to see what I'll look like at 15%. From the "healthy" chart, it says I have to lose 60 pounds. That would put me at negative bodyfat%. Ha.

SteelySunshine

I can't stand "healthy" numbers either. From those charts, I am in the large frame category. Right now I am at ~22% bodyfat and want to lose another 20 pounds or so to see what I'll look like at 15%. From the "healthy" chart, it says I have to lose 60 pounds. That would put me at negative bodyfat%. Ha.

I am right there with you. But, my composition will change over the course of this life style. I just don't know how much lean weight I will end up losing thus I have no idea where I am going to end up. I will have to constantly reassess since I have so much to lose especially if I look at that chart. I still think the chart is a good tool for most people it's just not everything. It should be used in conjunction with a BF analysis and I think that would help most people tremendously especially people like us with larger frames and more lean weight.

Hakarn

When I am eating clean and lifting, I notice (for myself anyway), for every 5 pounds lost, around 1 pound is lean body mass. The LBM also seems to spring back faster than bodyfat once you change up your diet. Keep shooting for a healthier you instead of some guideline numbers and you will do just fine.