To think I shouldn't be THIS heavy??

[Lotsofsausage]

So to start, I know I am no supermodel. Fairly tall at 5'8, size 14, smaller waist, medium bust. Fairly curvy arse/ thighs but toned. I am fit and strong and exercise 4-5x per week, including strength training.

Now I know measurements and photos are a better gauge than the scales, and muscle is meant to weigh more than fat (but I thought that was bullshit).....I am 14.5 stone! I have a friend with the same body measurements as me and same height and she is TWO STONE lighter.
Can some people just be 'heavy'???

hmm, interesting responses, thank you all.
I personally think that BMI is silly as I have same measurements as my friend as I said, she isn't as toned as me and I am overweight and she is fine according to that?
Calories wise, I am not in a deficit but not over my TDEE either. so I think this is my 'natural' weight. I know if I cut cals I could lose a stone but I'm not too fussed about weight, just surprised!
I have been 12 stone before when I was very poorly and you could see al of my bones, hips sticking out etc. so I don't think that's necessarily a healthy weight for me?
No idea about body fat percentage, I might get it checked. good idea. I have abs etc (not a full peter andre but you can see them) but probably a lot more fat on my bum!
I do have large wrists etc - I can't buy normal bangles as I can't get them on :(

I think 14.5 stone sounds about right. It gives you a BMI of over 30, though, which is classed as obese.

www.bmi-calculator.net/bmi-classification/bmi-obesity-information.php

It does sound a lot (and presumably puts your BMI at well over 25?) but if you are fit, healthy and firm I'd be a lot less less worried than if you were 2 stone lighter but flabby rather than firm

Some people can definitely carry extra weight better than others and if you have muscular legs etc and a decent bust you are always going to weight more than someone of similar height who is naturally waif like and flat chested

X-post! Ignore my BMI info if you're not a believer! 🙃

I'm 5 8 and weigh 12.10. I can squeeze into a 14 but am more a 16. I think I look overweight. Currently trying to get to 11.7.

I'm 5' 5 and wear a size 14 at 13.5 stone. I was a size 12 top and bottom at 12 stone. Not just vanity sizing either - "proper" size 12s fitted perfectly!

I was super fit and exercising a lot including weightlifting with a PT. I looked 20lbs lighter than I actually was.

I personally think that BMI is silly as I have same measurements as my friend as I said, she isn't as toned as me and I am overweight and she is fine according to that?

If your friend and you have the same height and weight, wouldn't the BMI give you the same results? I don't think BMI measures anything but height/weight? Or do you mean your friend weighs less at the same height/measurements as you?

So it sounds like you have quite a large bone structure (genuinely - not a polite way of saying you're fat) and that probably explains a lot of the weight difference between you and me - I recently bought a ladies wrist watch and had to have three sections taken out of the band , and it's still a bit loose.

I also find dresses that fit my arse are far too big around the shoulders, despite being a 32F bra size.

I have been 12 stone before when I was very poorly and you could see al of my bones, hips sticking out etc. so I don't think that's necessarily a healthy weight for me?

That doesn't sound good. I think you do have to go on how you look at certain weights. Maybe you have a bigger frame? I have seen measurement/weight chart thingies where they take frame into account. You have to measure your wrists for that.

No elsewhere she is same height and BODY measurements. waist, hips, etc. 2 stone lighter. which is odd!

Maybe I could start a new career as a human cannon.

These threads always amaze me.
Most people who post who are a similar height and weight to me say they are a size 18 or more whereas I am a 16 and sometimes a 14
I do know I’m overweight, definitely not in denial by the way!

I am 5'11 and when I weighed 14.5 stone was easily a 16-18.

No elsewhere she is same height and BODY measurements. waist, hips, etc. 2 stone lighter. which is odd!

That sounds like a difference in frame size to me. Does she have small hands/feet, delicate wrists - stuff like that?

I'm naturally heavy.

When I entered the army I was incredibly lean and fit. I couldn't break my weight into 'normal' BMI to get in despite living on 1000 calories a day whilst maintaining a pretty intense exercise regime so they did an electronic fat test on me to verify that I wasn't an unhealthy weight. I passed with flying colours and the doctor joked that I must have lead lined bones!

My sister is a clothes size bigger than me and 4 inches taller but I'm 2 stone heavier than she is. I'm just focusing on making myself healthier now instead of concentrating on what the scales say because therein lies madness and ironically comfort eating

And I lost 2 stones once and although my clothes were a little looser on the waist they still all fitted fine

I think TBH if you are 14.5 stone and 5ft 8" tall you are NOT overweight at all!.The media tells us that over half the female population are a size 16 or above ,so how can size 14 be on the "Big Side " exactly!.I am solidly built for my size and am quite short so it shows a bit more than you!.Why not ditch the scales altogether and concentrate on being healthy and fit .You are doing all the right things so well done and concentrate on being happy and fit!

lol kennehora I am not at risk health wise. I exercise for an hour 5 x pw, can deadlift almost 2x my body weight and run 5k in 20 mins. I compete at my sport and win events. I also don't eat shit, smoke and drink about 1 x per month. Thanks for the concern though.

I am the same height as you, 5' 8" and my weight hovers around 10 stone, I might push to get down to 9 stone 10 ish if going on a hot holiday (bikini!) but that takes a bit of an effort for me and will soon go back on when I go back to my usual routine. I seem to be able to maintain at around the 10 stone ish mark without too many problems. I wear a size 10 or 12 depending on the shop and work out around 5 times a week, a mix of cardio and strength training. Have to do a bit more if trying to diet down a bit plus really watch what I eat and cut back on alcohol.

I think weight/height/BMI is useful as a guide only but is a bit of a broad brushstroke. If you can get to a gym that has one of those body composition machines that is really useful to do as it will look at how much fat/muscle/water etc... your body is made up of and where it is being stored and you can then decide where to target your training to try to achieve the best possible results for you.

Ultimately however I am a great believer in balance. I think if you can find your happy weight and accept that that is where you are meant to be whilst eating healthily and exercising appropriately for around 80% of the time and letting loose a bit the rest of the time then for me that works on an ongoing basis without having to put too much effort in.

Just to add - I am 50 now and it took me a number of years to be able to relax about what my 'happy weight' was and not to continually strive to constantly be lighter/more toned/have ripped abs etc... So whilst I may sound as if I'm comfortable with everything now I readily admit it hasn't always been that way!

even most American footballers only have a BMI that is the high end of normal or around 26 to 27

Er, no they don't. Very muscular people can be well over 25 BMI and have low or healthy levels of body fat, which is what we should be concerned about - it is excess fat, not being heavy in itself that is unhealthy

My DP is less than half an inch taller than me, but is very muscular with huge shoulders and legs. He currently has a slight excess of body fat, but even when he is absolutely ripped and lean, he still weighs 14-15 stone, without having bones and muscles removed, he simply could not weigh less than that due to his build.

Whereas me with my tiny shoulders and wrists needs to weigh about 11 stone to have healthy body fat levels. I got some body fat percentage scales from Aldi, and why I don't expect them to be 100% accurate, they are probably broadly correct, so an easy way of checking things at home. Anyone who is a member of a gym, like the OP, probably has access to a 'proper' body fat percentage assessment.

I am a whisker under 5’8” and weigh 10½ stone, but I don’t do much exercise so do not have a lot of muscle, and am ‘small boned’. My shoulders are a bit slopey, and I have very slim arms and legs (nicknamed ‘snap legs’ at school). I am apple shaped with small boobs. I carry all my weight around my tummy, and am carrying a bit of excess weight, which you’d easily spot. I am a size 14.

People think I am lighter than I am (and I am already pretty light at just under 9 stone and 5'8").
I do a lot of exercise and have very little body fat so yes it's true that someone toned with good muscles will look slimmer than someone of the same weight but less muscle.

OP I think you need to lose a couple of stone to be a healthy weight.

5K in 20 mins! That's really good. Can you join our running club? We need some speedy ladies for our 5K league.