Body Measurements? What's Healthy? Goals?

orationem
orationem Posts: 4
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi, I have taken my body measurements, and on another site I'm using, I have the ability to set a goal for various body part measurements. However, I am unsure of what my measurements mean, if they are healthy, too small, too big, and what goals I should make. I have tried calculating my body fat percentage using online calculators, and most of them put me around 12%, a few at 15%. There were also two or three that put me at 30-34+%, which I know is totally off. I am guessing my body fat percentage is between 12-15%, or roughly around there, probably within a couple percentage points in either direction. I am looking to gain weight, my doctor wants me to end up weighing around 115 or so. Here are my stats. Could someone help me interpret them and determine if they are too small, too big, or just fine, as well as what some good goals would be for changes in these measurements. If I am trying to gain weight, there are going to have to be changes in my current measurements, what would you suggest I aim for with these changes? Should I try to reduce anything? What should I aim to make bigger (where should the weight I need to gain go- build muscle somewhere specific)? How are my body proportions? Thanks so much!

Age: 21
Height: 5' 5.5"
Weight: 105lbs
Body Fat Percentage: 12-15%? +/- a couple percentage points? Most online calculators guess it around 11.5-12%
Ankle, Left: 7in
Ankle, Right: 7in
Bust: 31in
Calf, Left: 12in
Calf, Right: 12in
Chest: 26in
Forearm, Left: 8.5in
Forearm, Right: 8.5in
Head: 21in
Hips: 31in
Neck: 12in
Shoulders: 35in
Thigh (Gluteal), Left: 17.5in
Thigh (Gluteal), Right: 18in
Thigh (Mid), Left: 17in
Thigh (Mid), Right: 17in
Upper Arm, Left: 10in
Upper Arm, Right: 10in
Waist: 24in
Waist to Hip Ratio: 0.77
Wrist, Left: 5.5in
Wrist, Right: 5.75in

Note: I did all of these by myself, and a few of these measurements, such as shoulders or the arms, could be slightly off, probably by a max of an inch or so in either direction, due to awkward angling, etc. Thanks so much in advance for any insights or suggestions you have as to what would be good measurements and how my current ones are (too big, too small, just right) as well as how my body proportions are and how I could aim to change these measurements as I try to gain weight. I have always been pretty skinny/slender, basically since birth (I'm a triplet, so that could affect it). No eating disorders are or have ever been involved. I think I would look a little better if I put a couple pounds on, maybe enough so you can't see all my veins and ribs/back/other bones not sticking out? Little scary when you can see that.. If you want to find my hip bone, you can see it sticking out easily, and you can literally knock on it and it sounds like knocking on wood or a table or something.. Plus a few extra pounds might help me keep a little warmer and not get so cold so easily! Anyway, I'm rambling now, but thanks so much in advance for any advice or insights or suggestions anyone might have!

Replies

  • kgeyser
    kgeyser Posts: 22,505 Member
    You don't get to choose which area of the body you gain or lose weight, especially when it comes to fat. If you are looking to put on muscle, you would eat at a surplus and lift heavy weights to build muscle.

    Basing your goal measurements on what someone else, especially a bunch of internet strangers, thinks they should be is not the way to go. You need to decide what you want your goal body to look like and go from there. Any questions about health or what is healthy for your body should be directed to your doctor.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    I think you are way over analyzing. Your weight is too low. Your body fat is probably too low for someone you age. Your doctor wants you to gain weight. You should gain weight.
  • orationem
    orationem Posts: 4
    I do agree that my weight and body fat percentage are too low, and I am looking to gain some fat but also some muscle. I'm basically just looking for a starting point for where I should focus on building muscle, what body parts/muscle groups to focus on. I'm fine with gaining some fat, maybe get up to around 15-17% body fat percentage, wherever that ends up, but also want to build muscle. I'm simply looking for some unbiased insight, and I am pretty new to this sort of stuff and am not really sure what is considered typical or what I should aim for, or how I currently compare with other women.

    @kgeyser I'm sort of looking for examples of what a good goal body should be, because I'm not entirely sure what that could look like or what is considered attractive or whatever. I'm basically just starting out and don't have a whole lot of knowledge about or experience with coming up with a goal body, because I'm not sure what is considered acceptable. I may think 17" thighs are big when they're really not, or I may think 9 or 10" arms are too skinny when that's really what is normal. I'm just trying to gather information about what a goal body might look like or what I could/should focus on when trying to build muscle or focus workouts on certain muscle groups. I haven't ever really thought about coming up with a goal body or about what that would look like, and I don't really know what that could look like or whatever. I'm basically looking for examples to use as a starting point.
  • stephgas
    stephgas Posts: 159 Member
    everyone is built different, everyone's perception of what is considered attractive is different, and everyone's healthy numbers are different.

    gaining weight can be troublesome for naturally thin people - and it sounds like you're just naturally thin. my husband spent years working to gain muscle weight (he's gained over 40lbs now). for most people it's about upping your calorie intake and weight training. if you belong to a gym, it might be worth it to ask for a free personal training session to learn how to use many of the machines properly. my husband works out 5 days a week and works different body areas each day - legs, chest, back, arms, shoulders. (i really don't get the need for a whole day for shoulders, but whatever.)

    he's also added in lots of extra calories, often with whey protein shakes, whole grains, and chicken. and healthy fats - avocados, nuts... like others have mentioned, focusing too much on the numbers can be troublesome - you might want to start out just trying different things to see what works for you, then focus on gaining a few pounds at a time to see how you feel. then when you find a comfortable weight, you would go onto maintenance.
  • orationem
    orationem Posts: 4
    Yeah, I am naturally thin. I think it is partly from being a triplet and partly it just runs in the family- my brother is kinda tall/skinny, my sister is somewhat more average, my grandpa on my dad's side was, and also on my dad's side my aunt and (female) cousins are naturally skinny as well.

    Unfortunately, I don't belong to a gym, they are far too expensive and I really can't afford it right now.. However, I have been doing somewhere between intermediate to advanced Pilates videos 6 days a week at home about an hour a day, using the Blogilates website/free workout calendar- it has everything planned out for each day for you, different videos each day/week, and a new routine/setup each month to prevent plateauing. I just started this though at the beginning of the month, so I have only done it for a week, but liking it so far. It does help with building some muscle, while at the same time doesn't burn too many calories. My doctor recommended doing something like Pilates to build strength and muscle, so I can work out at home with no equipment and not burn too many calories that I need to eat back.

    I am supposed to eat/am aiming to eat between 2000 and 2500 calories each day, 105-126g protein, 55-83g fats, 271-312g carbohydrates per day. I also use whey protein shakes, protein bars, nuts particularly peanuts at the moment, etc. I am a vegetarian though. I have heard avocados being recommended quite frequently, so I am thinking of starting to try and incorporate them into my diet. Yeah, I'm not really focusing all that much on the numbers, just trying to get a general idea for a starting point on where to focus my muscle building efforts/strength training. I'm going to try to see if I can gain approximately 0.5lb a week. I want to gain muscle, but also some fat to bump up my body fat percentage into a healthier range, 15-17% might be realistic and healthier than a roughly estimated and maybe not totally accurate 12%?

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