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

[Ray92]

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.

I know 🤦🏼‍♀️

Outed as what? Obese? It is a fact.

Putting photos of yourself in a swimsuit then with your face on, on a public forum which attracts thousands of users. I think it’s so silly to do, people could do anything with your pictures

15 stone is a bit too much at 5 foot 9. Although you carry it exceptionally well.

I am almost 6 foot and I weigh 15 stone. A doctor is helping me lose weight. She said it's not all that bad for my height and build, but I'm trying to get 2 stone off.

You look really very nice in the photos, but I guess it's not what you look like, it's how much fat is round your liver etc.

I don't understand. What will people do with my picture?
I can be seen in much less at the local swimming pool. I can't control who sees me there! The changing rooms are open to all! I breastfeed in public! My nipples have been seen by every Tom, Dick, and Harry.

I get what you're saying OP. I had an over 40s check just before Xmas and according to the BMI chart, I should have be 3 stones lighter than I am now. I've lost weight since Xmas, so the situation was even worse pre-Christmas - was nearer 4 stones to lose.

I'm not kidding myself, I'm definitely carrying excess weight, BUT I lost loads of weight a few years ago, and was very fit and very lean, and STILL wasn't the weight the BMI suggested I should be. All my other metrics are fine. I work out, do weights and cardio, eat fairly healthily, cook from scratch, walk every day etc etc. I do want to lose more weight, but I think the weight the BMI chart suggests I should be feels unrealistic to me.

Maybe I am kidding myself. 🤷🏼‍♀️

I get what you mean, when I did weights and ran most days I was still "overweight". And I don't think I looked good either! Bones sticking out is not to my taste.
I think this might be my issue though, I find obese and overweight bodies much more attractive than thin ones. In both men and women.
But as other posters say...It isn't about attractiveness. I may have an enormously fat liver.

BMI isn't the only way to determine whether excess weight is problematic:

Check out your waist-to-hip ratio and your waist-to-height ratio, these two measurements will help you decide what's what.

you look fantastic at 15 stone. Curvy but not fat. Doesn't look like you are carrying a lot of excess weight on any part of your body, and the proportions are actually important re whether your body fat is bad for you. I would aim for that if it's your happy weight.

If you have a 29inch waist at 16.5stone or had a 29inch waist at 15stone then I really think you are one of those people who bmi doesn’t work well for
The most reassuring thing to do would be to go and get your body fat percentage measured in a gym. Then you’ll know if that is in a healthy range or what size of fat lose you need to get into a healthy range.
if you’re heavier because you have denser bones and more muscle mass, and you are active, then you probably aren’t just accumulating fat around your internal organs. Body composition really is more important than weight.

Quite.

Very peculiar thread and we all know the reason why.

Posting for the deletion message!

I actually don't understand.
Mumsnet can check my Facebook and Instagram I imagine.

You look fab and carry the weight very well.

You've got to love the faux naïveté.

You look great in that photo!! If you’re comfortable there, then aim for that!

BMI was never made for individuals, especially not women.

it doesn’t work for me either. I’m a couple of stone overweight now, at 4 months postpartum but before I had my baby I was 9stone 3 with ABS and still classed at overweight because of my height. It just doesn’t work sometimes.

As long as you feel fit and healthy and are eating well then I’m sure you are!

Why are you so annoyed? 😂
Reverse image search.

This has proven to me that you are definitely right x

I believe you OP! I’m heavy for my size too. I vote live your life and forget BMI as clearly you’re healthy.

Im 5.10 and at 15 stone I was verging on a size 18!

You do look great but I can't believe you weigh 15 stone there!

I'm 5'9" (exactly same height as OP) and a little under 11 stone. Those pictures look nowhere near 11 stone! Nowhere near at all.

OP - genetics/luck/youth mean you carry the weight well in those pictures. But it isn't healthy. I don't know why people are talking about muscle mass because the women in those photos isn't a particularly muscly woman. Getting to a normal BMI (or even just halfway there) would like make a big difference to your health in the long term.

I think height must play a massive part as well as your general fitness.
I've only 5 2, just under 10 stone and really flabby and chubby because I'm also super unfit (chronic health issues) despite being just in the normal range.
I think if your blood pressure and glucose are good, you can exercise and have enough energy I wouldn't overly focus on it. You look incredible.

I'm 5ft 8 when I was 14 stone after my son I was a size 16-18, my waist at the time was 31 I think, it was 27 pre baby.

Are you sure that's your weight?!

Agree that it's better to concentrate on health rather than fixate on weight but truly it's hard to see you as that weight

So you must be about 5 foot tall, yes?
And you weight just over 11 stone. I see you have recently had a baby (congrats!) so will drop some weight most likely, but even so I don't think you can just claim BMI doesn't work for you "because of your height"

I agree. The photo with another woman gives a reference for comparison.

People are being kind, as they always are on posts like this, but those who are saying that they can't tell the OP is overweight can't be telling the truth. The OP does indeed carry it well, in terms of body proportions, but that doesn't mean the weight isn't there.

Almost the exact same as you and yes, I look much bigger than OP.

OP, you look fantastic. I wouldn't focus on the numbers, just eat a bit better and move a bit more.