BMI and target weight

pinkglitz
pinkglitz Posts: 28
in Health and Weight Loss
By the calculations using the BMI tool on this site I couldn't believe how low a weight would fall into the 'healthy' range for me. If I went down to that weight I would look sick! I know everyone would say its just a guide but now I'm thinking the original target I set myself is too low and I should be looking to lose more.

What is everyone's take on this? Do you go for the upper or lower end of target weight?!

Replies

  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    It's a big range to account for varying frame size. I'm medium-large framed. My goal is right in the middle. I've hovered right at the top of healthy most of m life.
  • lausa22
    lausa22 Posts: 467 Member
    Go for what makes you feel comfortable. Everybody carries their weight differently and have different frames.
    What 140lbs looks like on one person might look good, but for another it might look too thin.
    Just work until you're happy with how your body looks, ignore 'target' weights and BMI, because they're never truely accurate measures of health :)
  • Linda_Darlene
    Linda_Darlene Posts: 453 Member
    It depends on your frame size. Are you small or large boned? I'm small boned so I will be shooting for the lower end of my range. Where you should stop is where ever you are the most comfortable and healthy!
  • LeenaRuns
    LeenaRuns Posts: 1,309 Member
    I'm at the low end of the range at 19.1 for my height (5'6") I couldn't imagine myself at a BMI of 25. It wouldn't be me.
  • tajmel
    tajmel Posts: 401 Member
    My goal weight has always been 164 lbs, which is the upper limit of "healthy" for my height. I won't know until I get there of course, but I think that may be completely nuts, as I was super fit and 170 lbs... in high school. And I've had kids since then.

    So I agree with the above posters :).
  • RainbootsToBikinis
    RainbootsToBikinis Posts: 465 Member
    My first goal is 148 which puts me in the healthy range, I plan to go lower and then stop when I feel happy with myself, but that 148 is really important to me so that I'm not overweight any more.
  • bussaca
    bussaca Posts: 22
    I struggle with this one too - I am shooting to be in the 22 range for BMI, so I still have at least 20 pounds more to go...
  • Louise1247
    Louise1247 Posts: 670 Member
    Mine suggests I can drop down to 114 lbs!! Im currently 149.3lbs and 5'6". My highest weight was 171.3lbs and Id love to get to about 120lbs at a mega stretch- but 130-140 is ok I think :)

    BMI is 24.3 at the moment which is just healthy :)
  • charlieduc
    charlieduc Posts: 108
    This is tricky because are we honestly ever REALLY satisfied with our weight?!?! I am shooting for a number that is actually a little bit outside of my range. This is because when I was at this number years ago I felt and looked good but was not happy. Looking back now after 3 kids (one twin pregnancy) I would love to see that number again!
  • this1bigdog
    this1bigdog Posts: 350 Member
    BMI is just a rough guideline, and only for Life Insurance should it ever be taken seriously.
    When you are happy, that is your correct weight. For me, I have a very large Frame, so I don't think I am going to be on the low end of the "healthy BMI" but instead will be just barely on that side. Having lots of muscle and/or dense bone will cause you to be just heavier in general, but you will look great! Muscles look awesome!
  • mikeschratz
    mikeschratz Posts: 253 Member
    I used BMI to get me started. One of the nurses here at work was walking around with one of the machines that looks like a game controller. When she was surprised at my BMI, which was 36.2, I got concerned. And then I took an honest look at where I was. Once I got below the Extremely Obese stage, I started looking at Body Fat % (BF%). So now I am working off of the BF% and not worried about my BMI. I am still 24.5 as far as my scale is concerned, but I ordered the calipers to truly find out what percentage I am. Good luck!
  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
    If I were to lose enough weight to get right into the middle of the BMI scale, I would have no put on absolutely no muscle, and get down to 0% body fat. That's downright impossible! I imagine when I'm done I'll have a BMI of 23.9, which is just below what is considered "overweight". If I opted to build more muscle (I imagine I'll gain 10lbs worth - I don't do any resistance training yet), then I'll easily go over what is considered "healthy," even though I'll have low body fat %.

    Instead of going by BMI, go by body fat %. For women, average PBF (Percent Body Fat) should be between 25 and 31%. Women who are fit should be between 21 and 24%. Any more than 31% would be considered obese, even if you had a BMI under 24.9. Remember, it's fat that's not good for you, not muscle.
  • wisebadger53
    wisebadger53 Posts: 382 Member
    Based on MFP and other calculators, I have dropped my BMI from 41 to 28. Unfortunately that is still in the overweight range for me. My goal weight, which I feel is reasonable for me, is only 11 lbs. away, which will still be considered overweight. The calculators say I need to lose an additional 11 - 12 lbs to be at the top of the healthy range, but I am going to take my time getting there (if ever). I am just happy that I have gotten this far, and am not going to stress out over a number. :glasses:
  • DB_1106
    DB_1106 Posts: 154 Member
    The BMI scale is a joke and absolutely pointless.
  • TeachTheGirl
    TeachTheGirl Posts: 2,091 Member
    I chose the middle of the range for healthy on the BMI scale. Looking at my body, I can probably afford to aim lower once I meet that target, so if I get there and I think I could lose more/feel better at a lower weight, I'm gonna do it. =)
  • shorty35565
    shorty35565 Posts: 1,425 Member
    I'm 5'5 & it says 111.2 is the lowest i can go. Right now my bmi is 22.4. I plan on being 120 or so. I have a small frame & even at 134.8lbs, I still consider myself chubby. I'm just gonna keep goin until I look how I want.
  • Kmags66
    Kmags66 Posts: 21
    Body fat is the best measurement. Because we can all guess at our frames and how much muscle we have but that is subjective. And BMI doesn't consider any of that. I think you should shoot for your goal and once your there you can be the judge if your happy at that weight or not. I also was just wondering the same, is my goal weight low enough. It's funny how we haven't even hit our goal and we're already worried it won't be enough. Try to take it one step at a time, that's what I'm trying to do.
  • rose313
    rose313 Posts: 1,146 Member
    I gain muscle easily and have a large-ish frame, so 140 lbs looks good on me. Some people at my height of 5'2 weigh 100 pounds, and they look good because they have a small frame. I think I would look great at 135, thin at 125-130, and dead at 100. It all depends on your body shape and frame size.
  • pinkglitz
    pinkglitz Posts: 28
    Thanks everyone.

    I would say I've always been thicker built being bi-racial - my caribbean half has given me a booty, hips and thighs I don't think will ever disappear completely even if I wanted them too. I have accepted that I will never be stick thin I just want to be happier with what I see in the mirror but I don't think I would if I went down to something like 120lb so I guess it's go with what feels right. For now I will stick to my original goal and try not to get hung up on my BMI.
  • omma_to_3
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
    I shoot for the top of the range (I do have a large frame) mainly because even reaching that will be a huge stretch for me LOL. But I'm not really married to it. What I achieve, I achieve. If I get there, and don't like how I look, I'll keep going.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    The BMI scale is a joke and absolutely pointless.

    This^ Really - BMI is not a good indicator of "healthy" weight. It's ONE number ... just like the scale is ONE number. It does not take body fat / muscle mass % into consideration. Start with BMI .... but don't let this be your main objective.
  • dittmarml
    dittmarml Posts: 351 Member
    The site's got me at 97.9 pounds at the low end of the healthy BMI. The high end is 132.3; my current weight is 131.8. So, technically I'm in there.

    BUT. I'd love to blow this off; however I have a really small frame and a genetic connective tissue disorder with horrible, horrible joints...left knee is inoperable at this point. I've had docs tell me for 30 years I need to be around 100-105, so I think the site isn't far off...I'm shooting for the "low middle" with more muscle mass than I have at present, with 110 pounds as the goal. Once there I'll take stock about those remaining 10 pounds.

    BTW I'm 55. I have lax muscles (takes a lot to build them since spasm and tears are constant), chronic pain, joints that don't stay where they're put...and I've already lost 3 pounds in two weeks on the site and am DAMN well going to tone up. WE CAN DO THIS!!!!!
  • dittmarml
    dittmarml Posts: 351 Member
    Also totally agree about getting hung up on the number. This is about a healthier you/me/us, not any particular metric.
  • w2bab
    w2bab Posts: 353 Member
    When I can comfortably wear that stack of size 6 and 8 jeans that I couldn't bear to part with when I put the weight back on, I will be happy. Eight years ago when I last wore them, I had lost 83 lbs and reached a low weight of 180 lbs. At 5'8", that is well above the the high end of a "healthy" BMI, but I looked and felt great. According to my measurements and the BF% and ideal weight calculators on Fat2FitRadio.com, I have about 60 lbs of excess fat to lose, which would put me right around 180 lbs and approximately 24% BF. I know their calculations are not as accurate as a water displacement test or calipers, but I think it's close enough to confirm my idea of where I want to be.
  • rumpusparable
    rumpusparable Posts: 160
    When I was on my way up in weight I was in my best shape and health when I was at the very top of the normal BMI: 140lbs. I have a medium frame and tends to carry a lot of muscle mass... I'm one of those rare females that are prone to some bulk.

    So now on my way down my goal is 140 again. If I get there and feel I should go lower due to my new body shape and health level then I'll work on going down further.

    Oh. and to add, I don't feel I'll ever want to be below 130 again. For my bone and muscle structure when I was 120-125 area I was unhealthy, but that's still within the "normal" BMI for my height. The BMI at that level just doesn't work with how I'm built... I had ribs sticking out, no fat on my mons veneris (I used to leave bruises on my husband during sex because of it!), and was constantly sick with one thing or another. Not good.

    So use the BMI as a rough guideline but do the judgement by how you feel and look.

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