BMI for more "athletic" type

[Purpleandteal]

When I look at myself in the mirror I don't see someone overweight but according to my BMI I am. I know it's not the most accurate thing as even when I was marathon training and looked borderline underweight (you could see my ribcage) I was still just bang on in the middle of "healthy". Is there anything else I can trust? Photos for reference. Also to add I'm 8 months PP and have been doing strength training 5 times a week for at least an hour each.

certainly I recognise the truth of this - I remember seeing an article pointing out that according to the normal definitions of obesity according to BMI, pretty much all rugby players and oxbridge rowers in televised sporting events would be calculated as obese, so I don't think it's a useful measure.

I know there are scales that measure the percentage of body fat in your overall composition as well as your weight - maybe forgetting about bmi and selection a sensible target value for body fat composition would be a sensible way to monitor for you? remember that muscle weighs more than fat.

My scales can measure body fat, how reliable that is I have no idea. They put me at 28% (which is acceptable) fitness starts at 25% so not too far off

Elite athletes need bespoke consideration. But most people aren't elite, and even the Army uses BMI as a screening. OP does not say that she has en excessively physical job, or participates at all in a muscle-building sport (let alone at an intensive enough level for it to makeba BMI difference)

Being able to see ribs is not a sign of being underweight (indeed in children, nit being able to see them is a sign of overweight)

We have totally lost sight of what 'normal' looks like (and everyone 'poses' themselves for the mirror (consciously or not). So I have no idea what your BMI is likely to be.

What are your scales telling you? What are your energy levels like? Are you still running?

BMI is a guide, however it is a pretty good starting point if you are concerned about your weight, the next step is to talk to your GP. Or you could do what too many people do in this country and tell yourself that you are an Olympic rower who plays rugby in their spare time, and your weight is fine.

I have photographs of me being a healthy weight and I don't look healthy (unfortunately they're appropriate for MN. I know I'm not what I used to be but never wanted to go back to that extreme anyways. I was just surprised I was this weight considering some of my old clothes (size 8) fit me.

I'm not concerned about my weight, I was able to lose 4st in the past. But finding the balance is the hard part.

For heavens sake ignore the clothes labels. They're terribly variable and utterly meaningless - have been ever since they never recovered from the rampant vanity sizing of the 1980s.

Does it matter what your bmi is if you are eating healthily and working out and you’re happy with your weight?

I have clothes from 20 years ago. Oddly enough I was the same weight. Those clothes are massive on me so I know my body shape has definitely changed.

I don't know actually. When I was at my athletic peak I thought it was the golden standard. With hindsight maybe not so much. Yes I was super athletic but I developed amenorrhea and it took me longer to conceive because of it too. Back then I was still a BMI of 22. My partner who has seen me at all weight isn't much help as he can go from "you were so skinny back then" to "the BMI is everything".

I'm not sure what you are asking. BMI is a useful guide. That's all. You can see your own body and you know if you have excess fat or not. If you are happy with how you look and feel then I'm not sure why you are worrying.
A photo of your midriff doesn't actually mean anything either. Even when I'd put on a good bit of weight after having kids my midriff was slim'ish - arse and thighs not so much. Cloths sizes don't mean too much either.

I use scales to monitor my weight. If my weight starts to creep up I watch my diet until I am at a weight I am happy with.

Also, have you posted before? 🤔

Nope, I don't think I have! Ohaybe about losing baby weight!

The thing is I have a fairly skewed view of what is healthy. Looking back I didn't look healthy even if the scales said I was.

Plus I was surprised of my weight considering my clothes and generally how I'm feeling. I thought it was going to be 6lbs lighter

If you were loosing your periods at a BMI of 22, that suggests that that's not a healthy weight for you, doesn't it?

People have really different builds. That's why BMI is a range - and the "healthy" range used to go up to 27. I'm often heavier than people my height who look much bigger than me - just looking at someone it can be hard to tell.

If you feel fit, you're eating healthily, your clothes fit fine and you have your periods in the way that's normal for you, I'd say your weight is probably fine.

Yes exactly. I love I'm not in my target size yet (I didn't think I was that far off size wise). But it was surprising that I was pretty much the same size 3 years ago, but the difference in weight is at least 10lb. My training is completely different though and I think that's the key to it.

Because BMI is an average there will always be some outliers. I've been anywhere from 18.5 to 28 in my adult life.

I still fit in the clothes I wore when my BMI was 18.5, my BMI is now 21. In fact those old clothes are bigger on me now. I'm visibly smaller. I run and strength train. I look 'athletic'.

I'm not quite sure what you're asking, but it is possible to be smaller and weigh more if you're training hard over a long period of time.

This makes no sense with me either, OP.

I train with heavy weights four times a week, I'm fit and strong. I have good stomach muscle definition. My body fat on my 'Fitdays' ap is 19% (therefore 'athlete' according to the ap), yet my BMI is 24.7, creeping into 'high' territory.

You certainly don't look overweight - you look great and healthy!

I take BMI with a pinch of salt. I’m massively overweight right now and I’m not kidding myself that it’s all muscle. But I was tested about a year ago to much puzzles looks - I have the lean muscle mass of a pro-athlete. When I had a BMI 30 I had a 27” waist. Just one of those things.

Surrey when I was training like crazy I had a very similar experience. My fat percentage was around 15% yet my BMi was like 21-22.

When my BMI hit 24.5 my periods stopped. I looked bloody awful as well. I am short but very stocky with big hips, tits and a lot of muscle as I exercise loads. My doctor told me to put on half a stone (start eating again). He gave me 'permission' to ignore the BMI thing and to trust myself to know what was healthy. I don't weigh myself anymore. I know what size I am by clothes, how I look etc. I feel free and not constantly depressed about the scales. I can exercise how I want and not worry that extra muscle will add extra weight. I've always been heavier than I look and I was always chasing a norm that I don't fit. It was a total waste of time.

My BMi was lower when they stopped but I was a stick. (Unfortunately the ones that truly show it are not very MN friendly).

I did go to the GP and told me I should train less. Which I did, gained weight and about 15months later conceived the gorgeous baby I have birth to.

I would like to think I am athletic (ha ha) and my BMI is about 21.5. I still get my periods.

I am just under 5 ft 4 and weigh exactly 9 stone.