Is your BMI "normal" now?

2

Replies

  • yesimpson
    yesimpson Posts: 1,372 Member
    BMI is a perfectly good tool for me. I am small framed and not very muscular - I have had to struggle for every scrap of muscle I have at the minute :D
    When I started losing weight my BMI was 23. Now it's 20 and I feel this suits me much better. Much lower does not look great, as it all comes off my upper body and I start to look a bit scrawny for my tastes. If I was a stockier body shape I would be perfectly happy with a higher BMI.

    I do think most people can be accommodated within the 'normal' BMI range. In all honesty, I think very few people you're likely to encounter in everyday life are genuine outliers (I'm thinking particularly of those I know IRL who scoff at BMI; they're definitely not rugby players or weightlifters but feel they must have too much muscle to ever get under 25). I think the idea of what is a 'healthy' weight has got a bit warped.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    roblloyd89 wrote: »

    I
    roblloyd89 wrote: »
    Anyone performing weight training to any decent level will never have normal bmi.

    Bmi only measures weight vs height and doesn't take into consideration muscle and other factors.

    I lift heavy a lot and have a "normal" bmi

    Yeah sorry I should of probably aimed this more towards males

    It's more often used as an excuse by fat blokes who lift a bit!
    I certainly used it as an excuse for years.....

    My maintenance weight is in the normal range.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    As an overweight person I was convinced that the BMI scale was totally and utterly irrelevant

    Turns out a BMI of 24 suits my body aesthetic just fine ..who knew?

  • ExRelaySprinter
    ExRelaySprinter Posts: 874 Member
    edited January 2016
    My BMI is around 21-22....but tbh i'm more concerned with how much body fat i have.
    I'd rather be 128lbs with 20% Body fat, than 128lbs with 27% Body Fat.
  • 20yearsyounger
    20yearsyounger Posts: 1,630 Member
    I was in the skinny fat category and even though my BMi was 25.82 it wasnt good for me healthwise. It is much better for me at 22. That also changed by BF profile from 25%+ to around 11-12%.
  • BernieMBurke
    BernieMBurke Posts: 206 Member
    Just got into the normal BMI today. Still have about 3 lbs. to go. Doctor said not to go any lower. Still, I feel great.
  • LaceyBirds
    LaceyBirds Posts: 451 Member
    My doctor advised me to stop losing weight when I was still 8 pounds in the overweight category.
    Just got into the normal BMI today. Still have about 3 lbs. to go. Doctor said not to go any lower. Still, I feel great.

    Can I ask you both why your doctors advised you to not lose more?

  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    Mine is just under 23. I'd like it to be under 22 because I know I look good and feel good at that weight. I am not muscular right now as compared to my past, but even when strong , BMI worked well for me...even with a large frame.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,226 Member
    I'm around 21, but not maintaining yet. I still want to lose a little (probably 5 pounds or less, but I'll know goal when I feel it). I think I'm a little more muscular than average for my age/sex (60/female) but not an actual outlier. I'm wide-shouldered, but narrow-hipped, no booty, and literally no breasts (breast cancer/bilateral mastectomies/no reconstruction).

    I think that BMI offers some useful guidance for the vast majority of people, but one's specific body type details and especially personal preferences are very, very important.

    My vote: Trust yourself. If you're happy and feel healthy where you are, stay there.

    Besides, it's not a irrevocable decision. If you decide later that you'd prefer to gain/lose a bit, you can do that.
  • codsterlaing95
    codsterlaing95 Posts: 221 Member
    edited January 2016
    Perhaps bf % applies more to males than females. Not sure.
  • 20yearsyounger
    20yearsyounger Posts: 1,630 Member
    Perhaps bf % applies more to males than females. Not sure.
    it applies to females as well because it can be a risk factor (especially when stored more in the stomach area than the hips). the range is usually 10% higher for females versus males.

  • codsterlaing95
    codsterlaing95 Posts: 221 Member
    Perhaps bf % applies more to males than females. Not sure.
    it applies to females as well because it can be a risk factor (especially when stored more in the stomach area than the hips). the range is usually 10% higher for females versus males.

    Ya I know. Men generally want to be between 8-15 % bf, while females want to be between 18-25%.
  • L_Master
    L_Master Posts: 354 Member
    Mid range normal at 22.4.

    Looking for 20 +/- 0.5
  • robs_ready
    robs_ready Posts: 1,488 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    roblloyd89 wrote: »

    I
    roblloyd89 wrote: »
    Anyone performing weight training to any decent level will never have normal bmi.

    Bmi only measures weight vs height and doesn't take into consideration muscle and other factors.

    I lift heavy a lot and have a "normal" bmi

    Yeah sorry I should of probably aimed this more towards males

    It's more often used as an excuse by fat blokes who lift a bit!
    I certainly used it as an excuse for years.....

    My maintenance weight is in the normal range.

    Agreed, I was just trying to point out there are some limitations with its method :)
  • BernieMBurke
    BernieMBurke Posts: 206 Member
    In response to LaceyBirds question, Can I ask you both why your doctors advised you to not lose more?

    I have kidney issues and she doesn't want me to get to thin. Also, she is OK with me lifting weights, but whe doesn't want me to bulk up.
  • starling01
    starling01 Posts: 81 Member
    Mine is normal. After losing 85 pounds (and still going), it's 19.5.
  • Mouse_Potato
    Mouse_Potato Posts: 1,512 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »
    Pawsforme wrote: »
    Mine is, but just barely. I went into maintenance mode when I was still in overweight BMI territory, and I was totally fine with that. It's only because I've dropped a couple more pounds while trying to find my maintenance calorie goal that I'm in normal territory.

    I agree that BMI means little to nothing for anyone who does much in the way of lifting weights. Waist to hip ratio is probably a more meaningful measurement for everybody (and especially for those who lift).

    I'm screwed then, considering I have a large ribcage/waist, even though there isn't that much fat left on it...

    I'm guessing that should have read "waist to height ratio." I can't imagine my narrow hips are that much of an issue!
  • Pawsforme
    Pawsforme Posts: 645 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »
    Pawsforme wrote: »
    Mine is, but just barely. I went into maintenance mode when I was still in overweight BMI territory, and I was totally fine with that. It's only because I've dropped a couple more pounds while trying to find my maintenance calorie goal that I'm in normal territory.

    I agree that BMI means little to nothing for anyone who does much in the way of lifting weights. Waist to hip ratio is probably a more meaningful measurement for everybody (and especially for those who lift).

    I'm screwed then, considering I have a large ribcage/waist, even though there isn't that much fat left on it...

    I'm guessing that should have read "waist to height ratio." I can't imagine my narrow hips are that much of an issue!

    Waist to hip ratio calculator

    Wiki article on waist-hip ratio
  • Mouse_Potato
    Mouse_Potato Posts: 1,512 Member
    Pawsforme wrote: »
    Francl27 wrote: »
    Pawsforme wrote: »
    Mine is, but just barely. I went into maintenance mode when I was still in overweight BMI territory, and I was totally fine with that. It's only because I've dropped a couple more pounds while trying to find my maintenance calorie goal that I'm in normal territory.

    I agree that BMI means little to nothing for anyone who does much in the way of lifting weights. Waist to hip ratio is probably a more meaningful measurement for everybody (and especially for those who lift).

    I'm screwed then, considering I have a large ribcage/waist, even though there isn't that much fat left on it...

    I'm guessing that should have read "waist to height ratio." I can't imagine my narrow hips are that much of an issue!

    Waist to hip ratio calculator

    Wiki article on waist-hip ratio

    Wow. I'm screwed! I thought I was in pretty good shape. :(
  • marieamethyst
    marieamethyst Posts: 869 Member
    BMI: 21.5

    (22 weeks pregnant, it was 20.3 when I got pregnant)

    I stopped when I got down to my weight range goal, and liked how I looked. I probably would have lost a few more pounds just to have more "cushion" for water weight/etc, but pregnancy put a holt to that for now. Hoping to stick to a 25 lb gain by the end of this pregnancy, which would put me at the end of a normal range for a normal BMI, and then get back down to goal range again by the end of the year. :)
  • macchiatto
    macchiatto Posts: 2,890 Member
    edited January 2016
    I think the highest mine has been (outside of pregnancy) was the border between normal and overweight.
    However, body fat percentage is another story; my husband and I are great examples of how misleading BMI can be.

    He's only 2/3 of an inch taller than me and weighs about 50% more. Obviously his BMI is much "worse" than mine, but our body fat percentages are actually pretty similar. He has vastly more lean body mass than I do. Bone structure is polar opposite and he has a ton of muscle while I have relatively very little.

    I've always had a strong tendency toward being "skinny fat." Most people my height and weight wear clothes at least 1-2 sizes smaller than I do; I carry a lot of fat around my midsection, even at my skinniest (BMI of 20, body fat % was still around 28-29%). It's frustrating, especially because parts of my body will start to get really too thin while my body clings to that belly fat. I'm almost done cutting now and starting a recomp soon so hopefully I'll shift things a bit.
  • Sadly thanks to the holiday season I am no longer at "Normal" weight but that will change soon.
  • AgentFlex
    AgentFlex Posts: 211 Member
    Mine is 27.4 (overweight) at 150 pounds at 5'-2" tall, wearing a size 4-6, or small. I don't consider it to be an accurate tool if you have a good bit of muscle mass.
  • 4theking
    4theking Posts: 1,196 Member
    Obese class 2 for me! Stupid Twinkies!! :)
  • KwonJiYong69
    KwonJiYong69 Posts: 66 Member
    edited January 2016

    My bmi is healthy now
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    edited January 2016
    I only started losing when I got out of the healthy BMI range in my 50's and hit the bottom of 'overweight'. I'm now at 21-22- that's the same weight I was when I graduated from college.
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    23.1 now.
    Aiming for 21.5

    Waist 75 cm
    No idea of BF%
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Well, is it?. There's more to being healthy than the BMI number which only takes into account two factors: height and weight. After losing 91 lbs, (5'3 Female) I'm at 144ish and I keep feeling sort of guilty for going to maint and not seeing to it that I get to a "normal" BMI (which would be 140 lbs at the high end) but I know I'm large framed with a good amt of muscle. Was it a normal BMI that told you to stop losing or something else?

    Yes. I'm 54" as well and my lowest weight recorded was 127. Trust me that lasted about a day. Now I'm bulking and gaining weight, and you bet when I hit 140-145 the thought that I'm not at a "healthy bmi" will not cross my mind once-this is the most fit I have been in my life.
  • Protranser
    Protranser Posts: 517 Member
    I am not actively trying to lose, but if it happens while I'm trying to maintain, I wont worry too much... as long as I'm not going too low in the normal BMI range.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Protranser wrote: »
    I am not actively trying to lose, but if it happens while I'm trying to maintain, I wont worry too much... as long as I'm not going too low in the normal BMI range.

    Lol sometimes it feels like I'm the only person for whom losing too much weight will NEVER be a concern.