[BreeChick]

I have to put this out there..I frankly really DO hate the BMI chart..

heres's why...it makes me feel as if I'm really really obese no matter what..

----
2.5 yrs post op my VERY lowest got right before the CPAT for fire dept.
I'm 5ft. 5.5in tall but the chart has be at 5ft 6in

I weighted 156 lbs and my BMI = 25.2 OVERWEIGHT
--I was in a 4 top and 6 bottom and had very minimal body fat, no cellulite on thighs, very little right at the top of my thigh under my butt cheeks is all Ihad left.

---2.5-3.0 yrs post op my size with running/weight training--
I weighed 162 lbs solidly and BMI = 26.1 OVERWEIGHT

Now at 5 yrs post unable to run which obviously kept me smaller but I still have a lot of solid muscle but my body fat is higher

I weigh 192 lbs and BMI = OBESE

Gotta make a girl feel --great-- about those numbers don't it?



My point being, people in my life think I look a LOT healthier at this size, I don't have high BP at all, still quite low, I don't have high cholesterol, I very rarely eat the bad stuff --at my lowest everyone thought I looked very anorexic.

We have to find where =WE= are happiest and that has to be about -I- feel inside my own body and what I'm willing to do to keep that size.

The BMI is a good guideline for figuring out a goal weight or what percentage will make you a very successful post op..which they do consider me to be!

--don't sweat the small stuff as they say--
Don't let a mere number (& that is all it is! a #) make you depressed or rule your life.

Believe me...getting beyond that size 12 which was the number I held as being the "perfection number"

DID NOT MAKE MY LIFE PERFECT

[DocSanae]

Love your input as always.

BMI is just a unit to categorize for medical efficiency. Some how, these numbers do have a habit of starting to walk alone, and away from their true meanings.

The same BMI in two different persons doesn't mean that their weight distribution will look exactly the same, the more musclar person will look
slimmer than the same BMI person who's body mass is higher in fat.

Anywho, don't let it control your life, but just keep it in mind that it's a reference number, nothing else, really, and not good enough to rule your life

[fr1endly2]

i personally dont even use the BMI index
aside from it getting me insurance approval
for the surgery.
MY size falls in the same ranges and its not the best.
I am happy with my size and thats what
matters most to me i dont go by charts we
are all build differently.

I fit size 8 and 10 jeans
so thats a good enough size for me at the age of 45

[Lch]

i have to agree, BMI, is not the way to look at yourself. everyone carries weight different and what might look good on one person may look completely different on the other. I like where i am at too, i just need to do more of that excercise to make it look better, but i also have to realize that when i finally start doing that, i will weigh more, only because muscle weighs more than fat.... I totally agree that you have to be happy with the way you look and not worry about that BMI or scale thing. Though it is very nice when you notice it coming off, especially in the begining. As long as i never get my diebetes and high blood pressure back i will be happy, i don't want to live that way, worrying... i just want to be healthy.