Confused about healthy weight

[Speermint]

I posted about my weight on another thread, only to be told I’m talking nonsense. I’m 5ft 6ins, 11st and size 16 (35in waist). When I weighed 10st I was size 14 (34in waist). For me to squeeze in a size 12 (32in waist) I’d have to diet down to 9st.

Apparently this is wrong and 11st is a perfectly fine weight for my height. But I’m enormous?

I'm just under 5ft 6ins and feel (and look) my best between 8 stone 10 and 9 stone 4. Any more than that and it tends to show on my tummy (I store the bulk of my weight there) and any less I get a bit of a "too thin" look. So personally 9 stone for my height and the way I carry my weight is perfect for me, but other factors such as muscle tone obviously affect this. I reached over 10 stone during lockdown and completely hated the way I felt, it's only in the past month or so I've managed to get down to my ideal weight.

5ft 6 and look my best around 8.5 or 9 st, my waist is 31 inches, I am a slim apple. I would be fat at 11st, no question. I am small boned (narrow wrists, hips and shoulders) though.

Apparently this is wrong and 11st is a perfectly fine weight for my height. But I’m enormous?

At 5'6" you're at the top end of a "normal" BMI. So weight-wise yes, this is a normal weight.

Body shape is another matter entirely. I'm just under 9 stone at 5'2" and have a waist measurement of 30", so I get it - you might want to feel more toned. But your weight, your relationship with gravity, that's within what's considered a healthy guidelines.

I'm between 5'6 and 5'7

At anything over 10st I'm too big for my frame (size 10-12)
If I get down to 9st I'll be a comfy 10

People can't say either way based on height really, it depends where you carry your weight & proportions etc

OP - I wonder if you're like me and don't have much muscle so any extra weight you have is fat?
I'm taller than you at 5 ft 8 but even I look fat at 11 stone, despite being within a healthy BMI. I really am flabby at that weight. Yet I know people shorter than me who look lean and toned at 11 stone and it's because the weight is mostly muscle.

I'm shorter than you...5'3" and weight more than you and am a size 16. I think my sister is a similar height and weight to you and she's nowhere near a size 16 and looks nice and slim... certainly not enormous as you are describing yourself.

Different people look different, even at the same height and weight...

https://app.mybodygallery.com/#/?height=168&weight=68

It's so variable. This is me at 5 foot 6 and around 10.5 stone - size 10.

I'm 5 ft 4 and 12 stone and a size 12. I am a powerlifter though so have loads of muscle

BMI is a tool at a population level not individuals. It represents a range at which people are generally metabolically healthy. It doesn't represent if you are slim or not so slim.
I am at the bottom of the normal BMI. If I was at the higher range of healthy BMI, I would be 18 kgs more. With 18 kgs more on me, I would feel very overweight, even if technically not in the overweight BMI.
We also carry excess weight in different manners. In some people it is more visible, in others less so.

Weight, what feels right or wrong is highly personal.It is also an incredibly touchy subject.

Nobody can tell you that you feeling the way you feel is wrong. You are you.

Weight is also cultural. Where I am from (Monaco) , women are generally slimmer compared to UK so your post wouldn't cause any reaction