[Esofia]

A while ago I came across the Smart BMI calculator. The idea is that the weight range that is best for you naturally increases gradually as you age. I'm 39, and my main experience of dieting was losing about 40lb five years ago. My weight had been steady for most of my life, and I hadn't paid attention to the numbers in years, so I went for the weight I was comfortable at when I was about twenty, about 100lb (I'm 4'11). To my surprise, it looked much too thin on me in my thirties. I'm aiming for 110lb this time. At the moment I'm about 132, definitely overweight according to the BMI (27), but in the upper range of healthy according to the smart BMI. It's very hard to describe your own weight, it's such a loaded concept, but I'd describe myself as borderline overweight, and I'm fitting into smaller sizes than I did when I was this weight some years ago. What do you all think? I reckon there's a lot to be said for not torturing ourselves by trying to return to the weight we were at in our teens.

[stronggal]

I don't believe in BMI. People have different body shapes, different muscle mass.

I am fitter and stronger now then when I was in my teens. And I weight 15 pounds more, and have a lower (or similar) body fat percentage.

[takingcontrol]

Thanks for the link, I just did my smart BMI for the first time and found the advice good to read. I currently have a BMI of between 32 & 33, and the lowest it has been in the past 10 years is about 27. At that weight I felt 'normal' I did not feel overweight, I was fit and I was strong. Unfortunately I didn't stay at that weight for long enough to work out if dropping further would be better or worse for me. So, for this journey I have set my goal to a BMI of 24, but will happily move it up if I am 'done' before then