How much does your BMI affect you?

Contributor: rosythorn rosythorn
So I just check my BMI after I went on vacation I had a significant food binge. Though I exercised everyday I litterally ate so much that I gained a solid 5 pounds.

This pushed my BMI from normal weight just right over to overweight. Now that I am back home I am slightly freaking out that my fat jeans are my normal jeans.


My question- how much does BMI affect how you excercise and diet? I regularlly check mine because I am borderline, and I feel like it is a good marker for me to check my health.
04/13/2013
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Contributor: Gunsmoke Gunsmoke
I completely ignore BMI - for 2 reasons.

1st it fails to take into account that muscle weighs more than fat. If you
are strong/muscular, BMI will tell you that you are overweight.

2nd BMI is a creation of the diet industry that has much to gain by convincing all of us that we are fat or obese.

My weight has been the same for more than 15 years - it's higher than the so called experts would advise, but I'm very strong and fit for a guy going on 60 years old.

Ignore the experts and get in touch with your body - find a weight that you can maintain without a lot of effort. yo-yo weight loss is the the worst possible lifestyle.
04/13/2013
Contributor: jr2012 jr2012
Just like Gunsmoke said, BMI is an extremely flawed system, and it is horrible that we still use it (and really scary that there are some laws being proposed regarding BMI and price of insurance...).

Let's just say that if I was to reach my ideal BMI weight (115 pounds for me, since I'm 5"1')...it would be ridiculous. I would be below a size zero.

Just go by how you feel, how (medically) healthy you are, and most of all, don't stress!
04/13/2013
Contributor: bog bog
Quote:
Originally posted by rosythorn
So I just check my BMI after I went on vacation I had a significant food binge. Though I exercised everyday I litterally ate so much that I gained a solid 5 pounds.

This pushed my BMI from normal weight just right over to overweight. Now ... more
I agree with everyone else; everyone's a different shape! Why not just eat well and exercise every day because it makes you feel better? Of course, I had nachos for dinner, so I might not be the best spokesperson for healthy living
04/14/2013
Contributor: spiced spiced
Quote:
Originally posted by Gunsmoke
I completely ignore BMI - for 2 reasons.

1st it fails to take into account that muscle weighs more than fat. If you
are strong/muscular, BMI will tell you that you are overweight.

2nd BMI is a creation of the diet industry that has ... more
Outstanding comment, Gunsmoke!

rosythorn, according to BMI (Bullshit which Makes you Insecure!), I'm borderline obese! But my body fat content is 15%, which is pretty lean. If you belong to a gym, you may be able to get them to check your body fat content, which is a MUCH better indicator of fitness than either weight or BMI.

My general theory of health is that as long as you're regularly active (30-60 minutes of exercise, 3 times a week or more) and eat a healthy diet, you'll be a healthy and happy person. No guarantees, but it works for me. And for a lot of other people, too. Be well.
04/14/2013
Contributor: eri86 eri86
I go more on how I look, feel, and how my clothes fit. I hate getting concerned with numbers.
04/14/2013
Contributor: twelve13 twelve13
As people have already said, BMI is very very flawed. Also, it is very likely a portion of the weight you gained was water weight. You should not be defined by a number. As long as you're healthy and happy
04/14/2013
Contributor: surreptitious surreptitious
I agree with all of those who have posted so far - I absolutely abhor the BMI system and honestly do not support taking weight as seriously as this society does. I decide whether I need to work out more or eat healthier based on how I feel and fit my clothes. I think that all people - underweight, overweight or "ideal" - should work towards being fit before choosing to work towards being a certain weight. The number of times I've heard my friends with slim figures wheezing after climbing a couple of flights of stairs or surprised people with my endurance capabilities as a chubby little asthmatic girl tells me that your size doesn't necessarily relate to your health. Not only do BMI calculators fail to take musculature into account, I have yet to see a BMI calculator that has made any attempt to account for my 30HH/J cup breasts.

I really like the response that this thread has generated! Any attempt made to help educate people about their body is a big plus for me!
04/14/2013
Contributor: married with children married with children
have no idea what mine is. never checked. I know it is low though. I dont think about it that much when it comes to eating and life in general. I just try to live healthy.
04/14/2013
Contributor: Lildrummrgurl7 Lildrummrgurl7
I don't really pay attention to my BMI. I've been "overweight" since I was 14 if I pay attention to my BMI. I've been roughly the same weight since then too. I don't lose weight easily but I'm healthy and have great muscle tone when I work out regularly, even if I stay the same weight.
04/14/2013
Contributor: Sammi Sammi
I don't pay much attention to it, as - as many others have said - it's pretty flawed.
04/14/2013
Contributor: joiedejouets joiedejouets
It shouldn't even be used anymore. It's so outdated.
04/14/2013
Contributor: rosythorn rosythorn
Great responses, my clothes are tighter since we got back so I need to step up my running a bit more but I'll probably not be too concerned
04/14/2013
Contributor: El-Jaro El-Jaro
Quote:
Originally posted by Gunsmoke
I completely ignore BMI - for 2 reasons.

1st it fails to take into account that muscle weighs more than fat. If you
are strong/muscular, BMI will tell you that you are overweight.

2nd BMI is a creation of the diet industry that has ... more
I completely agree!

If you can convince someone that they are overweight, they will buy your product/service.
04/15/2013
Contributor: SourAppleMartini SourAppleMartini
I don't believe in BMI, it does not take muscle to fat ratio into account, and that is actually the most important thing. Also, it puts naturally skinny people into underweight category, which is ridiculous.
04/17/2013