I don’t know my BMI, OH MY!
BMI stands for Body Mass Index, a numerical value of your weight in relation to your height. BMIs are good indicators of healthy or unhealthy weights for adult men and women, regardless of body frame size.
In the BetterU program this week I learned that it is important to know your BMI number because carrying too much weight is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. BMI values less than 18.5 are considered underweight. BMI values from 18.5 to 24.9 are healthy. A BMI between 25 and 30 is considered overweight and a BMI above 30 is considered obese. To find out your BMI, click here.
Finding out your BMI is painless. There are no needles, no dunking booths, or pinch tests. All you need to know is your height, your weight, and your activity level. I know two of the three. Of course I know how tall I am, or should I say how short I am. I also know that I fall in the “active” category. What I don’t know is my weight. I haven’t weighed myself in…um…quite awhile.
I have a love/hate relationship with the scale. So we broke up. It’s a long story. In summary, I used to let the scale control my mood…if it was down, I was up! If it was up, I was down.
So, lately I’ve been tracking my progress by…
- Using a tape measure
- Seeing how well my clothes fit
- My energy level
- How I look in the mirror
These methods work great, but I think it’s time to dial it back in so I make sure I’m at a heart-heathly weight. So, I’m going back to weighing in about once a week. But first, I think I’ll go buy my scale some flowers to make sure we get back together on a good number note.
Now I really must go calculate my BMI, if I’m in a great mood on Monday, you’ll know why!
Jessica@HowSweet says:
March 19th 2010I never go by BMI – it has always put me ‘overweight.’ I am super short and carry a good amount of muscle . . . if I listened to my BMI I’d cry by now. But, I also don’t weight myself either. ;)
Jess (Fit Chick in the City) says:
March 19th 2010I don’t know how much a I weigh either, and don’t really think it’s necessary. However, if I were to get on the scale I’d be sure to buy it flowers also. Have a great Friday!
Estela - Weekly Bite says:
March 19th 2010I never really weigh myself… only at the doctor. I use BMI for work/insurance purposes… but I can just by looking at someone if the BMI is off
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says:
March 19th 2010I’m bad at letting my scale control my mood too…but I just can’t seem to break the habit!
Melissa says:
March 19th 2010My hubby and I hop on the scale every day and write down our weights. We find that it keeps us on track. And I’ve learned to just roll with the ups and downs that usually are the result of my body’s normal rhythms.
Evan Thomas says:
March 19th 2010Great post! I’ve chosen not to focus on BMI. In the end, it seems just to be a comparison with widestream America, which is certainly not how we all are
Heather (Wheres the Beach) says:
March 19th 2010I have absolutely no clue with my BMI is and only know my weight when I go to the doctor. I just gauge by how my clothes fit. I try not to rely on the mirror. I swear it’s skewed! ;-)
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman says:
March 19th 2010I never used to weigh myself until my work put a scale in the bathroom. Now it’s there so I’m compelled to look. BMI, though, I’m not sure is a good measurement for someone’s fitness and health. I mean, so many NFL players would be considered obese because their muscle weighs so much.
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday says:
March 19th 2010the scale keeps me on track, but I usually can guess my weight before I get onto it just by how my clothes fit and how I feel.
I will literally say “I bet I’m 148.2lb today” and I’m usually within half a pound.
BK says:
March 19th 2010I don’t focus on my BMI because it’s not accurate.. My doctor also advised me to not be concerned.. my body fat is low for someone my size :) LOL.. I like you don’t like the scale because it is just a number… I hate when ppl look at me and then when they find out I weigh xyz they say NO WAY.. I’m a lot of muscle so eh
I hope you are smiling on Monday REGARDLESS of that scale!
Kelly says:
March 19th 2010BMI means nothing. Seriously. I have a lot of friends in various areas of health and fitness who think it’s just ridiculous. At its root, it is nothing more than a height/weight chart. Even though you put yourself in the “active” category, it may still say you’re overweight or – gasp – obese. Actually, I’m right over the cusp of obese right now. I’m working on losing weight, but I’m also pretty active, with large, muscular thighs from years of swimming. There’s no accounting for body composition in the BMI.
In fact, BMI was never supposed to be used in the manner it is now used. It’s a flawed equation and even though the American Heart Association and many pop health articles will tell you the BMI is where it’s at, you can also find lots of references refuting its importance.
The real problem comes when you’re dealing with institutions that use it like it actually matters. For instance, health insurers often use BMI in determining whether to provide plans to individuals. Someone could eat healthy, work out every day, have low blood pressure and low cholesterol, but if their height/weight doesn’t meet what BMI says is healthy, they’re denied coverage.
I say if you’re going to get a scale, just use it as a gauge, but don’t let it rule you. I’m sort of a hypocrite in this regard, because I do weigh myself often and it can affect my mood. But in reality I know the things you’ve already mentioned like how your clothes fit, your measurements and how you feel are much more accurate indicators of your health.
april says:
March 19th 2010I. Hate. The. Scale. It’s not your friend when your building muscle!! And I don’t like the BMI calculator either because if you have a lot of muscle, it puts you overweight! I think I’m just going to throw out the dang scale. but I’m kind of addicted. Ugh!! The things us girls go through!
Allie (Protein Girl) says:
March 19th 2010BMI is just a guideline and that calculator was totally wrong – didn’t ask if I was a man or woman either. I had my bodyfat clinically tested last week (I’ve had it done periodically). I’m 11% bodyfat but going by height/weight/activity – it pegged me as 22%. Not accurate. And depressing.
Well, I’m off to eat a pizza.
Jody - Fit at 52 says:
March 19th 2010I do think BMI is important in general for the population as a whole. For those that carry a lot of muscle like myself & your first commenter, we can fall out of the norm due to so much muscle & we all know that. But for a large %, that is not the case & they should pay attention to BMI.
I know that I carry more muscle so I take that into consideration. I also use the scale & more importantly, how my clothes fit as a measure of how the bod is doing… even though I do weight once a day, first thing in the morn. I bought a scale that measures BMI & body fat & although I know it is not right on, it appears pretty close & even with my muscle, I am still in the right BMI range.
Diane Fit to the Finish says:
March 20th 2010I weigh daily and do know my BMI. I think there are a lot of tools that can help us and they all work together to give us a picture of our overall health.
Matthew Feerhusen says:
March 21st 2010I’m sorry to hear about the “break up” :( That scale is surly sad. Whatever you are doing…keep doing it! You look great! It was great to see you yesterday and do my little part of the “spice” mission. Sassy!
Dr. J says:
March 22nd 2010I agree with the way you keep track of your “weight” Joanna, and have recommended the same things as useful guides. As for the BMI, it is an absolute accurate predictor of future health problems. It is not a beauty contest. Unless you are a professional athlete or serious weight trainer, a high BMI is not due to too much muscle. Denial is a dangerous thing. I don’t know why the &%^*% BMI works, it just does.
Dr. J says:
March 22nd 2010PS I like flowers too, nice touch!