Obsessed with numbers

bcattoes · July 2011

I admit I have not paid a whole lot of attention to the scale. I put in a goal weight when joining MFP but it was just some random number. I really just wanted to have a perfect health screen, with all my blood work within the healthy ranges. I admit to being just as obsessed with those numbers as many on here are with their weight or their abs. I also really wanted to wear my size 8 jeans again. And in May I got back in those jeans. In June I had my annual health screen and my blood work was perfect. Lipids, BP, liver and kidney panels, whatever else was on there. It was all PERFECT!! (yay me!)

All perfect EXCEPT for my weight. To fit into the "healthy weight" box for my gender, height and age, I need to lose 9 more pounds, drop my BMI by 1.6 and drop my body fat by 1.2%.

So I told my husband that I wanted to lose 10 more lbs and he says I'm going over the top and becoming too obsessed with it. Honestly I am happy with the way I look, and my doctor said I was the "picture of health". But I would really like to be perfect on paper. I want my checkup results to ALL be in the healthy range. I know the weight and BMI stuff is all just averages, but I am fairly average sized. It's only 10 more lbs after all. Since losing the initial 20 lbs I've been losing about 1 to 2 lbs a month so I'd probably lose it anyway. It's not obesessing to want to speed it up is it? Have I gone over the edge? Am I obesessing about the numbers too much (this long rant aside)?

crisanderson27 · July 2011

I admit I have not paid a whole lot of attention to the scale. I put in a goal weight when joining MFP but it was just some random number. I really just wanted to have a perfect health screen, with all my blood work within the healthy ranges. I admit to being just as obsessed with those numbers as many on here are with their weight or their abs. I also really wanted to wear my size 8 jeans again. And in May I got back in those jeans. In June I had my annual health screen and my blood work was perfect. Lipids, BP, liver and kidney panels, whatever else was on there. It was all PERFECT!! (yay me!)

All perfect EXCEPT for my weight. To fit into the "healthy weight" box for my gender, height and age, I need to lose 9 more pounds, drop my BMI by 1.6 and drop my body fat by 1.2%.

So I told my husband that I wanted to lose 10 more lbs and he says I'm going over the top and becoming too obsessed with it. Honestly I am happy with the way I look, and my doctor said I was the "picture of health". But I would really like to be perfect on paper. I want my checkup results to ALL be in the healthy range. I know the weight and BMI stuff is all just averages, but I am fairly average sized. It's only 10 more lbs after all. Since losing the initial 20 lbs I've been losing about 1 to 2 lbs a month so I'd probably lose it anyway. It's not obesessing to want to speed it up is it? Have I gone over the edge? Am I obesessing about the numbers too much (this long rant aside)?

The only of those numbers I'd worry about, honestly...is the body fat percentage. The BMI is flawed at best...and the scale...well, we all know about that lol. Body fat is really the only true measure.

If it were me, I'd do what it took to get my bodyfat where I wanted it...then call it good =D.

ShrinkingNinja · July 2011

Those BMI charts are so inaccurate. Go by how you look and feel. Everything is healthy so I wouldn't worry about it. Just keep doing what you have been doing and if you body feels you need to lose those last 9 lbs it will.

Rae6503 · July 2011

It's so up to you. I see nothing wrong with wanting to lose the extra 10 pounds. It's not like you are doing it unhealthy or getting down to an unhealthy weight. Even if it just came down to wanting to lose them for vanity reasons, that's okay too. There's nothing wrong with a little vanity every now and then as long as it's healthy.

mattbryan · July 2011

Numbers are indicators. They don't "make" you healthy, unheathly or anything else in and of themselves. As long as all parties concerned (you, doc and family) feel that you are in good health, then I think you need to focus on maintaining rather than fitting into some genearlized metric that may or may not be accurate for you!

You've done a great job, and I'm really glad to see that you're in "perfect health."

juliapurpletoes · July 2011

I say 'go for it'. You've gotta be happy with yourself in spite of what others say and feel. If hubby has a problem, then be quiet about it.....but do what you want to do!

You have my support - best wishes!

MissMandy1010 · July 2011

I say go for it !! If its something you're concerned with and think about, then do it, because thats what will make you happy! You can tell yourself all day long that you're healthy and fine, but if 10 lbs is what you want to lose, then go for it and I don't think its unhealthy at all!! Or obsessive. trust me, i know obsessive. :-) good luck!!

Nanadena · July 2011

I agree that you should do what makes you feel better. My hubby told me the same thing but I am still 9 lbs from my goal. I know where I feel best!

stariera · July 2011

I admit I have not paid a whole lot of attention to the scale. I put in a goal weight when joining MFP but it was just some random number. I really just wanted to have a perfect health screen, with all my blood work within the healthy ranges. I admit to being just as obsessed with those numbers as many on here are with their weight or their abs. I also really wanted to wear my size 8 jeans again. And in May I got back in those jeans. In June I had my annual health screen and my blood work was perfect. Lipids, BP, liver and kidney panels, whatever else was on there. It was all PERFECT!! (yay me!)

All perfect EXCEPT for my weight. To fit into the "healthy weight" box for my gender, height and age, I need to lose 9 more pounds, drop my BMI by 1.6 and drop my body fat by 1.2%.

So I told my husband that I wanted to lose 10 more lbs and he says I'm going over the top and becoming too obsessed with it. Honestly I am happy with the way I look, and my doctor said I was the "picture of health". But I would really like to be perfect on paper. I want my checkup results to ALL be in the healthy range. I know the weight and BMI stuff is all just averages, but I am fairly average sized. It's only 10 more lbs after all. Since losing the initial 20 lbs I've been losing about 1 to 2 lbs a month so I'd probably lose it anyway. It's not obesessing to want to speed it up is it? Have I gone over the edge? Am I obesessing about the numbers too much (this long rant aside)?

The only of those numbers I'd worry about, honestly...is the body fat percentage. The BMI is flawed at best...and the scale...well, we all know about that lol. Body fat is really the only true measure.

If it were me, I'd do what it took to get my bodyfat where I wanted it...then call it good =D.

I so agree here... I'd get an accurate body fat count and when I got where I wanted there I'd call it a done deal. When I started my journey it wasn't about the number on the scale it was about being the best me I could be that I could feel comfortable with. In the past I've been at my best at the top end of what is considered the ideal weight for my height and age. When I weighed even 10 lbs less then that I looked anorexic. I was within in the body fat % I wanted to be in... and many of my friends told me that was the weight size I looked my best at. I'm a curvy individual... about somewhere in the middle on body build as far as my bone structure goes. So if you think you still have a little bit more fat to lose then go for it... when you're not seeing healthy muscle but skin and bones well that's just a bit too much. I know the numbers at the doctors office are one thing... but honestly we know what our best is... nice healthy firm muscle in place of any kind of flab can't be a bad thing it's when you think you have to lose some of that muscle so your "numbers" are supposed to be that becomes an issue.

Obsessed with numbers

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