I was all set to write a post about how my attitude changed towards the BMI weight index. I was so sure that my recent weight loss was going to make me a believer in this stat. I was all set to do a "Wow, once you embrace healthy eating, you change your mind about the BMI". I was going to encourage everyone on the planet to embrace it and get real with themselves and loose weight. Isn't that what people who "get religion do"?
Before my cardio scan scare my weight was 215. Well, that is the weight I published. It was a little bit above that, more like 218. 220 was my Uh, Oh weight. You know the weight you reach before you say, Uh Oh I better cut back, more on this later.
But, this morning I checked my BMI and it STILL has me listed as overweight! I am now down to 195. I haven't been in the 90's since before the 90's! And I am still overweight by BMI standards, thus government standards? Give me a break. Yes, I still have some flab, I certainly could not make it as an A & F model. But overweight? Something is very wrong with the BMI index.
I started playing around with the BMI calculator. Would I be considered "not overweight" after losing another 5 pounds - a distinct possibility giving the food choices my current nutritional nazi is awarding me. No. Losing 5 more pounds will not give me normal status. I have to get to 189 to be at the top range of normal. 165 would put me in the middle of normal, a weight I presume the BMI index wants me to be. At 165 I am not sure I would be allowed out on windy days. I weighed 165 my junior year of high school.
Then I got a little crazy. How light would I have to be to be considered "underweight"? The answer - 140. I think if I got cancer and wasted away to nothing that I would die before I got down to 140. I think my bones alone weigh more than 140.
I do not get the BMI.
Now, on the subject of Uh Oh weight. Am I alone in having an Uh Oh weight? Boy looking around it either looks like I am or some people out there need to adjust theirs, 'cause theirs ain't working for them.
2 comments:
A smart doc told me long ago that after a certain age weight is not the best indicator of health and fitness and neither is the BMI. This doc said to throw away the scale and focus on achieving reasonably healthy habits. You have probably noticed you have to go to the Y or the doctor to weigh yourself if you live in our house. That's how I roll. And by the way, did you skip breakfast again this morning?
No, I did not skip breakfast. I drove the Jimmy's Down The Street in Coeur d' Alene and had the chicken fried steak, biscuits and gravy and a large Texas size cinnamon roll, 'cause that's how I roll
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