Poll

What's your BMI?

< 16.5
0 (0%)
16.5-18.5
21 (5.6%)
18.5-25
216 (58.1%)
25-30
92 (24.7%)
30-35
26 (7%)
35-40
12 (3.2%)
>40
5 (1.3%)

Total Members Voted: 367

Author Topic: What's your BMI?  (Read 19784 times)

Freestyler

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What's your BMI?
« on: June 04, 2017, 02:12:11 PM »
Was reading the forum and became suddenly curious about this.

BMI= weight (kg) / height ^2 (meters)






Edited: Removed wording that was making people uncomfortable.
« Last Edit: June 04, 2017, 11:53:44 PM by Freestyler »

I'm a red panda

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #1 on: June 04, 2017, 02:19:08 PM »
I voted but I just had a baby 2 months ago, so not my typical weight.

the_fella

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #2 on: June 04, 2017, 02:20:35 PM »
I'm fat af, tbh. I know I'm considered morbidly obese. Fwiw, BMI is something of a flawed index, as it only takes weight into account, not muscle mass. Going by BMI alone, Shaq was technically "obese" during his playing days.

marty998

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #3 on: June 04, 2017, 03:06:46 PM »
Agree it is flawed for athletes - but most people are not Shaq.

Technically I'm overweight, But I really only have 3-5kg to lose without being skin & bones, not the suggested 7-10 to get me into the "healthy" weight range

human

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #4 on: June 04, 2017, 05:15:43 PM »
I'm fat af, tbh. I know I'm considered morbidly obese. Fwiw, BMI is something of a flawed index, as it only takes weight into account, not muscle mass. Going by BMI alone, Shaq was technically "obese" during his playing days.

That's true but bmi works pretty well for 95% of the population. If you are a true athlete then you know it doesn't apply. If you really don't like bmi you can use hip to waist ration instead, the score won't make many of the bmi debunkers feel any better though.

wenchsenior

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #5 on: June 04, 2017, 06:25:40 PM »
Suspect this will be a self selecting poll for people at lower end of BMI.  I am thrilled after 3 years of struggle with being underweight, to have gotten over the 18.5 BMI 'hump' to 'normal'.  Hope it sticks.

SimpleCycle

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #6 on: June 04, 2017, 06:40:14 PM »
I have a feeling the OP expects Mustachians will be slimmer than average since they are more disciplined and otherwise morally superior.  Eyeroll.

okits

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #7 on: June 04, 2017, 06:51:17 PM »
I have a feeling the OP expects Mustachians will be slimmer than average since they are more disciplined and otherwise morally superior.  Eyeroll.

If so, shouldn't the poll be "FI or not and BMI?"  ;)

Suspect this will be a self selecting poll for people at lower end of BMI. I am thrilled after 3 years of struggle with being underweight, to have gotten over the 18.5 BMI 'hump' to 'normal'.  Hope it sticks.

To ensure that it's not I voted.  :)

kayvent

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #8 on: June 04, 2017, 07:19:02 PM »
I am 26. Was Over thirty at the end of 2015. There was a small injury and operation, unrelated, that put a wrench in some of the lost. Hoping to drop another twenty pounds by the end of 2018.

Lagom

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #9 on: June 04, 2017, 08:24:58 PM »
Agree it is flawed for athletes - but most people are not Shaq.

Technically I'm overweight, But I really only have 3-5kg to lose without being skin & bones, not the suggested 7-10 to get me into the "healthy" weight range

Yeah, not to join in on the humblebraggy chain here, but for another data point, when I found MMM, I was skinny fat and definitely unhealthy at a 20 BMI. Today (4+ years later), I am a significantly fitter and stronger 26, though technically overweight by BMI standards. My eventual target weight would get me somewhere in the 28-29 BMI range, just shy of "obese.":)

Giro

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #10 on: June 05, 2017, 08:36:58 AM »
yea, probably should have asked about body fat % versus body mass that doesn't take muscle into account.  It's a bit more 'healthy' of a calculation.

KarefulKactus15

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #11 on: June 05, 2017, 08:38:26 AM »
25.1  .. Based on random google BMI calculator.

boarder42

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #12 on: June 05, 2017, 08:49:10 AM »
yea, probably should have asked about body fat % versus body mass that doesn't take muscle into account.  It's a bit more 'healthy' of a calculation.

for 95% of the population muscle isnt the reason they have a high BMI.  its b/c they have too much body fat.  and body fat is not easily calculated via a quick ratio of weight to height. People will claim all day that its not a fair calc for their build but really most everyone is fat in the USA so you look normal carrying around extra weight and that makes you feel like the calc is bad.

WhiteTrashCash

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #13 on: June 05, 2017, 08:53:39 AM »
I have a mid-average BMI, but I exercise for a minimum of 10 hours each week which helps a lot. I also eat vegetarian for three days a week to limit my animal fat intake. I had a problem with cholesterol before I got that under control. I think the Mustachian lifestyle lends itself well to a healthy lifestyle.
« Last Edit: June 05, 2017, 10:22:25 AM by WhiteTrashCash »

JLee

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #14 on: June 05, 2017, 09:02:59 AM »
22.  When I was working out and in better shape I was 24.7, or 2lbs away from "overweight." Yeah ok....no.

I'm a red panda

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #15 on: June 05, 2017, 09:10:09 AM »
yea, probably should have asked about body fat % versus body mass that doesn't take muscle into account.  It's a bit more 'healthy' of a calculation.

for 95% of the population muscle isnt the reason they have a high BMI.  its b/c they have too much body fat.  and body fat is not easily calculated via a quick ratio of weight to height. People will claim all day that its not a fair calc for their build but really most everyone is fat in the USA so you look normal carrying around extra weight and that makes you feel like the calc is bad.

But all the morally superior mustachians are probably carrying tons of muscle...right?


/funny? story. A friend at work lost her fitness incentive because she was measured as having an obese BMI. She was 8 months pregnant. The company doing the health screening did not care. By weight and height she was obese. BMI is a tool that should be used in conjunction with other things, and the sole reliance on it as a measure of health is ridiculous.

SimpleCycle

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What's your BMI?
« Reply #16 on: June 05, 2017, 09:12:29 AM »
yea, probably should have asked about body fat % versus body mass that doesn't take muscle into account.  It's a bit more 'healthy' of a calculation.

for 95% of the population muscle isnt the reason they have a high BMI.  its b/c they have too much body fat.  and body fat is not easily calculated via a quick ratio of weight to height. People will claim all day that its not a fair calc for their build but really most everyone is fat in the USA so you look normal carrying around extra weight and that makes you feel like the calc is bad.

Eh, I largely agree with you, but I am not sure the 95% thing is true.  Last time I had it measured, I had 144 lbs of lean body mass, which means I'd have to be at 12% body fat to be normal weight.  I'm a woman so not happening.  And I'm not an athlete, just someone who is reasonably active and carries a decent amount of non-lean weight, which also increases muscle mass.  So yeah, my high BMI is mostly because of fat but also because of muscle.

It's often overlooked that the overweight category has the lowest mortality of any weight category.  So basically if you're under a BMI of 30, you're probably good, health wise. (Overweight ups your risk of certain diseases, but not nearly as much as actual obesity, and not your risk of dying from disease)
« Last Edit: June 05, 2017, 09:16:44 AM by SimpleCycle »

wjinghlw

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #17 on: June 05, 2017, 09:38:39 AM »
31 yo male BMI 27.1


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honeybbq

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #18 on: June 05, 2017, 10:18:44 AM »
BMI of 20. I just ran a marathon in April and I'm a triathlete.


HPstache

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #19 on: June 05, 2017, 10:23:00 AM »
24.4 currently

PoutineLover

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #20 on: June 05, 2017, 10:26:11 AM »
My BMI is around 25 so just edging into overweight but I'm pretty active. I lift weights and play sports and biking and walking are my main forms of transportation. When I last got my BF% measured it was low 20s and I'm female so that qualifies as fit I think. Visible abs aren't important to me but being strong and flexible and healthy does matter, so I live my life accordingly and don't pay much attention to the number on the scale or my BMI.

monstermonster

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #21 on: June 05, 2017, 10:26:56 AM »
22.7, but I'm really really short (4'11" or 1,5M) and pretty muscular so it's rather flawed for me as a metric.

When I was a figure skater I was considered overweight based on BMI because I had 15% body fat as a teenage girl.

des999

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #22 on: June 05, 2017, 10:28:07 AM »
BMI - 23

runner and lift weights, in very good shape.   not sure BMI tells you much (as others have said)

Jon_Snow

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #23 on: June 05, 2017, 10:36:18 AM »
6'4", 190 lbs. BMI - 23.
 
My BMI has been steadily creeping upward, even as my bodyfat% has been dropping. As others have mentioned, it's usefulness is quite limited.


Oh, and pre-FIRE?

6'4", 248 lbs. BMI - 30+

I don't need BMI to tell that things are much better now. ;)
« Last Edit: June 05, 2017, 11:21:20 AM by Jon_Snow »

mm1970

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #24 on: June 05, 2017, 11:09:29 AM »
I can't vote.

25.0.  It fits into 2 categories.

But reality is I vary between 24.9 and 25.2.

Although apparently if I slouch, I lose 1/2 inch at the doc's office.

My neighbor thinks I've lost weight!  All the running up hills - weight hasn't budged, but maybe it's shifted?  I dunno.

(In case you are wondering - female, short, late 40's, "stocky" - very muscular thighs, calves, butt.  Not a fan of BMI, doc says I'm great.)

mm1970

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #25 on: June 05, 2017, 11:11:17 AM »
God I hate BMI as a measure of body fat/muscle and health and fitness so much. My BMI indicates I'm either a healthy fit long distance runner or climber or a twitchy methhead or dying cancer patient.who can barely left their own arm.
ha!  I LOL'd

RocketSurgeon

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #26 on: June 05, 2017, 11:12:10 AM »
I'm a fattie with a sweet tooth, coming in at 34.4 on the chart. (and no, it's not muscle mass.)
Change is hard, but I think I might finally buy a bike this summer and start taking it to work.

Luck12

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #27 on: June 05, 2017, 11:23:49 AM »
5'7.5", 135lbs.    I think and people say I have a runner's body.   It's actually kind of embarassing b/c I"m only a slightly above average runner, people just assume I would dominate races.   Really humbling when chubby runners pass me by. 
« Last Edit: June 05, 2017, 11:27:44 AM by Luck12 »

wenchsenior

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #28 on: June 05, 2017, 11:29:14 AM »
God I hate BMI as a measure of body fat/muscle and health and fitness so much. My BMI indicates I'm either a healthy fit long distance runner or climber or a twitchy methhead or dying cancer patient.who can barely left their own arm.

I know, right?

My low BMI is not an indication of health. I wish it were.

tarheeldan

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #29 on: June 05, 2017, 11:42:55 AM »
21.7

bigalsmith101

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #30 on: June 05, 2017, 06:45:40 PM »
I'm 6'6" and 225lbs. I'm about 12% body fat, but hold a BMI of 26.05. Ergo, I'm "overweight". I've had a a BMI as high as 30 in the past, but with 10% body fat.

My wife is a nutritionist, and we both laugh at our BMI measurements.

« Last Edit: June 05, 2017, 06:52:36 PM by bigalsmith101 »

surfhb

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #31 on: June 05, 2017, 06:52:59 PM »
I'm 5'10" 200 lbs....muscular and surf/bike everyday.    I'm obese .   Oh well,  I'll own it ;)

The BMI Gods say I should lose 50lbs.    That would be unhealthy for me
« Last Edit: June 05, 2017, 06:57:23 PM by surfhb »

Civex

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #32 on: June 05, 2017, 07:47:17 PM »
22.4 male, distance runner

This is about the lowest I feel I can maintain (+/-2-3lb)...I've dropped to 21 before, which is single digit body fat for me. Ideally, for marathoning I would sit around 140-143 lb, which is a tad under 20, but I really enjoy good food and good beer.

Retire-Canada

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #33 on: June 05, 2017, 07:49:52 PM »
Standard BMI = 25.8 & Lean BMI = 22

I work out so I think the later is more realistic as I carry a fair bit of muscle.

Hotstreak

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #34 on: June 05, 2017, 10:57:06 PM »
Overweight at 26.4.  6'1" 200lbs.  If I were 189 I would be Normal BMI.  Height to waist ratio 0.48, which is healthy (under 0.52 is healthy for men, 0.48 for women, measure inches at waist divided by inches in height) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waist-to-height_ratio .


I don't like BMI for the general public and never recommend it to friends.  It can give people of all measurement levels the wrong ideas about their health.  For instance someone who is skinny-fat with very little muscle mass would register as lean or normal, and think they are Okay.  Realistically they need to lose some fat and gain some muscle if they want to be healthy and mobile over a long life.  Someone my height at 185lbs gets worried about gaining 5lbs of muscle so doesn't lift weights, even if the main problem is their high body fat percentage.  Seriously almost everybody needs to take in to account their body fat alongside BMI which basically makes BMI useless since body fat is a good enough measure as a stand alone. 


Of course body fat is ALSO flawed mostly because of how hard it is to measure.  Calipers are shit, for example, so you need a displacement tank or bod-pod style machine which you can find readily in big cities but not small towns, and they can be expensive.  Height to waist ratio is honestly one of the best ones I've found out there because anybody can measure it at home and it's predictive as a stand-alone.  You can measure your progress with less confounding factors than BMI and without spending cash on testing.  It also has issues of course nothing takes the place of a thorough physical exam but lets be honest most people aren't getting that done on a regular basis.

JLee

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #35 on: June 05, 2017, 10:59:26 PM »
Overweight at 26.4.  6'1" 200lbs.  If I were 189 I would be Normal BMI.  Height to waist ratio 0.48, which is healthy (under 0.52 is healthy for men, 0.48 for women, measure inches at waist divided by inches in height) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waist-to-height_ratio .


I don't like BMI for the general public and never recommend it to friends.  It can give people of all measurement levels the wrong ideas about their health.  For instance someone who is skinny-fat with very little muscle mass would register as lean or normal, and think they are Okay.  Realistically they need to lose some fat and gain some muscle if they want to be healthy and mobile over a long life.  Someone my height at 185lbs gets worried about gaining 5lbs of muscle so doesn't lift weights, even if the main problem is their high body fat percentage.  Seriously almost everybody needs to take in to account their body fat alongside BMI which basically makes BMI useless since body fat is a good enough measure as a stand alone. 


Of course body fat is ALSO flawed mostly because of how hard it is to measure.  Calipers are shit, for example, so you need a displacement tank or bod-pod style machine which you can find readily in big cities but not small towns, and they can be expensive.  Height to waist ratio is honestly one of the best ones I've found out there because anybody can measure it at home and it's predictive as a stand-alone.  You can measure your progress with less confounding factors than BMI and without spending cash on testing.  It also has issues of course nothing takes the place of a thorough physical exam but lets be honest most people aren't getting that done on a regular basis.

I'm between college swimmer and bodybuilder.

If only the rest of me fit that model...LOL.

Trifle

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #36 on: June 06, 2017, 05:28:16 AM »
God I hate BMI as a measure of body fat/muscle and health and fitness so much. My BMI indicates I'm either a healthy fit long distance runner or climber or a twitchy methhead or dying cancer patient.who can barely left their own arm.

I know, right?

My low BMI is not an indication of health. I wish it were.

Amen.   I came in at 18.8.  I'm a runner, but I am underweight right now due to some recent health issues.   Working to get back up higher/regain some muscle. 

11ducks

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #37 on: June 06, 2017, 06:08:29 AM »
24.4 currently

Twins! I'm 24.4, and exercise regularly. Would like to drop 5kg (more to reduce
Pressure on an old ankle injury) but otherwise pretty happy with where I'm at!

Raenia

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #38 on: June 06, 2017, 06:42:44 AM »
19.6, and I'd really feel better if I could gain about 10lbs.  I've hovered on the edge of underweight my whole adult life.  I just can't seem to keep weight on.

Bird In Hand

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #39 on: June 06, 2017, 07:36:18 AM »
19.6, and I'd really feel better if I could gain about 10lbs.  I've hovered on the edge of underweight my whole adult life.  I just can't seem to keep weight on.

Same.  I've been able to creep up from mid 18's to around 20 over the last year.  That has required consistent strength training and conscientiously eating/resting enough.  If I simply follow my appetite, I lose weight and settle back into the 18's.  I'd like to add at least another 10lbs of (mostly) muscle in the next year, but I'm OK if it takes longer than that.

limeandpepper

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #40 on: June 06, 2017, 07:40:15 AM »
I'm going to be the odd one out and say that even though my BMI is 17.8, I don't feel underweight. I think I was around 17.3 in early adulthood, then I did martial arts and it gradually went up to around 19.2 from muscle gain. After I stopped training, my weight naturally and gradually went back down which is how I'm at 17.8 now. I come from a family with skinny genes and light frames so that's just how it is. And I really liked my body at 19.2, but it's also fine as it is now.

Morning Glory

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #41 on: June 06, 2017, 07:45:34 AM »
Currently 22, (129lbs) at 4 months pregnant. I am 5'4" with small bone structure.  I played with the calculator a little and found out that I barely skimmed 25 at the end of my last pregnancy (~145 lbs). I tend to feel best around 115 lbs, BMI 19.74 (fewer issues with acid reflux) but I was closer to 122 going into the pregnancy this time around. Scale says I'm 25% body fat but I'm not sure how accurate that is.

BMI is meant as a screening tool, not a diagnosis. For example, if someone is fluid overloaded they can have a high BMI even though they are quite malnourished.

Rimu05

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #42 on: June 06, 2017, 07:53:27 AM »
19.2 but I am skinny fat. (5'9 and 130 pounds (weighed myself yesterday)
I think metric conversion is 175CM and 59/60 KG.

The funny thing is I look quite athletic and I get that a lot.

"You look athletic."

I did exercise and play sports until college.

« Last Edit: June 06, 2017, 08:03:02 AM by Rimu05 »

Raenia

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #43 on: June 06, 2017, 08:10:42 AM »
I'm going to be the odd one out and say that even though my BMI is 17.8, I don't feel underweight. I think I was around 17.3 in early adulthood, then I did martial arts and it gradually went up to around 19.2 from muscle gain. After I stopped training, my weight naturally and gradually went back down which is how I'm at 17.8 now. I come from a family with skinny genes and light frames so that's just how it is. And I really liked my body at 19.2, but it's also fine as it is now.

If you feel healthy at that weight, then good for you!  Definitely don't feel the need to gain wait just because others with similar BMI are looking to gain :)

For me, I gained weight in college and felt a lot healthier.  Combination of infinite food at the dining center and working out every day thanks to joining a sport.  Once I lost that weight in the year after graduating, I realized I was getting light-headed a lot, muscle weakness, less energy, feel cold all the time, etc.  So I've spent the last five years trying to put the weight back on, without success.  Unfortunately I have a tendency to skip meals when I'm absorbed in something, and I don't even notice I haven't eaten until I'm light-headed and achy.

I'm getting a little off-topic here, but I was really annoyed with several people in my life who congratulated me on losing weight.  "Oh you look so thin!"  Well gee, thanks, glad to know that when I could squat my bodyweight you thought I was fat. :/

patchyfacialhair

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #44 on: June 06, 2017, 08:14:13 AM »
Ugh. I'm at a 29 BMI now. I'd much rather be around a 24. When I lifted weights 3-4 times a week and swam multiple times a week, I floated around 178-180 at with my 6'1" height. Now, I'm floating between 215 and 220 for the last few months. NOT good. I have too many excuses...

I fit in with the 95% where the BMI works. Yes, I'm overweight, although I look very athletic with clothes on. It's when i take my shirt off that I realize...yep...my fat rolls are showing.

Far too many folks at work will victimize themselves saying "OH MY GOD THEY TOLD ME I'M OBESE" meanwhile I'm silently judging as they eat fatty breakfast burritos and chicken tenders every day. Nothing inherently wrong with those things, but don't kid yourself...you're overweight, and no, you're not a bodybuilder.

That's another thing. Among guys, plenty of fat guys think they're body builders because they can bench an insane amount or squat a bunch. Yes, you're strong, nobody's debating that. But, you're also fat.

Rant over.

Bird In Hand

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #45 on: June 06, 2017, 09:34:20 AM »
I'm.currently in.the 18 range but by end of summer it could be in.the 25 range because of a sport I play which requires I build a lot of muscle even if I don't gain any fat at all or even lose some. Sigh...

If you're 5' tall, a 18-25 BMI jump represents 35 lbs.  If you're 6' tall, that jump is ~50lbs.  You're not putting on 35 or 50 lbs of muscle by the end of the summer, even with steroids!  :D

HPstache

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #46 on: June 06, 2017, 10:04:56 AM »
24.4 currently

Twins! I'm 24.4, and exercise regularly. Would like to drop 5kg (more to reduce
Pressure on an old ankle injury) but otherwise pretty happy with where I'm at!

175 lb and 5'11", you?

Bird In Hand

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #47 on: June 06, 2017, 10:22:27 AM »
Well I'm 5'10" and yeah I am putting on a lot of muscle - without steroids ;-). I posted a couple of photos in Jordan Read's fitness thread last year (photos deleted now) to show the difference. One with a BMI of around 18 ish another with weight and BMI much higher but not much fat..

I'm not questioning your effort or the fact that you'll put on a good amount of muscle.  I'm just saying that you're not going to put on 35 pounds of muscle in a few months. 8 pounds of muscle in three months would be ambitious (and difficult).  If you're putting on more than that, it's likely water and fat.  No judgment -- I'm sure you'll look great at the end of the summer!

limeandpepper

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #48 on: June 06, 2017, 11:29:26 AM »
I'm going to be the odd one out and say that even though my BMI is 17.8, I don't feel underweight. I think I was around 17.3 in early adulthood, then I did martial arts and it gradually went up to around 19.2 from muscle gain. After I stopped training, my weight naturally and gradually went back down which is how I'm at 17.8 now. I come from a family with skinny genes and light frames so that's just how it is. And I really liked my body at 19.2, but it's also fine as it is now.

If you feel healthy at that weight, then good for you!  Definitely don't feel the need to gain wait just because others with similar BMI are looking to gain :)

For me, I gained weight in college and felt a lot healthier.  Combination of infinite food at the dining center and working out every day thanks to joining a sport.  Once I lost that weight in the year after graduating, I realized I was getting light-headed a lot, muscle weakness, less energy, feel cold all the time, etc.  So I've spent the last five years trying to put the weight back on, without success.  Unfortunately I have a tendency to skip meals when I'm absorbed in something, and I don't even notice I haven't eaten until I'm light-headed and achy.

I'm getting a little off-topic here, but I was really annoyed with several people in my life who congratulated me on losing weight.  "Oh you look so thin!"  Well gee, thanks, glad to know that when I could squat my bodyweight you thought I was fat. :/

Yeah, for me, under 17 is where I feel like I really need to fill out a bit, that was where I was as a teenager and I'm glad I've put on weight since then. Probably around 17.5 - 20 works for me.

I just remembered other than being 19.2 and fit, I've also briefly been at 19.2 from overeating (I was on a holiday and stuffed myself silly). Same weight but looked very different. 19.2 and fit looked great, 19.2 from overeating I looked like a stout little barrel...

I get annoyed by people telling me I'm too skinny and to eat more in a rude persistent way, and it's typically from people who don't know me well and have no idea. People who know me well, like my parents, know I love to eat!

Your anecdote reminds me of when I used to train martial arts... once in a while, you'd get a girl who complains that their arms or thighs are getting too big. Meanwhile, when my clothes started to get snug in those areas, I LIKED it and I thought I looked better than I ever did! People value different things, I guess!

NextTime

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Re: What's your BMI?
« Reply #49 on: June 06, 2017, 12:34:57 PM »
yea, probably should have asked about body fat % versus body mass that doesn't take muscle into account.  It's a bit more 'healthy' of a calculation.

for 95% of the population muscle isnt the reason they have a high BMI.  its b/c they have too much body fat.  and body fat is not easily calculated via a quick ratio of weight to height. People will claim all day that its not a fair calc for their build but really most everyone is fat in the USA so you look normal carrying around extra weight and that makes you feel like the calc is bad.


BMI is absolutely flawed for more than just elite athletes. It is not valid for 95% of the population because it takes nothing into account other than weight and height.  There are many, many different body types in the this world.

For instance, like someone upthread state, I feel fat af right now at 41 years old. At 5'10.5 215 lbs I'm just dipping into the obese range.  Anybody who saw me would see I've got a little belly going on, but I daresay no one would refer to me as obese.  I have broad shoulders and big ass. Other than that I think I look like an average sized guy.

The BMI calculator says I would need to get down to 176 lbs to sneak just out of the "Overweight" range. LOL!  I would look like Tony Horton (of P90X fame) if I were to get below 180. 

I worked out pretty hard up into my late 20's and even in my mid 30's got back into pretty good shape (another P90X plug).  IMO, the weight I felt and looked best at was 185-190, which is still 10-15 lbs overweight according to BMI.