Should I be happy with my weight?

[Nananananahh]

Am 5ft5 and 11st 6lbs.

My BMI is 26.6

Ive lost a lot of weight and have naturally settled here.

Nothing I do makes me lose more (and if I do lose a few lbs it creeps back up to around 11.6)

I am alright with how I look in general but I am still very round of belly (that could be due to excess skin too)

Should I just accept this as my weight?

My goal was always to me a 'normal BMI/<25'
26.6 is overweight still.

No, I can walk upstairs easily. I go for regular long walks. I jog on the treadmill. I'm no athlete but I can do quite a bit before getting out of puff

Have you name changed?

BMI is simply one of many indicators. Doesn't
Tell you visceral fat, cardiac health or muscle/fat ratio.

I’m your height was your weight, I went down to 9.12 and believe me my belly fat has not gone 🤣🤦🏻‍♀️ I’ve given up and just going to stop worrying and enjoy food 😊

Too fat for her height according to the NHS BMI calculator but I'm sure you knew that, as the OP has said this?

She's overweight and as much as not everyone believes in BMI as a reliable tool, the OP obviously does or she wouldn't have mentioned it.

Do the string test. Take a piece of string and cut it so that it is as tall as you. Fold it in half and wrap it around your waist. The 2 ends should pass through the loop end when the string sits on your natural waist. If the string folded in half doesn't go around your waist with some left over then you are too fat. Doesn't matter how tall anyone is a healthy ratio is the same.

Oh I could be you. I am 5"7 and have platueaued at 11 stone with a BMI of just under 25. I would like to lose half a stone but it seems impossible at 50. Unfortunately it is all around my middle too. I can walk and swim long distances though.

This is what I'm thinking. All my weight has rested in my pouch and it seems surgery would be the only way to get rid of it but I don't want to do that. Also my boobs and bum have gone completely.

I worry if I do lose more it will be from the 'wrong' places, not my tummy apron and ill just have even more loose skin.

Gosh you were 20 stone before? Really well done. This is the heaviest I have ever been and I do not like it but may have to accept it as my normal weight in my 50s. My bum has gone too.

No surgery though. Ever.

I'd just focus on your strength and fitness now, if you don't do much exercise try a few different things and see what you enjoy. My natural weight is about 3/4 pounds into overweight, if I'm doing a decent amount of exercise I can look fab at this weight, but if I've been a bit lazy then I have a bit of a tummy.

Honestly life is for living, I can really focus on what I'm (not) eating/drinking and stress about the scales and be a healthy BMI or I can eat sensibly during the week and whatever I want at weekends and be 3/4 pounds into overweight. I'm fit and health, with loads of energy and I enjoy my life. I hope you find your happy place too 😊

Only you know if you're still carrying too much fat, or if you're lean and healthy

That'll be your answer surely

From the photo you posted your boobs have certainly not gone.

Hi OP I'm 5'4" and 11 stone so yes overweight but I can walk miles, pick up my disabled dd (2.5 stone) several times a day and carry her about and I don't think I look bad. I'm trying to loose a bit of weight as I used to hover at 10.5 stone but if I don't manage it I don't really care. Well done on yr weight loss enjoy your body l. I loved yr boots / outfit in the photo 😊

I'm wearing my old bra with chicken fillets /padding in 😂 I've not been to get measured for new ones yet as bit skint.
The reality is much different

For some reason it keeps reverting back to another of my names unless I type it in the box at top so forgot a few times

As long as you’re eating healthy and exercising regularly then you’re fine. If you find that you’re eating a normal amount of calories and exercising and your weight settles at that level, then it is what it is.

Having a lot of stomach fat does have health implications. I carry weight on my stomach but have thin arms and legs. When I measured my stomach before I lost 2 stone it was in dangerous to health category. Losing weight isn’t just about vanity, but for health. Whether people believe in BMI or not it can’t be disputed that being fat brings risks.

If you're happy and feel fit enough for everyday tasks, then surely that's all that matters?

BMI was never invented to define what is/is not a healthy individual, it was created to plot indicators of societal health. It was intended to only show how healthy populations are by averaging out individuals' BMI. AND... like most science from its era, was completely based on men. Women have 3 extra organs than men...

If you want to use a more accurate measure of individual health, get your body fat percentage measured instead.

Personally, when I was recovering from an ED that had me obsessed with BMI and the 'skinny ideal' that we see in the West, I had to remind myself that I'm a woman and that a woman's body needs a certain amount of fat to function properly. I started looking at the bodies of tribal women as they live/eat/exercise in the way we are all naturally meant to, and they aren't usually skinny-they have boobs and lumps in all the places I see on myself.

Nothing useful to add but my thanks for starting this thread as you could be me! I've managed to lose a fair amount of weight and am now 3-5lbs above my initial target (which was a healthy BMI) and have consistently been here for 2 months whether I've had a 'good' week or a 'bad' one.

I wasn't really aware of the concept a set weight point before but I'm starting to think maybe that's where I am. And overall I feel good and happy with where I am - although I need to start properly exercising to tone up. My target was the top end of a healthy BMI and honestly now I'm so close I think I'd look gaunt if I really pushed to go much below it.

It's crazy that this could not be possible for some people, unless there are serious health issues. Basically you're saying someone's waist should be less than half their height? That seems pretty obvious?!

I'm 5'11" and I was HUGE at 73kg when pregnant. I can't understand how this could be healthy or comfortable at 5'4"? I was massive at that weight even though much taller.

@TheGirlOnTheDragon I don't see how you could be huge. I'm 5ft 10 and at 14 stone I'm a size 14, 11-12 stone would make me a 12. Currently a size 16 and still not "huge"

My friend is the same height and 11 stone and she's a size 10-12 with abs!

I was waaaaay too big at that weight, 15kg over my usual weight. I felt bloated and uncomfortable and flabby and unfit.

Maybe it is partly about natural body structure? But on me that weight was very abnormal and horrible. It was gross. I am now back to my usual 60kg ish and it feels normal and just sorts itself out. Perhaps someone with a larger natural build would weigh more and be healthy but to be that weight at 5'4" and be fit and healthy? It doesn't seem likely, or would be very, very unusual.

73kg is not huge for 5'11''. It's a great weight for me at 5'7''. It's well within the healthy range for my height.