Weight Loss for the Year

[Tom NJ]

Most healthcare people use Body Mass Index (BMI) as a measure of proper weight. The accepted categories are:

Underweight = Normal weight = 18.5-24.9
Overweight = 25-29.9
Obesity = 30 or greater

You can calculte your BMI here:

http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi

The maximum "normal" weight for a 5'11" man (BMI = 25) is 179 lbs. That said, these numbers must be taken with a large grain of salt as they do not address your bone structure or physical fitness. A person with large bones or very muscular should weigh more than what the BMI indicates, or put another way, their "normal" BMI might be 27 instead of 25.

There are other factors as well. Apparently in men belly fat is more dangerous than just your total body weight. Recommendations are a waist measurement of less than 40" and less than 90% of your hip measurement.

I am 6' 3.5" and a BMI of 25 for me is 203. I was below that for most of my life but drifted up to 235 by 2003. I went on Atkins and dropped 43 lbs in six months. At 192 lbs everyone said I looked drawn and too thin, so I now try to maintain a window of 200-205.

After six vacations in 2008 I drifted up to 214 and went back on strict Atkins on Jan 1. Lost 7 pounds in January and should be back in shape during Feb. Atkins is the only diet that I can comfortably maintain.

Each person has to determine their proper weight by finding their own personal balance between healthy body and quality of life.

Tom NJ

 

[Patman]

Originally Posted By: javacontour



Anyone else trying to drop a few and how are you doing?


I'm 5'8" tall, so when I hit 185 pounds last summer, and had a hard time fitting into my size 34 pants, I decided to do something about it! I started drinking 2 liters of water a day, started doing a small amount (10min a day) of weight training with a 20 lb dumb bell, started eating more fiber, and I limit myself to roughly 2000 calories per day (except on weekends where I probably eat closer to 3000 to 3500 per day) In the warmer weather I also go for a 45 minute walk 5 times a week on my lunch hour (although I was already doing that for many years)

It has worked, as I am now down to 166 pounds, so I've lost almost 20 pounds. Plus I can now almost fit into my size 32 pants again! (they are tight though, another 10 pounds and they'll fit me easily) My goal weight is to get down to around 155, that's my weight when I got married in 2000. Depending on how flat my stomach is at that point, I may decide to drop another 5 pounds and get to an even 150.

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: Tom NJ
Most healthcare people use Body Mass Index (BMI) as a measure of proper weight.


The BMI method is outdated. Measuring actual body fat percentage has been the commonly used method for at least a decade.

 

[javacontour]

The thing is, when most folks look at me today, they find it difficult to believe I weigh what I weigh. They probably put me at 220-230 when I was around 250. My belly has not yet exceeded my chest.

I have belly fat and love handles. But in my chest, you can still feel my ribs. Go figure. (No pun intended!)

 

[moribundman]

Thanks for letting us all feel your ribs.

 

[javacontour]

Originally Posted By: moribundman
Thanks for letting us all feel your ribs.


You are welcome. I'm sure the pleasure was all yours. Only my wife is allowed to feel my hip bones

 

[javacontour]

I'm holding at 249 as of this AM. Superbowl partying did me in a bit, but I'm glad to see that after everything passed, at least no damage was done, LOL.

Yesterday's workout was just over 5.5 miles and over 600 calories.

 

[javacontour]

What is interesting is when I plug my measurements into the Army's Body Fat Calculator, at 249# with a 18.5" neck and 38" waist, at 71 inches, I measure out to 22.77% body fat which is in compliance with Army standards for a 43 year old male.

Maybe I need to re-activate my commission, LOL.

 

[wander2039]

Started out after Christmas at 168.5 now down to 159. I'm 5'6 in height. Like to get down to 10-12% in body fat. The wife is down to 147 from 157 and she did was cut out the pop. Never knew a little bit fat could dampened the drive.. boy was I wrong.

 

[Vaca]

Originally Posted By: moribundman
Originally Posted By: Tom NJ
Most healthcare people use Body Mass Index (BMI) as a measure of proper weight.


The BMI method is outdated. Measuring actual body fat percentage has been the commonly used method for at least a decade.


While BMI is not a particularly useful tool for individual health, it IS a useful tool to measure population trends.

The simplicity of just two basic variables is what makes it suitable for its proper use in population trending, is also what makes it a poor tool for individuals.

For example, I'm 72 inches and 220 lbs puts me overweight and near obese, but I am very far from overweight no less obese. I lift weights and have a pretty decent body comp of approx. 12% body fat.

But it is useful to know that the BMI of say,males aged 12-15 has increased 12% from 1990 to 2005, for instance. Or that the BMI for females aged 80-89 has decreased 7% from 2000 to 2005, etc.

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: Vaca

While BMI is not a particularly useful tool for individual health, it IS a useful tool to measure population trends.


True, but I'm not interested in measuring population trends. I can see that people at large are getting fatter.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Originally Posted By: javacontour
What is interesting is when I plug my measurements into the Army's Body Fat Calculator, at 249# with a 18.5" neck and 38" waist, at 71 inches, I measure out to 22.77% body fat which is in compliance with Army standards for a 43 year old male.

Maybe I need to re-activate my commission, LOL.

Hmmm. I found that calculator, and putting in the 68.5" height, 34" waist and 15.5" neck I presently run, I get 17.7 % body fat, or less than the Army norm for 17 to 20-year-olds! And I'm, ahem, quite a bit older than that -- their norm for my age group would be more like 26%!

(ETA: Okay, it's their "allowable" range of body fat, which suggests that's the max. I'm sure they'd prefer lower.)