Banks....I know you'll give me the right answer!

If you feel good (and judging by your pics you look great!), I wouldn't sweat going any lower than you have too. If you are within healthy range, you are far ahead of a great deal of people, so sit back, relax and be proud of yourself for being healthy!!! :happy:

Oh, and sincere gratz on quitting your smoking habit!!! WOOHOO!!!

A couple of weeks ago my gym started a biggest loser type contest. Last night in our meeting, the trainer said you should first judge your success on how you feel, then on how your clothes fit and last on the number on the scale. I've lost 7 lbs, not even close to the most lost so far in the contest but when I started I couldn't run a mile. Night before last I ran 2 miles without stopping. I'm now going to use the number on the scale as just a bonus and not a determining factor in my success.

Just been out walking for two hours and covered six miles in the beautiful Scottish Highlands - how lucky we are.

*JEALOUS!!!* :frown:

Scotland is one of the prettiest places I've ever visited. I loved the Highlands, but its still hard to beat the Blue Ridge Mountains. No place like home.

Just been out walking for two hours and covered six miles in the beautiful Scottish Highlands - how lucky we are.

*JEALOUS!!!* :frown:

Scotland is one of the prettiest places I've ever visited. I loved the Highlands, but its still hard to beat the Blue Ridge Mountains. No place like home.

Gotta agree there. I love the Scottish Highlands though, one of the reasons why I love my area so much, it's like Scotland away from Scotland. :bigsmile:

You look great now and you're weight is in the middle of the healthy range so if you feel ok there's no need to loose any more.
If you want to be in good shape (maybe even loose some inches) just exercise more.
:flowerforyou:

Wow, I left the house for a little bit and was DELIGHTED to get so many insights! Does anyone know if it is actually better for my BMI to be at the lowest number (which I believe is like 18?) rather than the 22? I mean, are there more health benefits? I'm not opposed to a little more work if there is a real value-added to achieving a lower number~I am an avid gym goer and certainly know what I SHOULD be eating As for how I feel about my appearance, I'm pretty pleased with myself when I see my reflection in the mirror (even with nothing on :blushing: ) and am EXTREMELY happy with the non-:smokin: (had about a 1 1/2-2 pack a-day habit) . Gosh, I'm 40 and maybe I'm just looking for permission to stop obsessing!

Permission granted. You have done great. :happy:

Well, first, I appreciate you're respect, I really do. Thank you!

I'll give you what I think, and that is, an 18 BMI isn't necessarilly a great thing to be.
that is the very bottom of the healthy range, bordering on unhealthly in the low range.
so do I think you should be shooting for it? Not sure, that's really a personal choice.
It also depends on you're body. Some frames can handle a bmi of 18, other's can't.

I commend you on quitting smoking! I think that's AWESOME, and a difficult thing to do!

I'll tell you my take on it, it works for some, and not so much for others but here it is.

Nobody, not even your trainer or doctor knows exactly where your weight should be until
you are there. Some people's bodies like their weight a little higher, others can handle a little
lower, every person is different. If you are at a weight you feel good at, and you feel like you
can maintain, then I say stay there, either that or do what I'm doing right now. I'm staying at
about 100 calories lower then maintenance right now, I still want to get rid of a few stubborn points
but my BMI is about 24 (just under that). This means that any significant weight loss will take months, but it will be an easy time, I won't have to battle my body as hard, or worry about my food so much because I have plenty of energy and if I go under by 100 today, that's fine, cuz I have a nice, 300 calorie buffer, tomorrow I may go over by 100, no biggie, that just means I'm at maintenance calories for the day. Big deal! It took me 6 months to get here, I'm not going to worry about another 3 or 4 months cuz I am healthy, feeling great, and strong!

One other thing you might want to do is find a place that does professional Body fat % tests, they have them around usually at clinics. They cost a bit, but you only need to do it once or twice. For women, anywhere from 11% to 25% is fine, for me, I'm at 16% as of last month (probably at 15% right now), and I'm shooting for 12 or 10% if I can. But I'm not going to worry about when I get there, cuz I'm in it for the long hall.

I don't know if I answered your question or not, but I guess this is a very personal question that only you can answer, all I can do is offer advice.

Best of luck, however you decide! :drinker:

-Banks

My two cents on this issue. . .

the best weight for you is one that you can maintain. If you're constantly losing/gaining five pounds to stay at a weight that's too low for you, that's more unhealthy than weighing what puts you at the top end of a healthy BMI.

BMI also doesn't take into account body fat %, so I second the recommendation to get that tested...
a much better goal is a body fat %, rather than a semi-meaningless magic number on the scale.

:flowerforyou: