Reached goal size, still over healthy BMI.... what now?
spoonyspork
Posts: 238 Member
I've lost ~60 lbs in the last ~7.5 months and am now juuuuust shy of the 'top' end of a healthy BMI. As in, within 2lbs. However, I am now at my goal size of 6, which is where I was prior to getting pregnant (and also 30 lbs lighter than my current weight though WAY more muscular and toned than I am now).
I really have no wish to go under a size 6, as I'm still a 12-14 up top and it's already starting to look a little silly. I also love my soft curves!
I figure I have a few options:
1. Slowly lose the last couple lbs and hope I don't drop another size, and stop right at the top of healthy BMI.
2. Keep going as I am, definitely go down another size or two, and reach mid-range of healthy BMI as I was in my late teens/early 20's.
3. Stop now and move to maintenance or even bulking (I don't wish to get really toned -- a bit yes as I am a rider and the muscle makes that easier... and as a rider I'm sure a bit of bulk will be inevitable, but again I love my soft curves!)
4. Stop now and let my skin catch up to my new body... and hope that in playing with finding where my true 'maintenance' is I still lose those last few lbs and not gain a bit more.
If y'all were in my situation, what would you go for? This? Other options? I know only I can make that decision but trying to figure out a sensible end result and I'm sure others here have been in similar situations!
I really have no wish to go under a size 6, as I'm still a 12-14 up top and it's already starting to look a little silly. I also love my soft curves!
I figure I have a few options:
1. Slowly lose the last couple lbs and hope I don't drop another size, and stop right at the top of healthy BMI.
2. Keep going as I am, definitely go down another size or two, and reach mid-range of healthy BMI as I was in my late teens/early 20's.
3. Stop now and move to maintenance or even bulking (I don't wish to get really toned -- a bit yes as I am a rider and the muscle makes that easier... and as a rider I'm sure a bit of bulk will be inevitable, but again I love my soft curves!)
4. Stop now and let my skin catch up to my new body... and hope that in playing with finding where my true 'maintenance' is I still lose those last few lbs and not gain a bit more.
If y'all were in my situation, what would you go for? This? Other options? I know only I can make that decision but trying to figure out a sensible end result and I'm sure others here have been in similar situations!
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Replies
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If you're happy with where you are...then stay there.0
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Congrats! My goal is to lose midways my healthy BMI to put me in a safety zone... This is my goal. However, I have decided to be flexible depending on how I look and feel once I begin approaching my goal. What are your health stats? Do they suggest you should lose more.0
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A lot of people think the whole BMI thing is a bunch of BS. I think a size 6 is friggin awesome...and a 60 pound loss is fantastic! But you need to do what you're comfortable with. If I was a size 6 I'd be pretty happy with that!
(PS- I'm a loose 8 so I might be in '6-Ville' after I lose these last 7 pounds
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My goal is a six as well. I am at a loose 12 with about 50 more to lose...maybe 40 if I reach a size 6 sooner than expected.0
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You could try to maintain for several months where you are now and then re-evaluate.
If you are happiest with your body at the high end of the bmi for your height then maybe that is where you should stay.0 -
Got to ask, how can you be a size 6 but a size 12-14 on top? Maybe if you lost more you would lose from the top?
But if you're happy where you are, you don't have to lose more. It depends a lot on your frame and how much muscle you have too... BMI doesn't mean that much. I have a friend who is a big smaller than me but weighs 10 more pounds but still look amazing.0 -
BMI is not everything, especially with some variation between body composition. I'm a BMI of 24, but I wear a size 2 pants and my BF% is "average," so I'm not terribly concerned.0
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BMI scales do not take muscle into consideration...therefore those tables are garbage for people who exercise hard and have a muscular build....so don't worry about that. You sound like you are at your goal to me!0
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I don't pay any attention to BMI - count me in the BS crowd. Someone who has a lot of muscle with very low body fat can still show as being in an unhealthy BMI range due to their weight - it's too broad.
Congrats on the size 6 goal! What sort of exercise do you do? Any weights or strength training? Sounds like at this point you might want some body recomp, so if you're not lifting, you might want to look into that. Nothing has given me better results with getting the results I wanted (firm, fit body, less fat, revealing lean muscle) than picking up the weights.
Meanwhile, go with how you look and feel rather than what the BMI numbers tell you. Good luck!0 -
Congrats! My goal is to lose midways my healthy BMI to put me in a safety zone... This is my goal. However, I have decided to be flexible depending on how I look and feel once I begin approaching my goal. What are your health stats? Do they suggest you should lose more.
^^^This!
I do have a certain goal weight and BMI in mind, but if I start to look sick or unhealthy or generally spooky-crazy before I get there, then screw that! I'm not even sure how accurate the BMI thing even is sometimes. It's based on height/weight, right? Well, what about body builders who weigh lots, but have little body fat? IJS
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If you're happy where you are then stay there. You may lose a little more as you increase calories to maintenance but 2 lbs is within the range of normal fluctuations and I wouldn't be concerned about it.0
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Due to vanity sizing aiming a 6 in one brand could be a 10 in another. (I wear a 6 in Loft jeans and a 10 in Eddie Bauer jeans) I would have a specific weight or measurement (as in tape measure) goal instead of clothing sizes. If you are happy where you are, welcome to maintenance!0
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I'm wondering about this as well. Also, I'm curious about option #4 on your list: do you have excess / loose skin issues? If so, maintaining where you are for a while and letting your body heal and catch up is probably a good idea.0 -
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BMI is a great measurement tool when looking at populations, for example statistically if the average BMI of the UK is x then we can say they are an overweight/obese nation. From a personal perspective it is not that accurate and is used so much by the medical profession because it is easy and cheap to use.
Personally I think BMI is just one of many tools in our toolbox for judging where we are compared to our goals, along with weight, bf%, the tape measure, how we look in the mirror and more importantly how we feel about ourselves0 -
kelleybean1 wrote: »Due to vanity sizing aiming a 6 in one brand could be a 10 in another. (I wear a 6 in Loft jeans and a 10 in Eddie Bauer jeans) I would have a specific weight or measurement (as in tape measure) goal instead of clothing sizes. If you are happy where you are, welcome to maintenance!
This!
Plus check with your doctor and check on things like waist-hip ratio and waist circumference. Yes, you should be happy where you are, but I'm guessing you also want to make sure you are getting the health benefits.0 -
Thanks for the replies guys!
I'm so big on top because I'm a 34GG/36F. I was DDD even when I was only 125lbs. I'm very.... some people would say 'blessed', I say 'cursed' XD (I buy 12-14 tops that are super clingy so they don't look like bags)
So far the 6 is pretty consistent. Some brands are tighter and some looser, but it's been a pretty safe bet in everything but breeches! 0 -
I'm a US 6-8 now and just at the very maximum BMI ...if you're happy stick with it0
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It's very easy...large breasts. I am also currently a size 6 in jeans (just bought new ones Sunday!!!) and probably a 12-14 top (I just bought a couple of size large shirts as well). I have large breasts and I suspect a large rib cage. I also think my shoulders are a little broader than many woman. My hips on the other hand are not wide, and my thighs are relatively slim.Got to ask, how can you be a size 6 but a size 12-14 on top? Maybe if you lost more you would lose from the top?
But if you're happy where you are, you don't have to lose more. It depends a lot on your frame and how much muscle you have too... BMI doesn't mean that much. I have a friend who is a big smaller than me but weighs 10 more pounds but still look amazing.
If you're not a pear body shape, it is actually quite common to be a larger size on top. Large breasts will just exacerbate that.
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BMI isn't a very good indicator of health...at best it's a super generalized metric.
Like someone else mentioned, it doesn't take muscle mass into account. So, for example, a body builder with little Body Fat will still be considered "obese" on the BMI chart.
If you can get your Body Fat % measured, do that instead. It will give you a better idea of your current health status.
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OP, you said there is a 30 pound difference from the last time you wore a size six. I think if I were you I would decide which body you liked better. If you liked the more muscular size six, then I would first lose more weight and then focus on adding some muscle. Add in some strength training now then kick it up a notch when you have lost more of the fat.
If you prefer your new less muscular body, then stop and stay where you are. The size is just a number.0 -
If you're a size 6, you're at a normal and healthy weight. There is no "safety zone". You can have a heart attack or stroke at any weight. You can get cancer at any weight. At any weight, the probability of eventual death is 100%.
What is unhealthy is obsessing about numbers. BMI is just a number. It applies to populations, not individuals.
Exercise is great. Maintaining your losses is great. If you want to be thinner and can safely lose weight, feel free to do so. In my opinion, maintenance is a reasonable (and challenging enough) goal. You might also think about switching from "body" to "performance goals" (e.g. longer and harder rides, faster times - maybe a race or a group ride - whatever excites you).
Congratulations on your loss!0 -
MoiAussi93 wrote: »
It's very easy...large breasts. I am also currently a size 6 in jeans (just bought new ones Sunday!!!) and probably a 12-14 top (I just bought a couple of size large shirts as well). I have large breasts and I suspect a large rib cage. I also think my shoulders are a little broader than many woman. My hips on the other hand are not wide, and my thighs are relatively slim.Got to ask, how can you be a size 6 but a size 12-14 on top? Maybe if you lost more you would lose from the top?
But if you're happy where you are, you don't have to lose more. It depends a lot on your frame and how much muscle you have too... BMI doesn't mean that much. I have a friend who is a big smaller than me but weighs 10 more pounds but still look amazing.
If you're not a pear body shape, it is actually quite common to be a larger size on top. Large breasts will just exacerbate that.
^yup, this. I have a wee waist, fairly large rib cage and smallish hips (hips and rib cage match) and HUGE chest. Which means I carry weight really well... which is how I didn't really notice the upward creep until it'd gotten really bad.
I'm pretty happy with how I look, REALLY happy with how I feel. Only not-happy is the loose skin on my stomach which I figure will eventually shrink up - I hope!0 -
I'm a 36F (DDD) and easily fit into medium tops, so I'm confused, too.
Anyway, if you're happy with your body right now, then stay where you are.0 -
Go by how you feel when you look at yourself... If you like what you see, then you are where you need to be! Alternatively, go for continuing to lose a bit more weight, you may find that you start to lose from the top and become more evened out..what you imagine as looking *more* silly might actually turn into weight finally coming off other parts of your body and you like that more. And if you dont like it, you can always go back up again.
I'm 5'10" pear shaped, I look teeny on top and then BAM on the bottom...I have about a 2-4 clothing size difference depending on my weight. Its crazy really, how I look so disproportionate until I hit about 155, and then my lower half just shrinks up... 145 is the lowest Ive been in my adult life, and while I looked more "normal" since my body was a lot more balanced, I really missed having a big butt lol So 155 is the lowest I know I can go before that will start to disappear...and 160 is purrrfect for me.
So yeah, you wont know til you try. BUT if you like where you are now, dont feel pressured just based off BMI and charts and such. Getting to healthy weight and feeling good is what matters the most.
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I totally agree that BMI is mostly BS. More specifically I would like to say that BMI can be used as some kind of indicator only for "average" person, pretty much nullifying the whole point of the index.
Just an example. I found my old FB post from Dec 6th 2014 when I was watching Beaver Creek Super-G competition. For every skier the vital stats were shown and from that I calculated that the winner of previous event had BMI 27.6, indicating significant overweight. Yeah, right, alpine skiers look just like sumo wrestlers...0 -
Boob fat is not going to increase your heart attack and stroke risk the way abdominal fat (visceral fat) is.
It's one of the less remarked-on shortcomings of BMI, but it's there.
You're fine.0
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