(With Pictures) BMI Scale Question

synh6416
synh6416 Posts: 55
in Health and Weight Loss
**Kind of a repost of my earlier thread but with pictures this time.

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I heard the BMI scale isn't accurate and I'd like to know if I'm overweight or not or if I should even be worrying about losing weight. So should I go based off of pounds or a possibly inaccurate BMI? Or do I look like I need to lose weight period? What do you guys do? Do you even pay attention to the BMI? I don't know much about it honestly.

Should I lose weight or focus on toning? I can't tell. I'm 5'3, 153lb. and I wear between a size 5-9 (dependent on brand) jeans. I can still wear all my homecoming and prom dresses from high school, with the exception that my girls are spilling out the sides but no horrificly, just a little. I was 127 then. This is like 6-7 years later. I'm a college senior, student teacher, african american as well. According to the BMI scale, I'm overweight but I look the same as I did in high school except my thighs may be a bit bigger and I went up to a 36C.

Replies

  • justjenn1977
    justjenn1977 Posts: 437 Member
    do you feel fit? are you comfortable in your skin? can you do the activity you want to do?

    it doesn't matter what *WE* Think....

    it matters how you feel...

    honestly I don't really make weight goals... and the number on the scale is just another measurement to me... I look at my overall measurements and at my fitness and how fit I FEEL
  • synh6416
    synh6416 Posts: 55
    do you feel fit? are you comfortable in your skin? can you do the activity you want to do?

    it doesn't matter what *WE* Think....

    it matters how you feel...

    honestly I don't really make weight goals... and the number on the scale is just another measurement to me... I look at my overall measurements and at my fitness and how fit I FEEL

    If your asking can I run, jump, dance, skip, and walk up a flight of stairs without losing my breath, the answer is yes. But I don't feel comfortable totally in my skin. My thighs are bigger, yeah, I like that though. It's my arms and stomach that annoy me. I'm cutting out soda, started yesterday actually, and I just joined this site today with trying to lose at least 2lbs a week.
  • Deedsie
    Deedsie Posts: 348 Member
    You look good to me. Unfortunately, there is no way really to spot train. You may lose more from certain areas than others but that is mostly genetics. My boobs are always the first thing to shrink and my waist is the last. I guess I'm just blessed that way.:grumble:

    What do you want to accomplish? Because "toning" is kind of big statement that means different things to different people.

    ETA: Here is a website that talks about the myth of toning: http://scoobysworkshop.com/toning/
  • justjenn1977
    justjenn1977 Posts: 437 Member
    If your asking can I run, jump, dance, skip, and walk up a flight of stairs without losing my breath, the answer is yes. But I don't feel comfortable totally in my skin. My thighs are bigger, yeah, I like that though. It's my arms and stomach that annoy me. I'm cutting out soda, started yesterday actually, and I just joined this site today with trying to lose at least 2lbs a week.


    if you don't feel comfortable in your skin you have to options... change your skin... or change what comfortable is...

    so either exercise... or decide that you like how you are...

    I think EVERYONE needs to exercise... so my opinion is kinda biased... I do think you could tone/build muscle/slim up/cut/work out (whatever you want to call it)... but I don't think you have a lot to lose... you are 5'3" and 153... I am 5'4" and my GOAL is 150... so... I think that you would be ok if you gained some muscle
  • synh6416
    synh6416 Posts: 55
    You look good to me. Unfortunately, there is no way really to spot train. You may lose more from certain areas than others but that is mostly genetics. My boobs are always the first thing to shrink and my waist is the last. I guess I'm just blessed that way.:grumble:

    What do you want to accomplish? Because "toning" is kind of big statement that means different things to different people.

    ETA: Here is a website that talks about the myth of toning: http://scoobysworkshop.com/toning/

    I want my arms to not blow in the wind and my stomach to be a bit flatter but I always get bloated right after I eat so it's hard to tell if my stomach is already flat and I just don't know it because I eat all the time :p Still, I think there is some flab there i could lose haha
  • Deedsie
    Deedsie Posts: 348 Member

    I want my arms to not blow in the wind and my stomach to be a bit flatter but I always get bloated right after I eat so it's hard to tell if my stomach is already flat and I just don't know it because I eat all the time :p Still, I think there is some flab there i could lose haha

    I would suggest trying to build those muscles if you think that they are small. Try tricep dips, push ups and pull-ups. If you are bloating, it is likely from water retention so add in some more water. If there is a sport you like, that would probably be best for your core. I like running but some of friends really like basketball and tennis.

    If you think the muscles are plenty big and that the problem is fat over the muscle. I would cut calories and hope that those areas clean up first.
  • amberaz
    amberaz Posts: 328 Member
    I don't think you look overweight at all, maybe just a little out of shape. Focus on making healthy food choices, starting an exercise routine and perhaps building some muscle. For me, when I take care of myself in those ways, I automatically feel more confident and comfortable with my body. It sounds like you are really busy, and from a lot of stories on here, that is when people tend to get heavy--when they don' make the time to take care of themselves and get into healthy habits. Forming those habits now before you have a problem will help you to stay healthy and have a strong, fit body in the future.
  • llkilgore
    llkilgore Posts: 1,169 Member
    It's my arms and stomach that annoy me. I'm cutting out soda, started yesterday actually, and I just joined this site today with trying to lose at least 2lbs a week.

    You DO NOT need to lose 2lbs a week. Even a pound a week may be a little bit too aggressive at your current weight. You want to lose some fat and tone up, not lose muscle.
  • Awkward30
    Awkward30 Posts: 1,927 Member
    I'm sorry, I won't give my opinion of your physique because it would be just that, my opinion.

    There is no such thing as "toning" there is just reducing your body fat percentage. This is done by losing fat while losing less muscle, losing fat while maintaining muscle, losing fat while gaining muscle, or maintaining fat while gaining muscle. The most realistic way is to lose fat while maintaining/gaining muscle through resistance exercise.

    So if you feel as though you would prefer the look of less fat over your muscle, resistance exercise and a small calorie deficit are the way to go!

    Oh and BMI is a statistic. It works for most people. According to BMI, I am overweight, according to bodyfat, I'm moderately lean because I have more muscle mass than the average woman my height. As a result, I don't focus on the scale, I just stare endlessly at the mirror to decide how I feel about my body :)
  • synh6416
    synh6416 Posts: 55
    It's my arms and stomach that annoy me. I'm cutting out soda, started yesterday actually, and I just joined this site today with trying to lose at least 2lbs a week.

    You DO NOT need to lose 2lbs a week. Even a pound a week may be a little bit too aggressive at your current weight. You want to lose some fat and tone up, not lose muscle.

    Realy? I only want to get down to like 140 and then I think I'd be fine. I don't wanna be some boney chick. I like having some meat on my bones. Just not the excess fat haha :p
  • justjenn1977
    justjenn1977 Posts: 437 Member
    Realy? I only want to get down to like 140 and then I think I'd be fine. I don't wanna be some boney chick. I like having some meat on my bones. Just not the excess fat haha :p

    the closer you get to your goal (in your case 13#) ... the more slowly you should go...

    plus... if you want it to be a lasting change... slower is better
  • kellicci
    kellicci Posts: 409 Member
    Honestly I think your goal of 140 is great goal. But you really should do it at the 1 pound a week or less rate. If your goal is to tone up your arms and tummy then yoga and core work along with some cardio to burn some extra calories might be good. Helps with flexibility too it's not a fast fix but it does give good results over time.
  • llkilgore
    llkilgore Posts: 1,169 Member
    It's my arms and stomach that annoy me. I'm cutting out soda, started yesterday actually, and I just joined this site today with trying to lose at least 2lbs a week.

    You DO NOT need to lose 2lbs a week. Even a pound a week may be a little bit too aggressive at your current weight. You want to lose some fat and tone up, not lose muscle.

    Realy? I only want to get down to like 140 and then I think I'd be fine. I don't wanna be some boney chick. I like having some meat on my bones. Just not the excess fat haha :p

    Which is exactly why you need to lose more slowly: to avoid losing any meat off your bones unnecessary. The fat will come off only so fast, and the less of it you have to lose, the less of it you can expect to lose each week. Set your target too high and your body will make up the difference by burning muscle.
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
    I'm with IIkilgore, we all have a limit to how much fat we can oxidize in 24 hours and attempting to lose 2 lbs of body weight per week at your weight isn't going to lead to a greater reduction in fat mass. As stated, the less you have, the smaller the deficit you ought to employ. Lift heavy weights, eat adequate amounts of protein and assume a modest energy deficit no greater than 25% below maintenance. As you reduce body fat and grow closer to your goal, you'll have to keep shrinking the deficit.
  • synh6416
    synh6416 Posts: 55
    Ok, I'll shoot for the 1 pound a week. So I'll start weighing myself on Sundays and I'll also start watching my calorie intake tomorrow to make it more accurate since I registered to lose 2 pounds a week in stead of one...

    Thanks guys

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