Thread: How low is low enough?

Could someone in the Vets and Maintainence thread please advise me on the BMI calculators? I've used some BMI calc tools on the internet - it seems to be saying that at 5.3 I need to be as low as 140lbs to be within a normal weight range? (I'm 63 with medium frame) Given that these tools are meant to be a guide only - would you say that 140lbs would seem to be a reasonable weight for me to target and maintain? Any feedback much appreciated. Many thanks.

Hi, Beachfox. There's no one-size-fits-all. The charts are a guideline.

I'm 58 years old, and 5'3" also. I have a pear-shaped body, carrying extra fat in my hips and butt, with a small waist. This type of fat distribution is thought to be less significant than abdominal fat as an indicator of potential heart problems.

I've always considered 135-140 to be a very reasonable target for maintenance. I'd like to weigh 125-130. But that just doesn't seem very likely over the long term. I'm in excellent condition, with a regular schedule of aerobic exercise (running, walking, ice skating), weight training (I use home video exercise routines), and stretching.

I've been in maintenance at about 135 since April. I eat carefully, exercise daily, and celebrate the achievement of this goal.

I'm 5'6" and 55 years old. I'm holding now at 150 lbs., even though the charts say I should be around 135. Some people say I am now too thin, but for me it feels right. I don't think I would want to go by the charts...they don't know how the weight is distributed on your body. You'll know when you get there what weight is good for you.

Any BMI calculator can only be considered a general average at best. Some are better than others in that they include more factors in their calculation. But, there are many individual factors that can't be accurately measured, which can affect the "standard" calculations. E.g., muscle/bone density and size... level of hydration... age... gender... organ sizes...

Here is a perspective from DietPower on "ideal weights" and BMI:

. ... If your ideal weight seems too low even after you've added 10 percent, realize that it isn't necessarily the weight at which you'll feel most comfortable or attractive. It's merely the weight at which, statistically speaking, the average person's disease risks are lowest. It may not be attainable or even desirable for you as an individual. Ask your doctor.

and

...realize that the Ideal Weight Calculator doesn't allow extra pounds for age. If you're past 30 or 35, you may get a more reasonable figure by adding 10 percent to the base weight cited under "Where You Should Be." A 50-year-old who calculates an ideal weight of 141 pounds, for example, might prefer a goal of 1.1 times that figure, or 155 pounds.

and,

By the most commonly used definition, you are "obese" if you have a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 30, and "overweight" if your BMI is 25 to 30. (Being overweight does not pose a significant health risk until you reach a BMI of 27, however.)Copyright ? 1992-2002 by DietPower, Inc. All rights reserved.

Many thanks indeed for getting back to me on this. Yes, this is pretty much what I thought. I have very broad shoulders and carried all my weight across the abdomen with a massive stomach (I still get a shock when I look down and see my thighs!) I feel myself that I would be good at about 140-145 probably towards the higher end of that. I would like to be lower at 135 - but feel it would take a lot of strenuous and unrealistic effort to maintain it. I'm in very good physical condition with daily walking, weights, stretching (25 years of classical ballet instilled those!) I don't want to be hysterical about my weight - at this age I'm much more into enjoying myself but am totally committed to this WOE and have proved its the only way to go. I'm not doing it because I think I should - I'm doing it because I love it! I don't believe in seeking anti-aging ploys - but I'm really into healthy aging!

Again thank you to bkloots, tiashanty and teelbee - much appreciated.

H'm'm'm - looks like I was a bit overly cautious there - just thought in the interests of full disclosure and assistance with guides for targets for newcomers: since I posted this in June 2005 (and its now Dec 2005) I've dropped to 124 +/- a couple of lbs. This is in line with BMIs - medico seems to think its fine - and I have no problems maintaining it without undue hysteria. In order to maintain I do need to: limit fruit intake/maintain exercise EVERYDAY and keep onplan consistently. My main issue is maintaining the steady number without dropping - I have few problems with gaining - if I go too high I just drop back to TOTAL basics for a couple of days. Seems OK so far. One of the hardest things to do is to stay onplan when travelling. Its not that I want to eat differently - its trying to choose the best option from a limited choice. I DO wish restauranters here would LEARN their food groups! I do NOT require 5 different types of protein in one meal! Well OK - that's an exaggeration - but NOT lentils AND meat in the same dish thank you! Otherwise its bonza mate!

I was just checking BMI calculators, and based on my height, I can weigh anywhere from 118 (very bottom of normal weight) and 159 (very top of normal weight). That is a HUGE margin, and I guess since I've never been a *normal* weight as an adult that I'm really going to have to learn to pay attention to my body as I get closer to goal. I had arbitrarily chosen 150 as my goal, because it was a nice even 125 pounds to lose.