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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:
AzureOrchid · 09/02/2023 14:08

The swimsuit pics posted look great , all in proportion but just really finding it hard to believe 15 stones ! Unless 6 foot 4 or something
5’9 at 15 stone would be more pudgy

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 09/02/2023 14:12

I think you look amazing. I wrote on here before about bmi as I'm 5'5 and 13stone 8.5. I know I'm overweight but not sure about obese. I've joined slimming world and decided on a target of 10st 10lbs but this only just puts me in healthy. It's crazy

Rhiona · 09/02/2023 14:14

Your thighs look really muscly here and your arms look quite thick, are you very active? Muscle weighs something like 70g more per litre of volume than fat does, so that would probably add up to a lot if you’re ripped and fairly tall. I weigh 2 stone less and I’m extremely jealous😂

Original poster
Ray92 · 09/02/2023 14:14

Thank you for all the kind comments!

My waist is 29 inches, which it says is okay?

OP posts:
Sparrow80 · 09/02/2023 14:16

It’s not about how you look though is it. This is our problem in the UK and other similar countries- we’ve confused attractiveness with weight. Those photos are beautiful. But you can be beautiful but not in optimal health. Often those issues don’t show until we are older or at risk, such as with an illness.

Obesity doesn’t always give everyone health issues but I’d bet that for most people they’d feel and be a healthier version of themselves at a healthier weight.

There’s some research that suggests a BMI of about 27 is protective for women at reproductive age but that’s pretty close to the healthy range anyway.

Nosleepforthismum · 09/02/2023 14:23

Well you look fabulous in those photos - I don’t think a single poster is denying that!

However, as a PP mentioned, it’s not about how you physically look on the outside, it’s all about the inside and the fat that surrounds your internal organs. In the same way, a skinny person that exists on coffee and sugar would be equally as unhealthy despite looking great on the outside.

riotlady · 09/02/2023 14:29

Your figure is gorgeous!

Honestly, I would aim to get back to 15 stone and re evaluate from there. How do you feel? Are you able to carry on some slow weight loss? Etc etc

bloomtoperish · 09/02/2023 14:29

I'm 5ft 6.5 and have a large frame, I have a goal weight which I would be extremely happy with and it's outside of the healthy BMI. Maybe you could get your fat percentage measured? If I recall correctly, I had mine measured a while ago and I figured out if I got just into the healthy BMI category, I would be in the 'underweight' category body fat wise

MaverickGooseGoose · 09/02/2023 14:32

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.

There are plenty of people with 'normal' BMI who couldn't do that!

Op I look like you at sit around 14 and a half stone or a bit over. I don't care about BMI.

CinnamonSodaPop · 09/02/2023 14:32

I just can't believe people are saying you have 'excess fat' and look overweight in those pics. You don't at all! You look curvy but still slim. Honestly people are mad (or possibly jealous). I had a friend with a figure like yours who was also tall. She was slim but weighed alot and the doctor told her she was obese. Clearly stupid cos if you just look at her you could see she was not overweight.

Go off what you look like, not BMI.

Original poster
Ray92 · 09/02/2023 14:32

bloomtoperish · 09/02/2023 14:29

I'm 5ft 6.5 and have a large frame, I have a goal weight which I would be extremely happy with and it's outside of the healthy BMI. Maybe you could get your fat percentage measured? If I recall correctly, I had mine measured a while ago and I figured out if I got just into the healthy BMI category, I would be in the 'underweight' category body fat wise

That is a very helpful suggestion! Thank you x

OP posts:
3WildOnes · 09/02/2023 14:38

MaverickGooseGoose · 09/02/2023 14:32

There are plenty of people with 'normal' BMI who couldn't do that!

Op I look like you at sit around 14 and a half stone or a bit over. I don't care about BMI.

Show quote history

Of course but they wouldn't be that healthy. If the OP can do those things then I don't think she needs to worry so much about getting below 15st.

I'm surprised posters are saying that the OP doesn't look overweight. She looks fantastic, however, there is lots of excess fat.

Reclaimtheoutdoors · 09/02/2023 14:39

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.

no, you don’t need to be. BMI as pp have mentioned is a blunt instrument. Other things needs to be taken into account.

This article explains it well metro.co.uk/2018/03/30/bmi-discriminates-against-black-people-and-everyone-else-too-7421228/amp/

you're better looking at other metrics such as body fat analysis etc and taking waist measurements. BMI can be a rough guide but I wouldn’t rely on it alone.

Wishona · 09/02/2023 14:39

You look lovely. But if you put 15 stone into the BMI calculator it puts you at 31.1. It also suggests losing 11lb would be beneficial health wise.

This might be more realistic for you. That said it always took me 9 months to a year to return to pre pregnancy weight so I wouldn’t overthink it just now.

Wishona · 09/02/2023 14:40

I’m also your height but 5 stone lighter…I think my frame is smaller and you probably wouldn’t want to lose more than a couple stone.

Ladybug14 · 09/02/2023 14:43

Gracious. I'm 5ft 9 and I weigh 10 3. I think you must have heavy bones (it's a thing I believe)

WonderingWanda · 09/02/2023 14:44

I wouldn't be really worried op. It looks like most of the weight has gone to your boots rather than round your middle. That said, you might want to try and get your weight down bit before you reach the age where your hormones make it harder and the steady creep begins.

Onegingerhead · 09/02/2023 14:44

You definitely don't look obese on the pictures, but you do look a bit overweight to me. In case your body weight was indeed 15 stone on the picture (which I also find hard to believe), it clearly suggests a higher than average muscle weight (for a woman whose not involved in doing sports). For such people BMI is indeed is no use, but you can look at body fat percentage instead. Some scales do it for you, but not very reliably. At my local gym there is a machine that does this sort of measurements.
Body fat percentage for a healthy woman should sit between 15 and 30%, if i remember correctly.

Original poster
Ray92 · 09/02/2023 14:47

Pennyforthezombies · 09/02/2023 13:43

I think at 5’9 you can carry more weight and you obviously have a good shape, but if you were standing next to someone with a smaller bmi in your pics I think the obesity would show much more. We’re all capable of taking very flattering photos of ourselves and know just how to pose to show ourselves at our best.

You're right.

OP posts:
Fizzadora · 09/02/2023 14:50

To be fair height isn't always the issue. I had a friend same height as me 5ft 3 and when we both weighed 10 stone she was a size 10 and I was a size 14.
I am now 13.5 stone (in my defence I gave up smoking in September, then it was Christmas😃) and a size 18-20.
My waist has gone much bigger in the past 10 years and I think this is the major concern health-wise so my target will be a 1.5 stone weight loss this year.
Apparently I should weigh between 7 and 9.5 stone for my height. Haven't been that weight since I was about 10.

TurtleTriplets · 09/02/2023 14:56

Ray92 · 09/02/2023 14:14

Thank you for all the kind comments!

My waist is 29 inches, which it says is okay?

I weigh 8st 9 and my waist is 27 - you have an absolutely gorgeous hour glass figure! Green with envy here!

Like the poster above, I also look like a melted candle in a bikini 😂🙈

TheOrigRights · 09/02/2023 14:59

Your waist measurement is pretty small for someone of your weight.

leithreas · 09/02/2023 15:00

You have a great body shape that can hold the weight but in the photo beside the other lady you can see that you are on the larger side(Christ, I have no idea how to phrase that politely, you do still look great). Away from how you look though which is not the important thing, excess weight does put extra strain on your body which as you grow older you will probably feel more. I would definitely aim for getting closer to your bmi range, even at 15 stones you are 3 stones over the top end of that range which as you probably know is a lot. At the end of the day it is up to you and how you feel but personally, I wouldn't be happy sitting so far above the top end of the range.

YourApplePie · 09/02/2023 15:07

You look great at 15 stone. Please don't let anyone here make you think otherwise.

I personally think that BMI is tosh, and you should look more at how you feel, what you're eating, good rest, staying hydrated, etc.

StopFeckingFaffing · 09/02/2023 15:11

In the first instance OP I would just focus on trying to get back to 15 stone since that is obviously a weight when you felt happy and healthy

The fact that your extra weight is distributed quite evenly on your bum, bust and limbs and not your waist means you look great at 15 stone and certainly don't look 2.5 stone overweight and I would guess the extra weight is not as bad for yout health as it could be if it was all round your middle

Having said that the reality is that you will have more energy for exercise and be less likely to suffer with health problems in the future if you could get your BMI a bit lower and at least out of the obese category