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The scales say I'm overweight but I don't look it!!!

00mid
00mid Posts: 79 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm 5'3 and weigh 10.8, I know this is classed as overweight but I don't look big any more! I have a tiny pot now and my stomach muscles look slightly toned, and all my friends and family comment on how skinny I look. (My thighs are larger than average but I think there might be some muscle there.) Also I'm fit and healthy. Does anyone else have the same problem? The only reason why I'm still trying to lose weight is because of the number on the scales but I'm happy with the way I look and think I'd look too skinny if I lost any more weight.

Replies

  • 00mid
    00mid Posts: 79 Member
    10.8=151.2lbs
  • steff274
    steff274 Posts: 227 Member
    If you're happy maintain where you are ;)
  • steff274
    steff274 Posts: 227 Member
    10st 8 is 148 pounds btw..
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    If you're happy, stay where you are. :)
  • astrose00
    astrose00 Posts: 754 Member
    CLEARLY you must have a good amount of muscle and that is why the scale is not lining up with your expectations. A lot of people go by the scale but in actuality your size, fat/muscle composition and health should be what matter. If you are happy with where you are, stop trying to arbitrary pounds and move to maintaining your current body.
  • astrose00
    astrose00 Posts: 754 Member
    oh yes and CONGRATS!!!
  • segacs
    segacs Posts: 4,599 Member
    Have you had your body composition analysis done? If your body fat percentage is low, as it is for most athletes, then you will be carrying around more muscle (which is denser, i.e. weighs more per volume) and less fat, so the traditional BMI measurements won't be accurate for you.

    Try this calculator for athletic BMI: askdocweb.com/bmi4lean.html
  • vismal
    vismal Posts: 2,463 Member
    Using BMI I am overweight by 11 lbs in my avatar picture. It's a worthless tool for anyone who has done any kind of lean mass building. Many professional athletes are overweight or obese according to the BMI scale. For your average joe who does little to no exercise, BMI is a decent indicator of how being overweight or obese might but them at risk certain co-morbidities.
  • steff274
    steff274 Posts: 227 Member
    edited December 2014
    That athletic bmi scale is abit scary!! I have a decent amount of muscle.. Biceps, calves from working out but I am ribby am normal on the other bmi scale that 1 gives me a bmi of 16!! :o
  • segacs
    segacs Posts: 4,599 Member
    steff274 wrote: »
    That athletic bmi scale is abit scary!! I have a decent amount of muscle.. Biceps, calves from working out but I am ribby am normal on the other bmi scale that 1 gives me a bmi of 16!! :o

    It's not meant for everyone, steff. It's meant for athletes with a lot of muscle, for whom regular BMI isn't accurate.
  • steff274
    steff274 Posts: 227 Member
    segacs wrote: »
    steff274 wrote: »
    That athletic bmi scale is abit scary!! I have a decent amount of muscle.. Biceps, calves from working out but I am ribby am normal on the other bmi scale that 1 gives me a bmi of 16!! :o

    It's not meant for everyone, steff. It's meant for athletes with a lot of muscle, for whom regular BMI isn't accurate.

    Good!! :p going to cause me to panic!! Lol I have a bmi of 19.2 I am very mindful to eat enough to prevent a drop in weight ;)
  • segacs
    segacs Posts: 4,599 Member
    steff274 wrote: »
    Good!! :p going to cause me to panic!! Lol I have a bmi of 19.2 I am very mindful to eat enough to prevent a drop in weight ;)

    Sorry, didn't mean to cause any panic! Sounds like you're doing good, Steff. Keep it up.
  • 00mid
    00mid Posts: 79 Member
    segacs wrote: »
    Have you had your body composition analysis done? If your body fat percentage is low, as it is for most athletes, then you will be carrying around more muscle (which is denser, i.e. weighs more per volume) and less fat, so the traditional BMI measurements won't be accurate for you.

    Try this calculator for athletic BMI: askdocweb.com/bmi4lean.html

    I wouldn't say I have a lot of muscle,though.

    I'm only slightly toned :neutral_face:
  • segacs
    segacs Posts: 4,599 Member
    Once again, if you're happy with how you look and if you're healthy, then there's really no need to worry about the number on the scale.
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  • Dnarules
    Dnarules Posts: 2,081 Member
    Congrats. I started at 189 and, through exercise and calorie counting, lost weight. When i got to 150, I looked so much better and was getting compliments at work. I honestly considered stopping. I took a brief break and went down to 135, which was good for me. You can reassess every 5 pounds.

    You may want to consider weight lifting. Eat at a small deficit and lift and see what happens.

    Unfortunately, I didnt stay at 135 :( . Gotta start over.
  • segacs
    segacs Posts: 4,599 Member
    MrM27 wrote: »
    It's actually the other way around. It's meant for the general population not bodybuilders. Bodybuilders would likely be labeled overweight. It doesn't account for lean muscle. Arnold in his prime would have been considered obese along with the the rest of them.

    If you read my post again, I said that the athlete's calculator is meant for athletes, not for anyone. The general population should use a regular BMI calculator. The athletic one is more geared towards bodybuilders and other people who would be falsely labeled obese on a regular BMI calculator.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    If you're happy with where you are, then why is that number important? Ignore it. WTG
  • terar21
    terar21 Posts: 523 Member
    Some people just carry weight differently. So you could be fit and healthy at a higher weight but look smaller than the average person at that weight. I have a similar problem (well, it's not really a problem...its a benefit that we can look good at a higher weight). You just keep living your healthy lifestyle and ignore the scale. Go by what you feel and how you think you look.
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  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    Sorry, not much help here. But I'm 5"8 and 66kgs approx (146lbs) and I still have 11ish lbs to lose. You must have a lot more muscle than me B)
This discussion has been closed.

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