BMI, I KNOW it's ONLY a number but...
Jimb376mfp
Posts: 6,236 Member
Damn I need to lose twenty more pounds to be just Overweight! I've lost 160# (376-216) and need to get to 196 to get my BMI for my 5'8" frame from Obese to Overweight.
( I WAS 5' 9 1/2" in my younger days)
To reach the Healthy BMI I would have to weigh 164#, twenty pounds below my HS football days! Ain't going to happen.
I will be HAPPY to be JUST overweight!
Anyone else ever get concerned about BMI number?
( I WAS 5' 9 1/2" in my younger days)
To reach the Healthy BMI I would have to weigh 164#, twenty pounds below my HS football days! Ain't going to happen.
I will be HAPPY to be JUST overweight!
Anyone else ever get concerned about BMI number?
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Jimb376mfp wrote: »
To reach the Healthy BMI I would have to weigh 164#, twenty pounds below my HS football days! Ain't going to happen.
Anyone else ever get concerned about BMI number?
Looking back -- At 5'3" (my height when I rejoined WW in 2002) and my current weight, my BMI is exactly 25. At 140 pounds, my BMI was 24.8 and that's WHY my official goal weight with WW is currently 140.
Fast forward to today -- At 5'0" (my current height) and my current weight, my BMI is 27.5 (overweight). In order to get my BMI *below* 25, I need to lose 13 pounds to get my BMI back to 24.8.
Checking my BMI is why I decided that I needed to start getting "real" -- 140 spread out across 63" looked great. 140 spread out across 60"? Not so much. Realistically, I *know* that I need to get my weight down into the 127 range and keep it there.
Yes, BMI is just another number. Unfortunately, it's also an indicator of overall health and, possibly, longevity. I am aware that there are lots of people with a "healthy BMI" who aren't healthy and that there are lots of people who have an "unhealthy BMI" who are perfectly healthy; but I'm guessing those in the latter group are also much younger.
Why do you *think* you can't ever get into the "healthy BMI" range? I know other people who thought the same thing and they realized when they got to a weight they thought was low enough that it wasn't. They were still overweight and they still LOOKED overweight.
Life isn't fair and getting old and shrinking sucks; but it beats the alternative.
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Jimb376mfp wrote: »To reach the Healthy BMI I would have to weigh 164#, twenty pounds below my HS football days! Ain't going to happen.
Being real -- I'll bet you also had a lot more muscle mass. Especially since you were playing football.
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@beachwoman2006
"Why do you *think* you can't ever get into the "healthy BMI" range? I know other people who thought the same thing and they realized when they got to a weight they thought was low enough that it wasn't. "
Main thing is the amount of loose skin there is after stretching it out with 376 pounds!
I plan to keep on this WLJ the rest of my life but at some point I expect to hit "a wall" but not for at least another twenty or thirty? pounds.0 -
Jimb376mfp wrote: »
Main thing is the amount of loose skin there is after stretching it out with 376 pounds!
I plan to keep on this WLJ the rest of my life but at some point I expect to hit "a wall" but not for at least another twenty or thirty? pounds.
I agree that the loose skin is probably going to be a problem for you -- it was for me with only a 70-pound weight loss.
But, in your case, I'll bet that insurance would cover the loose skin removal for you since you've had such a BIG loss. Have you talked with your doctor about it?
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@Jimb376mfp Assuming by now you know I lost 100. Missing that little # gizmo from the WW board. I weigh basically what I weighed when I graduated high school. That will be 49 years come June.
After losing to about 215-220 and staying stuck for years, I got in WW trying to lose 10lbs. If I made that I figured I'd try for another 10 & the Dr's note goal.
Never would have believed I would have made it to a 25 BMI. When Goad was going full bore, there were a lot of people who surprised themselves by getting to 25 BMI and below. But really my only interest in BMI was WW's use of it to set goals.
If you will be happy overweight great, always pick happy over the alternative. You're doing great. It's just a big experiment. I haven't been here as long as Cindy but it's been quite a while. I've read a lot of posts on goals, and BMI and where people finally ended up.
Don't be surprised if you end up surprised.1 -
IMO BMI is outdated and does take into account strength training. Get blood work done if you really want to know you are healthy. Having said that, my BMI is 27 and would prefer to not be considered overweight
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@beachwoman2006 My Dr has asked me if I'm interested in skin removal surgery but at this time I have said no. From the little I have heard about it I don't think the benefits of looking better would be worth it. Dr said loose skin could cause medical condition with chafing if that occurs I may reconsider.
@88olds My 50th HS reunion was last year, Class of 66. I went and was very happy to NOT be the biggest guy there.
I got a hug from my HS crush! :-)
Thanks for your input. I keep surprising MYSELF! This year I began swimming 1/2 mile in laps before aqua aerobics (I never swam laps until 2015). I just attended second Introductory Tai Chi lesson. In May I'm taking a Intro to kayaking lesson! Life is Good!1 -
I'm a believer in healthy BMI. I think we're so used to seeing people who are overweight, that we don't even know what a healthy weight looks like. It's taking me a long time to get there, but I have every intention to getting into the healthy BMI range, then losing a few more for some wiggle room.
In fairness, I guess I might change my mind when I actually get closer, but I doubt it 1 -
beachwoman2006 wrote: »
Looking back -- At 5'3" (my height when I rejoined WW in 2002) and my current weight, my BMI is exactly 25. At 140 pounds, my BMI was 24.8 and that's WHY my official goal weight with WW is currently 140.Jimb376mfp wrote: »
Fast forward to today -- At 5'0" (my current height) and my current weight, my BMI is 27.5 (overweight). In order to get my BMI *below* 25, I need to lose 13 pounds to get my BMI back to 24.8.
Life isn't fair and getting old and shrinking sucks; but it beats the alternative.
TOL was 5'4" years ago, but now is 5'0", and 140 looks pretty good on her.
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Yup just a number. Thought I would stop at 175 lb instead of 165lb goal. It is a large range though. Currently about 155lb after trickling down. My highest weight was more in the 220+ range though and started WW at 213 lb. We are all different for sure.
I have shrunk to about 5'8" from almost 5'9" and use to be 5'9&3\4 inches. Never changed my WW goal weight.1 -
I know it's arbitrary, but it's always been an important marker to me. I look much thinner than I am due to years of activity/muscle mass so I am always on the upper end of the BMI healthy weight scale. My ideal weight is 145, 150 is the top of the "normal" range so I try to stay between 145-150.0
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One of my first mini goals is to get back to 25 BMI (174 lb).. So far, I'm on track. I know from experience, that is also the number that assuming I keep up with exercise, when my love handles start shrinking.0
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Even though I know it has some issues, it does motivate me to get from obese->overweight->goal.0
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I'm undecided about how much faith to put in BMI but it seems as one metric, it's a piece of the puzzle worth considering.
I would argue that quality of life should be right up there too. @Jimb376mfp , you are blowing me away with all the activities you're trying, as well as your persistence on this WL thing. Be proud; you've come a long way. Then do it again another day!1 -
No metric works for everyone . We ought to know what works for us. Better to pick something maintainable than shoot for the bottom and not stay in a range. Sometimes it surprises us either way2
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