How To Determine My Ideal Weight?

pdelozier76
pdelozier76 Posts: 23 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Is there a different way to determine my ideal weight. The BMI index is seriously flawed. How do you know you’re at a healthy weight?

Thanks.

Replies

  • eliseeleblanc70
    eliseeleblanc70 Posts: 4 Member
    To me ideal weight is when you feel good and healthy and are able to maintain that weight. I have decided my ideal weight is at the top of “normal weight” chart. Yes I may look better at a lower weight but I was miserable trying to maintain it. I think as you lose weight you’ll be to decide what your ideal weight.
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,242 Member
    edited June 2019
    You lose both fat and fat free mass when you're losing weight.

    Fat free mass does not consists solely of muscle mass. In fact muscle mass is probably only a small component. Yes, you *should* strength train to minimize the loss of muscle mass when dieting. And consume adequate protein.

    However this will not stop the loss of things such as connecting tissue, extracellular water, organ size changes and muscle loss associated with not having to support a previous level of obesity (if starting from an obese starting point).

    The proportions will vary. A calculator that might show you what you might expect in terms of fat-free-mass loss after week 12+ of a caloric reduction program can be found here: https://www.pbrc.edu/research-and-faculty/calculators/fat-free-mass/

    This in no-way reduces the desirability of engaging in strength training and consuming adequate protein to minimize muscle mass loss.

    However, as mentioned by posters above, unless you are on gear, a professional level athlete, and probably quite tall, you are unlikely to have your fat mass over-estimated by BMI.

    BMI says that anyone of a certain height that happens to have a weight such that it generates a BMI number between 18.5 to 25 will probably encounter less health problems moving forward.

    It does NOT say that for any particular one person ANY point between 18.5 to 25 is equally desirable or healthy.

    Depending on how far one has to go there is nothing wrong with staggering goals. If starting at well above 40, a goal of getting to 39.9 to start may be a great idea. Or moving to 29.9 or 24.9 depending on one's starting point! Other similar goals may be waist circumference below 40" for men or 35" for women.

    Once these have been tackled it is likely that one will be able to consider further refinements!

    Exercise related/performance goals or even aesthetics, or just how you feel, and considerations such as how much food you're able to consume at any given weight level may all come into play when considering a maintenance weight down the road.

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