Ok, so I went to this site to check my BMI numbers, and I'm really depressed. I used to be super obese from the time I was 14 until about six years ago, ranging from 375 to 448. I am 6 ft tall (1.8 m). I have lost over 150 lbs and kept it off. But I've been struggling. I got all the way down to 237, but I got bad arthritis, and had to take heavy doses of ibuprofen for the pain. My weight shot up to 351, argh, and pretty much ruined my life at that point. I think obviously I have some kind of glandular problem or whatever, but doctors won't take it seriously, they either parrot the eat less/move more, or actually, when they see my diet, tell me to eat more (!).

I have been struggling to get back down, sometimes gaining and losing the same 20 lbs over and over and over again. And, right now I am 280.

So I punched these numbers into this BMI calculator, and it still says I am above the 98th percentile. Which means, 98 percent of people weigh less than me, and it just made me mad. It even said actually >98, which means MORE than 98% weigh less than me, but their scale stops at 98. And, so I start punching in numbers and I will have to get to 272 before those percentiles start marching down, and even at 237, it's something like 67th percentile, and people call me "thin" at that weight.

So I really don't get it, and it just makes me angry. Whenever I go out, I am not the largest at all. I regularly see people that are 350, 400, 500 lbs in scooters and such, and with the exception of children and teens, I'm pretty darn average actually, there are others as big as me or much bigger, certainly greater than 2%. I know I'm not average by far, but WTF. The number of morbidly obese people is certainly bigger than 2% of the population. (At least in the U.S.A.) Are they missing from the charts? And, I know there's people that weigh 100 or more lbs MORE than me. Right now I am just shy of being morbidly obese, I am at severely obese. ::eye roll::

And, it just makes me angry because out of all those pounds I have lost, it's like none of it matters at all, I'm still huge according to the charts. And, I'm not even gonna notice the percentiles go downward until I hit the much vaulted overweight BMI category, which I already know, I'll be told that's "too thin" for me. And, then I'm so used to barreling through the massive numbers, I probably won't notice when I actually hit "average" (191 lbs - overeight is 50th percentile for my height). And, really the last thing I want to be is "average" lolol.

So I dunno, just rambling on, it's frustrating having done all this hard work, and basically, I'm still a fatty according to every chart known to man, and I can't even put in my extremely high weight because the chart doesn't go up that far.

And, according to my calorie counter, since March, overall I am only down 1 lb (!), having had a high of 35 lbs higher, and been 20 lbs less. And, so I just feel stalled like I'm moving around in circles.

Anyway, just a vent is all.

I'm highly doubtful the percentile calculations are accurate. Population percentiles have to be "re-normed" at regular intervals and it sounds like they are using old population projections. Dude, look on the AWESOME BRIGHT SIDE, you have lost over 150 pounds!!!

I remember seeing those same percentiles and getting discouraged. You need to focus on losing the next 5 pounds. Keep telling yourself that you will lose 5 more pounds and when you get there you can tell yourself to just lose 5 more!

I just read an article in the newspaper yesterday that was a little daunting. People have become so overweight/obese that they now think they are a normal weight when in fact they aren't. Just because we see people that weigh more, doesn't make us a normal weight. Is it a scientific fact that ibuprophen causes weight gain? I haven't seen anything about that.

One thing I did note is that you said your doctors thought you weren't eating enough. If you aren't, your body will hold onto every calorie that comes its way because it thinks the famine is here.

Maybe you could post a typical day's menu so we could help you more.

As far as the % go, the next poll will have different ones. I don't put much stock in them.

Have you tried water aerobics? It is a great way for arthritics to exercise.

"And, it just makes me angry because out of all those pounds I have lost, it's like none of it matters at all, I'm still huge according to the charts"

But it DOES matter. You've improved your health tremendously with the progress you've made. Sure you're not where you want to be, but you've come a long way. They say that even just 10 pounds makes a big difference.

I know it sucks to look at charts and whatnot, but comparing ourself to others probably isn't the best way to gauge progress. You've done well in the past so you obviously know how to go about it.

I know it's not easy I keep doing the same up/down with 20 pounds myself but I choose to look at it as still a minor success.

If you want to compare yourself to others, just know that most people who try at weight loss don't succeed, because they give up. If you choose not to give up, you're already having more success than most people - just by choosing not to quit.


For my sanity, I had to stop comparing myself to others - and that included my younger selves (I kept thinking "I used to be able to lose weight more quickly...").

It is what it is, and that doesn't mean "there's no point." Every single pound makes you a healthier person than you were a pound ago. I once read that losing one pound takes four pounds of pressure off your knees while walking.

I used to feel that if I couldn't get to a normal weight, then dieting was entirely pointless. Only perfection "counted" for anything. I was stupid.

If I never lose another pound, I won't let it be a reason to regain what I've lost. The trade-offs aren't worth it. After losing only 30 to 35 pounds my sleep apnea disappeared. I've made other health improvements too, and I don't want to sacrifice what I've gained from the loss. You don't see much change with one pound, but every pound is a link to the next pound (both when you gain and when you lose).

You can choose to be dismayed and distressed by your situation, or you can make the best of what you have to work with.

I know it isn't easy. It's taken my 6 years to get off 85 lbs. That's less than a half pound per week. At this rate it will take a decade to get to a normal weight (but so what, if I don't keep working at it, I know where I'll be in a decade - dead if I'm lucky, immobile if I'm not).

One pound at a time, one day at a time, and when that's too overwhelming, one hour at a time, and if that's too overwhelming, one minute at a time. You can keep moving forward, or you can backslide down the mountain. Sometimes just holding ground is all you can manage, so you do that.

Well I can't prove it, but it's a rare side effect. I hold water on it, a dangerous amount. I was gaining 3 lbs per MEAL on it. On some people it causes weight loss, but on me that was not the case. On a daily regimen of 1800 cals per day, I gained 100 lbs in a year while taking it. I didn't have the time to see if it was common, all I know is that for me, I had to stop it and it messed me up.

Here's a forum of people with similar issues while taking it:
(Edit: it won't let me post the URL, but if you do a google search for "ibuprofen and water retention, you'll see a lot of various forum posts.)

As for exercise and swimming, that's awesome, I swam last summer at a friend's pool, it was great. It's the best way to get aerobics in.

Anyway, I don't mean to imply I don't think I'm still big, I know everyone's perceptions are skewed. When I got to 240 (still obese) people treated me as if I were of normative weight, told me how "thin" I was, tell me they thought I could eat whatever I wanted, etc. It's crazy.

Right now I'm having a hard time getting in all the calories I need daily because I'm out of work and the unemployment has run out, so I'm dependent on a friend's aide at the moment. I get about 1000 in daily right now, but I know I need to up it to about 1500 or so. I mostly eat breakfast only, which I know it's not the healthiest, but as I have no choice over what foods I can eat, I can only control how much.

Anyway, thanks everyone {{}}, sorry for my rant there, and I know I've made a huge accomplishment, and I have no desire to stop until I reach a normal weight, or I should should a normative weight, lol. As "average" is sadly in the overweight category now. If I can get to average overweight though, I will be happy. Of course I said the same if I could get to the 300s and I did and then the 200s, and here I am, hehe.

BMI results from simply plugging in numbers are notoriously inaccurate for people who move farther from the average. Muscular people, athletes, and those who are especially short or tall don't get accurate results. If you've been working out or if you're just naturally muscular (and a lot of folks who drop plenty of weight are pretty muscular, since we "weight train" every time we go for a walk ), you probably have a lower BMI than what a quickie online calculator will tell you.

Regardless of what the charts say, I'd say that a guy who's six feet tall and weighs 280 pounds--especially if he's already lost 150!--is lookin' good.

Oh my goodness. 1000 calories is so so low for a six foot tall man. I hope your situation improves soon.

BMI calculators, scales, tape measures ect. are valuable tools when losing weight, but it's very hard not get emotional about the numbers. Try not to let it get you down, dont let it ruin your day. Take stock in the fact that if you went to a Dr today, as opposed to when you first started the journey, they could tell you how much healthier you are. I constantly compare myself to others, and it really does your head in. I'm trying to just focus on me as it's a much healthier and happier way to live! Good Luck with everything.

Swelling and rapid weight gain is listed as one of the potential serious side effects for ibuprofen

http://www.drugs.com/ibuprofen.html


I don't know that it's a common one, but it's certainly worth considering. I didn't experience noticeable weight gain, but I did accidentally discovered that NSAIDs were causing my asthma/copd symptoms. I started getting asthma symptoms a few years after I began taking NSAIDs for arthritis in my late 20's. As my arthritis got worse, so did the lung problems. I had chronic bronchitits throughout the year, and would get pneumonia almost every winter.

I only accidentally (about 5 years ago) discovered that NSAIDs like ibuprofen were the cause. We ran out of money to buy medications, and we couldn't even afford OTC ibuprofen or naproxen. It turned out to be a blessing, because within a few days my lung/breathing issues disappeared entirely.

When I made the connection, my doctor wasn't surprised. He said it's a fairly common side effect (so I don't know why no doctor ever suggested I try to go without NSAIDs. Instead they just prescribed stronger and stronger NSAIDs and stronger and stronger asthma medications).

Now I'm off all allergy and asthma meds (I was on 6 different daily meds for allergies and asthma) except for a low dose of Allegra during allergy season only (I was taking a dose six times larger every day for years) and a proventil inhaler (which I've needed to use maybe 3 times in the last year).