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A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

BMI Horror/ Confusion. Do I need to get to a "normal" BMI?

179 replies

Ray92 · 09/02/2023 11:51

I've always been heavy, the only time I've been a normal BMI I smoked and ate 1,000 calories a day.

I'm currently 8 months pp and 16 stone 9. Before pregnancy I was around 15 stone. Obese in both instances. I'm clearly delusional, as I don't feel I looked obese! My blood pressure, cholesterol, fitness, blood sugar have been checked and they are all good. I'm so ashamed of being so obese.

What do I do? Get down to "normal" by any means possible or is it okay to be 15 stone, which I feel is manageable?

Does anyone else have this problem with BMI?

I don't know how I've put so much weight on, but my breasts have .gone from a 34C to a 36I

I'll attach pics of me around 15 stone for reference.

OP posts:
AnneLovesGilbert · 09/02/2023 11:53

What weight puts you in a healthy BMI range?

TurtleTriplets · 09/02/2023 11:57

You look fantastic in those pics, your proportions are well balanced.

How tall are you and what weight would put you at a healthy bmi?

Rebel2023 · 09/02/2023 12:07

Same
I'm a size 14 at 15 stone which feels fine to me. No issues with HR/BP/cholesterol, bloods etc

3WildOnes · 09/02/2023 12:14

You look great in those pictures. Do you feel fit? Could you go on a 10 mile hilly hike? Run 5k? If yes, then I wouldn't worry.

LittleLegoWoman · 09/02/2023 12:15

BMI works well for most people. But not everyone. Are you tall and broad with significantly thicker wrists and ankles compared to friends for example? With great than average muscle mass? Bone and muscle weight is basically a good thing, weight from fat needs to stay within reasonable levels.
eating 1000kcal a day and smoking is really not a healthy way to live so forget any weight that requires you to maintain that regime.
In your case, I’d forget BMI and look at other more accurate measures of body composition.
Waist to hip ratio is helpful. So is waist to height ratio. And you can get your body fat percentage calculated in most gyms. I would find out about healthy ranges for those measures and base your weight loss goals on those and not BMI.

SpaceTreasure · 09/02/2023 12:17

You might be better measuring your waist: www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/measuring-your-waist

On the flipside, I had a 'healthy' BMI but had tons of weight around my middle that made me look disproportionate and clothes didn't fit. I didn't think I needed to lose weight because BMI OK! But actually I did and I feel tons healthier and am the right weight for my frame. So I think BMI can be a guide but you need to look at the full picture.

StopFeckingFaffing · 09/02/2023 12:21

Really need to know your height

I struggle to believe the photo in the swimsuit is of someone who weighs 15 stone unless you are exceptionally tall, eg. well over 6 foot

Tessasanderson · 09/02/2023 12:22

Honestly, stunning imo.

BMI doesnt differentiate between muscle and fat. Its a blunt stick to heard everyone into. You definitely dont look unhealthy in either picture.

Safeworkspace · 09/02/2023 12:23

StopFeckingFaffing · 09/02/2023 12:21

Really need to know your height

I struggle to believe the photo in the swimsuit is of someone who weighs 15 stone unless you are exceptionally tall, eg. well over 6 foot

Agree

Dacadactyl · 09/02/2023 12:25

How tall are you? Unless you are 6ft or over there's no way those pics are of a woman weighing 15stone.

Wowcheese · 09/02/2023 12:28

You have a beautiful figure and look stunning but I can see that you are carrying excess fat which isn’t healthy. We are so used to seeing overweight people in our society that we think healthy people are “too skinny”. I say that as someone who is currently classed as overweight. We can see the fat from the outside of the body but the most harmful part is the fat that surrounds our internal organs.

Vegetablesupreme · 09/02/2023 12:40

To me, your figure looks stunning. You look curvy and 'womanly' not heavy or overweight. I'd swap my scrawny straight up and down figure anyday for yours!
To be honest, as long as you're healthy in other aspects (and it sounds like you are) I would ignore your bmi and just concentrate on being a mum when your little one arrives.

Gingernuttie · 09/02/2023 12:42

I would say you look overweight rather than obese. You LOOK lovely. But I bet the excess weight is putting a strain on you, even if you don't realise it.
I went from 11 stone to 10 stone and the difference in how light I felt was absolutely huge. Exercise was so so much easier. I felt springy! So I really recommend it for this reason alone.

crackofdoom · 09/02/2023 12:43

But you've told us your weight, not your BMI 🤔

Tirednest · 09/02/2023 12:44

StopFeckingFaffing · 09/02/2023 12:21

Really need to know your height

I struggle to believe the photo in the swimsuit is of someone who weighs 15 stone unless you are exceptionally tall, eg. well over 6 foot

This.

FrownedUpon · 09/02/2023 12:47

What is your BMI? You’re obviously carrying a lot of extra fat which is really unhealthy. Also, I get the feeling you’re fishing for compliments. Have you posted the most flattering photos you have? I mean, we can all do that…it doesn’t stop us being obese & unhealthy.

7Worfs · 09/02/2023 12:48

If you are 15st in the photos then you carry it extremely well, likely due to good genes and youth. But that doesn’t last.

Realistically there is no height that calls for 15st weight. Rather that try drastic diets that don’t work, I’d slowly introduce healthier habits and lifestyle.

MyOldFriendTime · 09/02/2023 12:49

Also, I get the feeling you’re fishing for compliments.

Just a bit 😆

Original poster
Ray92 · 09/02/2023 12:59

I'm not 15 stone anymore! I am in those pictures. I don't think I look "big" at 15 stone that is what I am getting at.

I am 16 stone 9, 8 months post partum.
I am about 5'9. Not exceptionally tall.

I want to know if I NEED to be in the normal category. Because I don't know how to be.

OP posts:
Tirednest · 09/02/2023 13:02

I'm 5.8 and 12.5 stone and look huge compared to you in those photos.

titchy · 09/02/2023 13:04

You don't NEED to be anything. You can be a morbidly obese chain smoker if you like.

If you WANT to be a healthy weight and enjoy all the advantages that brings, then yes you need to be a lot less than you were.

You obviously carry the weight well, but those photos are clearly of a very overweight woman. 'Curvy', 'womanly' - they're all euphemisms for the same thing - fat.

Keha · 09/02/2023 13:07

I don't know the answer, I'm a few months pp and want to loose some weight. I'm also reasonably tall and reasonably muscular (for a woman) and I don't think I've been a "normal" BMI since I had a growth spurt at 17. I think I'm going to focus more on my waist measurement and how fit I feel (eg could I run 5k) and try to get my BMI into what would be about the middle of the overweight range because I just don't think I can loose that much weight. Small steps I guess.

Tirednest · 09/02/2023 13:08

Oh god I don't think she looks overweight at all! I think 15 stone IS large,but she looks about 11 stone in those pics.

MaireadMcSweeney · 09/02/2023 13:08

How tall are you? At 15 stone I looked properly fat with rolls and a hanging belly but I'm 5'4. I struggle to believe that second pic is 15 stone unless as pp said you're 6 foot! What does BMI say is the healthy range for you? To be honest I'm aiming for 'overweight' not 'healthy' range as I know I can't maintain a weight low enough to be under overweight range but I certainly don't want to be obese any more.

Rebel2023 · 09/02/2023 13:10

MaireadMcSweeney · 09/02/2023 13:08

How tall are you? At 15 stone I looked properly fat with rolls and a hanging belly but I'm 5'4. I struggle to believe that second pic is 15 stone unless as pp said you're 6 foot! What does BMI say is the healthy range for you? To be honest I'm aiming for 'overweight' not 'healthy' range as I know I can't maintain a weight low enough to be under overweight range but I certainly don't want to be obese any more.

She said she's 5ft 9
At 15 stone I'm a size 14 and no rolls etc and I'm only an inch taller