BMI, body fat and other guidelines
Good morning folks! I was never really given a weight loss goal to work towards. After an informal discussion 120 pounds was mentioned. I am closing in on that goal at 9 months out, just 3 pounds away. I am 5'51/2" tall, been told that I have a large frame which I don't totally agree with. I think it is smaller than that. When I weigh myself, it says that my bmi is 20.0, body fat percent is 20 and change and pounds of body fat is around 24. I would like to know what others have as their goal and how much is too much weight loss. I do not count calories, just track fluids, protein and of course managing my supplements and exercise. I don't want to go too low but don't want to stop losing before the honeymoon is over. My friends tell me I look like someone needs to feed me a sandwich...lol!
julie
I've been pondering these issues lately. My doctor made a goal for me of 125. I'm 5 foot tall (on a good "tall" day). I'm still 30 pounds away, but am wondering if 125 will be too thin for me. I currently wear almost all size 8 clothes. But on the BMI scale, I still come up as the low end of obese!!! How is that???
Since I still have time to lose them and pounds to go, I'm just pressing forward. I figure at some point I will naturally level off.
If you are still losing and feel that this is a good weight for you you can try increasing your intake just a bit to slow it down. I think this is a good discussion to have with your doctor and nutritionist.
Heather Mom to 3
Surgery August 9, 2012
HW = 225, SW= 205, CW 135 
As I near my "first" goal of 120 I asked the doctor this question. He said very few lose "too much" and to not slow it down. He said let my body decide where it ends. He said most of his patients have a rebound at 2-3 years out and by going under our ideal most end up where we want to. I know several on here say bounce back doesn't have to happen. But I'll go with my own doctor's statistics on his patients since I am following his plan.
At 5'3" I know I won't be entirely happy at 120 and I'd be much happier at 105-107 range as I know what I look like at those weights. But I'm a LOT older than I was when I weighed that in my early 20s so I chose 120 as my realistic goal. As long as I end up anywhere under 120 I know I can be happy with it.
5' 3" - HW: 244 SW:234 GW:120 LW: 107 CW:110 Made goal 3/16/13!
More importantly to me, I am working on getting my body fat under 30%, then under 25%.
You might want your body fat double checked for accuracy. Some scales are more accurate than others. I had the BodPod testing.
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Below 20% body fat is considered underweight for women of all ages (and very underweight for women over 40) and a BMI under 18 is considered underweight. Even if you have an average frame, at almost 5'6", 120 pounds is VERY thin.
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
IMO, too much is when your BMI is underweight. Now, for someone within their first couple years, it may not be the end of the world if you end up underweight for a brief stint, because your body may not want to stay there (e.g. bounceback, regain). I'd be more concerned that all your blood levels are ok thru that time frame - if so, you're golden!
My main goal was to get under 140lbs and maintain within normal BMI (for height 5"3 and petite frame). I got to that 2 Christmases ago and have been maintaining around 120-116 for the past year. My Tanita scale has been consistently keeping me around 20-17% body fat. For me to be underweight, I'd have to weigh less than 104 lbs and that ain't happening!!!
First ultra: Stone Mill 50 miler 11/15/14 13:44:38, First Full Marathon: Marine Corps 10/27/13 4:57:11, Half Marathon PR 2:04:43 at Shamrock VA Beach Half-Marathon, 12/2/12 First Half-Marathon 2:32:47, 5K PR Run Under the Lights 5K 27:23 on 11/23/13, 10K PR 52:53 Pike's Peek 10K 4/21/13, (1st timed run) Accumen 8K 51:09 10/14/12.
Good day to you too! We are exactly the same height...5' 5 1/2". My surgeon told me that he wanted me between 160-169. We actually argued about that. I thought it was too much weight. I suggested to him that I continue to follow the food plan and exercise and we would see what happens. He agreed with the stipulation that if I came back in and was 125 lbs, he retained the right to kick my butt!! LOL I love Dr. Davidson, he's a great guy.
Currently, at 163, I have reached his goal but I'm sticking with my plan. Technically, I am still considered overweight. I set my personal goal for 145 but would be happy to hover anywhere around 150 pounds.
Interesting thread...thanks for posting it!
Karen
