Okay...so I know that 'BMI' stands for Body Mass Index..but beyond that I have no idea. What exactly is it? I think it has something to do with your target body weight..am I right?? How do you figure out your own BMI?

Thanks,
Crystal

many of us, especially those who workout - including strenght train, feel that the BMI charts are bunk.

basically - and i cant seem to find my links... it's the Gov't (how we all love their charts) chart based on height and weight and what they feel is over weight or not.

I think anything over 25 on the BMI chart is considered over weight... once i find the link i was looking for.. i'll post it

but.. if anyone has any sort of lean body mass (LBM = the good stuff) it throws everything off on that chart.

say, at my height, it says i should weight about 120-125 for healthy BMI, well, since my LMB is about 118-120, i'd be just about dead from lack of body fat.

Hope this helps a bit - but the web site may help you understand it better.... which i'll post when i find it.

Terese

LCE Member since 12/00
LCE Moderator since 3/01

http://www.caloriecontrol.org/bmi.html

try this one... if you do an internet search on BMI, a ton of sites come up.. for advertising something

I agree, it's bunk.

According to the BMI, I'm at SERIOUS risk for all sorts of health problems.

However, when my trainer measured my body fat percentage, I was at a cool 22% - perfectly healthy and fit. Yes, I need to lose more OVERALL weight, but I am NOT at risk for serious health problems.

And I have a large Germanic frame, which the BMI doesn't take into account.

Emelia

"We can only learn to love by loving." - Iris Murdoch, Irish writer
294/208/174 since 25-Nov-01

Aaaahhhh....I see!! Thanks to Terese and Emelia (Yoda1 and Yoda2) for the quick reply. So I guess that really the only target weight I should be shooting for is just whatever I am happy with huh?

yes - where ever you find yourself fitting happily into a nice pair of jeans, or which ever your goal slacks/skirt size is

dont let anyone, the gov't, a chart or anyone else tell you what your weight should be.

many of us have found that with exercise, we may weight more, but we are more slender and lean then we ever were in the past at the same weight.

so - go until you are happy!! that is all that matters

Terese
LCE Member since 12/00
LCE Moderator since 3/01
My LC web site

I'm certainly no expert. The BMI seems to be some theoretical norm that has been put into chart form. I would believe that a body fat measurement would be far more useful, but then again, what do I know.

One more point. I would think that for those people who are frustrated by not losing weight, but may be replacing body fat with lean muscle, this could be of great value. If we could see the body fat going down, we could know for sure and then know if we are on the right track or not. Just a thought.

--jim

I really dont believe in the BMI, especially since I have been lifting weights for 14 years and have some muscle. Anyways, when I want to check it and have a laugh, I go to http://www.deathclock.com. Its an amusing site if you're curious when your time is up.

hey sal,

good to see you again

yanno - it's almost football season again!! YAY just a few more days... we'll have to get our threads going again starting Sunday.

I'll check out that link... i always need a good laugh.

And Jim - yes, you are right. That is one reason why we stress taking our measurements instead of only judging our loss by the scale. Since muscle weighs so much more than fat, per volumn, we can be smaller but weigh the same.

so, dont' sweat those BMI charts. go by how you look and feel, and by what your BF percentage is. I feel that is a better way in judging a healthy weight.

Terese
LCE Member since 12/00
LCE Moderator since 3/01
My LC web site


PS - way cool, the deathclock site says i will live to 95!! I think there was an MSN site once that also told me i'd live well into my 90's.... DH was non to pleased. *weg* Since he is a tad older than myself.

[This message was edited by Terese on 09-01-03 at 01:13 PM.]

Well, I have a little over 10 years left. I guess it's time to take those flying and skydiving lessons.

--jim

LOL...at my current weight I'll live to be 92...if I lose 15 more, age 98... if I go even lower, it cuts off years, back to age 95!! Too funny!! Just glad to know I should live to be a old low-carber!! LOL!!

Physician Assistant
Full-time mother of 3 boys
Started 2/13/02
50 lbs gone forever!
The joy of the Lord is my strength (and boy do I need it)!!