Ideal weight simply a dream?
 

I love the responses I get from you guys, you're so thorough and informative with your opinions, so every time I have another question, here comes a new thread :)

So, before I started on my diet and exercise, I looked up my bmi, and my ideal weight, and ideal daily calorie intake and everything like that. For my height, it says I should weigh 109-116 I believe. Um... Honestly? I am 175, and can't imagine 40 lbs off my body which is my goal much less 60 +!! Also, in calculating your ideal weight, you need your frame size. Their measurements said I'm large.. but doesn't even your wrist shrink when you start to lose weight? Meaning, when I'm down 20 lbs, could I perhaps be a medium frame size meaning my ideal weight would be even lower?!

I'm so confused!

From what I've looked up, a normal BMI should be between 18.5-24.9. So from my calculations that would mean a normal weight range for your height would be 98lbs-132lbs. Obviously 98lbs is on the REALLLY low side...that would only be for someone with a VERY small frame. If you have a medium-large frame, you would want to stay on the high side of that....so your goal weight of 135 is just fine. People's bodies are so different...I used to weigh a lot less than my goal weight (my goal is 130-135, but at one time I was around 115lbs). When I was 115, I was at normal BMI, but I look WAAAY too skinny...it was gross! I think I looked best at 130-135, even though I was on the high side of a healthy BMI. So you just need to get where YOU feel comfortable and where you know you are healthy...that is the main thing. Don't worry about exact numbers on the scale :)

Wow, my website I used must have been pretty distorted.. Even so though, is it bad to feel that 135 is still too high since I'm not in the "range". Kinda feels like I'm cheating! Ugh, I know it is how I will look, not the weight, but still.

I know what you mean as I'm 5'0. I really cant imagine myself at that weight either! I can see losing 20 more lbs but I like my curves lol.

BMI is a statistic developed over a hundred years ago for measuring height and weight across populations and doesn't do a good job of describing individuals, so if you feel good and you are healthy I wouldn't worry about being out of a pretty arbitrary range.

I agree with what forestroad said. If your goal weight was like 15-20lbs from being in the "normal" BMI range, then you might need to adjust. But 3lbs isn't a big deal. Get to your goal first then go from there. If you look good, feel good, and are happy at your goal weight, then don't worry about it! If you feel you need to lose a few more pounds once you reach goal, then go for it! But I wouldn't worry about it until you get there since it is such a minor difference.

What Amba Dawn and Forest said. It's really about how you feel! Dropping 40 lbs will do wonders for your health... :)

I think you'll be fine!!

Well thanks ladies. I have a feeling, I'll be more overjoyed with losing 40 lbs, than caring about the last 3 :) I just don't want it to be the start of a slope in maintaining.. Not caring about the last 3, "oh I gained 5 lbs? Oh well, I'm still such and such weight." You know?

I don't put much stock in BMIs. My OBGYN recommended for me 180 lbs would be great. I think that's just barely in the Overweight category on the BMI chart! Mine says I should weigh like 140 lbs. Are you kidding?

People are all different. Just because some girls are 5'10" some of them are more muscular and some larger framed etc.

There IS research out there that shows that people who are SLIGHTLY overweight are healthier than those who are on the lower end of their healthy BMI. The key there is slightly. There's also the whole waist/hip ratio that is supposed to be a predictor. There are so many conflicting measurements of what's healthy and what's not, its crazy.

My daughter is 5ft 3 inches And 148 to 150 Pounds approx. She is just cute as a button(age 16) & I can't imagine her much smaller..Looks perfect to me. But BMI Says she is overweight. I am a bit taller At 5ft 5 inches(i am 34) A normal BMI for me is 150 ~I can imagine losing the extra 15 pounds though personally cause I still have a bigger belly. Even though I have got into 7's & 8's in Jeans I still got a belly that needs to be smaller. I am an apple shape though And we hold our weight differently so I think those BMI's are off a little for different shaped people.

I am short.. only 5'3 and my recommended weight in my opinion is WAY to low.
Like 100 pounds.. I will be happy with 130-140 pounds!
It really depends on your frame dear.

You could try doing your hip to waist ratio! that can be a very interesting indicator.

http://fitnesscampus.com/images/BMI_MortalityRisk.png

This is the image we were shown in health class - showing that actually, in terms of mortality risk, an 25-27 BMI is as healthy as 19-21. In fact, going purely by the facts, there's NO reason 25-27 should be considered overweight while 19-21 is considered ideal. Go for where your body is comfortable! I was disturbingly thin when I hit my original goal of 140, and my DD boobs, hearty peasant stock muscles, and child bearing pelvis all looked out of place on basically a skeletal frame.

It's all about body frame! I'm about 5'1-5'2 as well, and I know that for ME 130 is a size 6 and I look kind of chunky. I have a small frame though, where you might have a little bit bigger of a frame and you'll look perfect at that weight!

And if you get to 135 or whatever your goal is and decide maybe you want to lose a few more pounds, that's all its going to be, a few more pounds, not another 50!

BMI doesn't take body shape or heritage into account, even if they say you should consider your frame size. I'm 5'2", and my "ideal" weight is 120 lb or less, but there's no way I'm ever going to get below 125 with my enormous ribs and hip bones...and actually it's looking like 130 is my set point. It's actually a miracle that I've maintained this weight for the past year, since for most of my childhood/adolescence I was a good fifteen pounds heavier. 115 might be a good goal if you had spent most of your life at 115, but the fact is your composition has been set for higher. Don't sweat it.

for my height 5'2'' i should between 115-132. and to be quite honest i dont think i want to get down that far. i would be happy under 200, but im also worried if i get that far there would be wayyyyyyyyy to much skin.

I'm 5'1" too and I know for me being 98lbs would be SUPER SUPER tiny. I've been as low as 115lbs and even that was a little on the bony side (and just way to hard to maintain and live life).

BMI also of course doesn't take the amounts of muscle vs. fat into account.

im 5'3 and at 136 pounds am just barely in my bmi. But at this weight, im still pretty chucky with lots of fat that i want to lose. I carry weight well, which means i have to lose more weight in order for it to make a difference in the way that i look. Ive lost 30 pounds and am slowly having people ask me if ive been losing weight...after 30 pounds!
its just about knowing your body.
cdemay, my advice would be to just pay attention to your body and adjust accordingly. If you reach you goal, and still want to lose some weight, then keep going. Things become more realistic as you get closer to goals; when i weighed 168 i never imagined that i could ever weigh 118 but thats what im currently aiming for.
also, when i was heavier i used to worry about losing my curves. im a very curvy person and i was afraid that losing weight would also get rid of my curves, but so far ive found that i still have curves, they are just more based off of my body shape and not based on the shape that my fat makes. my body structure isnt going to change based on my weight, its just going to look better as you can see my natural shape better. :)

100percentMe-thanks for the advice. I am curvy also with an hourglass type figure that everyone longs for, but it's currently covered by flub :)