Is there a realistic BMI calculator out there

[michaelp]

Hey All,

Today is my 4 month surgeyversery.  I'm down 61lbs and at 80% excess weight loss - supposedly.  I just went below 186 today and am 5'9"  Though when I look at myself in the mirror I don't see a big change, my clothes are like circus tents on me and I've had to get many new clothes - thrift shops are GREAT!!!!  I'm feeling well and labs are perfect - my only challenge is stinky gas (which is getting better, I think - my wife would disagree) and hair thinning.

Here's the deal - I don't want to lose much more weight (when I see myself in pictures I look rather thin) I just want a flat stomach.  I still have a small gut.  Last night I tried on my 18 y.o. son's jeans (30 in waist) and they fit great. I have to wear a belt with my 34" jeans or they'd fall off me.  However, according to the BMI charts I'm still overweight.  I spoke to my general practitioner about this who agrees the charts are messed up.  I'm fairly broad in the chest (Size 46 suite jacket) and work out 6 days a week - lifting and cardio.  Are there BMI charts out there that take in more parameters than height and weight? I'm thinking 175 is a good goal weight for me to try to get to however the BMI says I'd still be overweight.

[newyorkbitch]

Forget the BMI, it's unimportant. If you feel good and look good to yourself, you're healthy and at a size you like….that's all you need to think about. The numbers don't matter at all.

[west4thavenue]

For a man who works out, you may find body fat percentage a better indicator of where you are than the BMI is.  They have special calipers to measure this.  Check with people at your gym.  You take measurements from different parts of your body, then enter these numbers into a calculation (which I do not know, I'm afraid) that also factors in your age, and sex. 

Michael, congratulations on your success!

[shawnern]

If the BMI was correct 100% of the time. All the NFL players would be considered overweight. It's just a guideline. If you're feeling good, you think you look good, then you must be good!

[michaelp]

Thanks - as probably a lot of us - we have self image issues so it's difficult to know how I look and when are people being nice yet not 100% honest.  However I was shocked when I very comfortably got into my son's jeans.  He's my hight, and weighs 50lbs less.  At 4 months out I probably am too early on in my journey to be worrying about BMI, it's just nice to get a tool you can use but I think another 26lbs off me and I'll look horrible.  I wish I could redistribute it from my gut to my butt  

Thanks again all

[newyorkbitch]

You can redistribute….plastic surgery.

[historytracker]

Good hearing from you Michael. Congrats on the weight loss. Don't get concerned about BMI. I know what you mean getting hung up on self image issues. I sometimes still feel - I live the old body at times. It takes me longer to get dressed because I care about how I looked. Before surgery nothing looked good on me so I just didn't care. You are only 4 months out - give it time and I am sure that your body will go through more changes.

[michaelp]

Oct 30, 2014 22:57:34 GMT -5 historytracker said:

Good hearing from you Michael. Congrats on the weight loss. Don't get concerned about BMI. I know what you mean getting hung up on self image issues. I sometimes still feel - I live the old body at times. It takes me longer to get dressed because I care about how I looked. Before surgery nothing looked good on me so I just didn't care. You are only 4 months out - give it time and I am sure that your body will go through more changes.

So glad to hear from you - you are doing great! Let me know when you're down to Greenbaum next - I contacted the hospital regarding their nurses

[historytracker]

Oct 31, 2014 10:47:00 GMT -5 michaelp said:

Oct 30, 2014 22:57:34 GMT -5 historytracker said:

Good hearing from you Michael. Congrats on the weight loss. Don't get concerned about BMI. I know what you mean getting hung up on self image issues. I sometimes still feel - I live the old body at times. It takes me longer to get dressed because I care about how I looked. Before surgery nothing looked good on me so I just didn't care. You are only 4 months out - give it time and I am sure that your body will go through more changes.

So glad to hear from you - you are doing great! Let me know when you're down to Greenbaum next - I contacted the hospital regarding their nurses

I have my next appointment on November 21st at 11:00 am. I am also going to the Christmas party.

[goodkel]

This one is posted on a trusted source:

www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/BMI/bmicalc.htm

The link is here in our Tools section:

weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/8844/bmi-calculator

Bookmark it if you want to refer to it regularly from the board.

While BMI is not always an accurate picture of where you belong on the weight loss scale, particularly if you are building muscle simultaneously, it IS the gauge that all of the weight loss studies use as well as surgeons, pcps, and insurance companies.

But, if it doesn't apply to your situation, and it doesn't, I wouldn't worry about it.

[michaelp]

Nov 3, 2014 14:24:55 GMT -5 goodkel said:

This one is posted on a trusted source:

www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/BMI/bmicalc.htm

The link is here in our Tools section:

weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/8844/bmi-calculator

Bookmark it if you want to refer to it regularly from the board.

While BMI is not always an accurate picture of where you belong on the weight loss scale, particularly if you are building muscle simultaneously, it IS the gauge that all of the weight loss studies use as well as surgeons, pcps, and insurance companies.

But, if it doesn't apply to your situation, and it doesn't, I wouldn't worry about it.

Thanks - I appreciate it very much. Logic tells me I'm at a good weight and I don't want to be frail in my appearance - however I can't get over the BMI issue and my fear that I'm not thin enough. The only feedback I get that I know is honest is from my wife and that she says I have a small tummy still. I think I'll try to continue to lose until I get feedback that I look too thin then I can always gain. Thanks once again all.

[newyorkbitch]

Nov 3, 2014 14:47:01 GMT -5 michaelp said:

Nov 3, 2014 14:24:55 GMT -5 goodkel said:

This one is posted on a trusted source:

www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/BMI/bmicalc.htm

The link is here in our Tools section:

weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/8844/bmi-calculator

Bookmark it if you want to refer to it regularly from the board.

While BMI is not always an accurate picture of where you belong on the weight loss scale, particularly if you are building muscle simultaneously, it IS the gauge that all of the weight loss studies use as well as surgeons, pcps, and insurance companies.

But, if it doesn't apply to your situation, and it doesn't, I wouldn't worry about it.

Thanks - I appreciate it very much. Logic tells me I'm at a good weight and I don't want to be frail in my appearance - however I can't get over the BMI issue and my fear that I'm not thin enough. The only feedback I get that I know is honest is from my wife and that she says I have a small tummy still. I think I'll try to continue to lose until I get feedback that I look too thin then I can always gain. Thanks once again all.

If you strive for perfection you will never get there. Your "small tummy" may be subcutaneous fat and excess skin that will never go away unless you have plastic surgery. You have to get over the BMI thing - it's really not relevant to your health or your appearance.

[goodkel]

Looking gaunt or frail for awhile is a natural part of the progression. You WILL look too thin for awhile. That is not a sign that you need to gain weight. Your fat will eventually redistribute itself a bit making you look better, as will the bounce back pounds.

I reached the lower end of a normal BMI and looked sickly. Worried a lot of people. But, I bounced back to mid normal and my face filled back out a bit. The time to start doing something is when your BMI puts you at underweight and shows no sign of stopping. Until then, keep on keeping on and don't worry about it.

For most people, your body knows where it wants to be and following the DS rules will get you there. Sabotaging your weight loss prematurely could result in you ending up fatter than you would like. Trust in the process.

[illinids2]

Yeah I am right at a 22 and definitely too freaking skinny, so I believe it is a very flawed measure. That being said I am not going to try and gain weight. I just want my blood protein in range.

I will admit that a part of me wants to lose 10 more pounds and get lower bmi wise... just to get there and then bounce back.. yeah I know, crazy.

BTW I have reached the point where I can't where any smaller pants even if I lose more because it isn't meat stopping a smaller size it is my hip bones...they are what they are.

[Deleted]

If you can maintain that weight being only 4 months out, congrats to you. BUT, I have a sneeking suspicion that you will lose more, quite a bit more before your done.

I'm 5'8.5", was 310, now 150. at 4 months out, I was 100 down. I lost another 60 in the 12 months after that.

I wish you luck on maintaining your desired weight, but realize that it may be a fuetal (sp?) attempt.

[michaelp]

Thanks everyone - weight is still coming off VERY slowly but I just came off a 7 day ultra-luxury cruise and was down at least 1/2 a lb and I was actually concerned how much I gained. My wife is pissed - she is a size 2 and gained 3 lbs. I had to smile but not in front of her