If there’s ever a time to have the ideal body weight, it’s during a global pandemic! All the studies have shown that those who are overweight or obese have a much tougher time combatting the coronavirus. If you’re in better shape, you increase your chances of living or at least recovering quicker.
Another thing to think about is maintaining an ideal body weight once you’ve reached financial independence. Once you’re financially independent, a big goal should be to be as fit as possible in order to live as long as possible.
In any discount cash flow analysis, it is the terminal value that often makes up the largest portion of a company’s value. The longer you can extend the terminal value, the wealthier you will be!
In other words, to be rich and out of shape is irrational. Yes, when you are rich, it’s easier to hire people to mow your lawn, drive you around, and eat all the buttery steaks you want. However, it makes more sense to get in ideal weight to give yourself a higher chance of living a longer life.
My Weight Battle And The Desire To Get To Ideal Weight
I went to play tennis on New Year’s day to lose some weight I had gained during the holidays. After a two-hour match, I hit again for another 1.5 hours the very next day. I’m not delusional to think that after two days I would lose any amount of weight. However, I stubbornly got on the scale before and after anyway.
Hoping to see a loss of at least a pound, the damn scale betrayed me. In two days, I had gained 5 pounds from 168 lbs to 173 lbs!
How the hell does someone gain 3% more body weight in just 48 hours. I could blame the flashing “battery” signal on the scale. However, that’s just an excuse.
At 5 feet 10 inches tall, 173 lbs is a lot to carry on the tennis court. Kei Nishikori, a professional tennis player who is my height weighs 155 pounds. Meanwhile, I remember being cut in high school at 150 pounds.
Ever since my trip to India in 2008, my weight hasn’t fluctuated more than seven pounds (162-169). But now I’ve broken this range with all the crap I’ve been eating. I feel bad for disrespecting all the poverty I witnessed while in India.
It finally took two kids and a pandemic to become overweight. How sad!
I don’t accept mediocrity in my work. Therefore, why do I accept being overweight and mediocre in my health? It makes no sense at all.
Mission To Achieve The Ideal Weight
I don’t want to be another big blogger. My field has a disproportionate number of folks who can’t run two consecutive miles even with an angry three-legged bear roaring after them. At least we got sexy fingers!
As a result, as of today, I swear I will get back to the ideal weight for my frame and height. My ideal weight is around 165 pounds.
So how do we find the ideal weight? There are numerous factors that go into determining what your ideal body weight should be.
Based on an average of four sites I checked out (healthstatus.com, halls.md, healthcentral.com, healthdiscovery.net), Healthdiscovery.net’s estimates look to be the most accurate and reasonable.
One site had a lower range of 129 pounds as a healthy weight for someone 5’10”. Unless the starvation look is back in, 129 pounds is certainly not an ideal weight for someone of my height and frame.
Let’s take a look at the ideal weight charts for men and women. I plan to get back to my ideal body weight of 155 pounds while on sabbatical.
The Ideal Body Weight For Men By Height And Frame
Below is the ideal body weight for men by height and frame. If you are unsure of your frame size, then go with medium frame.
| Height in Feet&Inches | Small Frame | Medium Frame | Large Frame |
| 5’2″ | 128-134 | 131-141 | 138-150 |
| 5’3″ | 130-136 | 133-143 | 140-153 |
| 5’4″ | 132-138 | 135-145 | 142-156 |
| 5’5″ | 134-140 | 137-148 | 144-160 |
| 5’6″ | 136-142 | 139-151 | 146-164 |
| 5’7″ | 138-145 | 142-154 | 149-168 |
| 5’8″ | 140-148 | 145-157 | 152-172 |
| 5’9″ | 142-151 | 151-163 | 155-176 |
| 5’10” | 144-154 | 151-163 | 158-180 |
| 5’11” | 146-157 | 154-166 | 161-184 |
| 6’0″ | 149-160 | 157-170 | 164-188 |
| 6’1″ | 152-164 | 160-174 | 168-192 |
| 6’2″ | 155-168 | 165-178 | 172-197 |
| 6’3″ | 158-172 | 167-182 | 176-202 |
| 6’4″ | 162-176 | 171-187 | 181-207 |
As you can tell from the chart, at 173 pounds I’m up to 22 pounds overweight for my medium-size frame. I’d like to think that because I have large quads due to tennis, I’m not that much overweight. However, that’s just another stupid excuse!
A couple of years ago, when I was closer to 168 pounds, my doctor said I was at a healthy weight. However, I had ~17% body fat, which was double what it was 20 years ago. In other words, my doctor was just being nice. He thought I couldn’t handle the truth.
If he had given it to me straight that I was at least 5 pounds overweight, I could have been more focused on my diet. Alas, I continued to slowly let myself go.
Ideal Body Weight For Women By Height And Frame
Below is the ideal body weight for women by height and frame. Again, go with the medium frame column if you are unsure about your frame size.
| Height in Feet&Inches | Small Frame | Medium Frame | Large Frame |
| 4’10” | 102-111 | 109-121 | 118-131 |
| 4’11” | 103-113 | 111-123 | 120-134 |
| 5’0″ | 104-115 | 113-126 | 122-137 |
| 5’1″ | 106-118 | 115-129 | 125-140 |
| 5’2″ | 108-121 | 118-132 | 128-143 |
| 5’3″ | 111-124 | 121-135 | 131-147 |
| 5’4″ | 114-127 | 124-138 | 134-151 |
| 5’5″ | 117-130 | 127-141 | 137-155 |
| 5’6″ | 120-133 | 130-144 | 140-159 |
| 5’7″ | 123-136 | 133-147 | 143-163 |
| 5’8″ | 126-139 | 136-150 | 146-167 |
| 5’9″ | 129-142 | 139-153 | 149-170 |
| 5’10” | 132-145 | 142-156 | 152-173 |
| 5’11” | 135-148 | 145-159 | 155-176 |
| 6’0″ | 138-151 | 148-162 | 158-179 |
Definition of medium-frame: Your middle finger and thumb just touch when you hold your wrist. You are large-framed if your fingers do not touch. You are small-framed if your fingers overlap.
Ideal Body Weight By BMI
Let’s say you don’t agree with the above ideal weight charts. That’s OK. Let’s check out what your body weight should be using the Body Mass Index (BMI) calculation. Punch your height and weight into the BMI calculator and you will get your BMI number.
BMI Categories:
Underweight = <18.5
Normal weight = 18.5–24.9
Overweight = 25–29.9
Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater
Of course, if you are a weightlifter or professional athlete with a lot of muscle, your BMI will likely be higher. Therefore, you can’t just accept your BMI at face value.
You must make a judgement call! My BMI is 25, which is right at the beginning of Overweight. I’m also of average build. Therefore, I accept that I am indeed, overweight.
My Weight Loss Goal
From today forward, my mission by Feb 8, 2022 is to get back to 165 pounds. At this weight, I will be firmly in the band of “ideal weight” for a medium-framed man at my height.
I know myself. There is no way in hell I’ll be able to get back down to the 150s like I was in high school. Therefore, I won’t even try. To have such a goal would be too torturous.
As someone who is currently on sabbatical, one of my goals is to focus on my physical and mental health. We should be risk-averse with our health because there’s no guarantee we can make it back!
Reasons To Get Back In Shape
1) My children.
The main reason why I want to get back in shape is so that I can increase my chances of living a healthy life for the next 30 years.
I figure, in 30 years, both my children will have the education and wisdom to live independent lives. Further, my hope is that in 30 years, my children will both have found life partners. Financial independence and love. What more can a father ask for his children?
2) Counteract other illnesses.
The second reason for getting back in shape is to counteract lung disease. I know I’ll eventually have a harder time breathing given asthma tends to come back after 40. Besides lung disease, I’m sure I will face other health issues that will slowly hurt the quality of my life. Therefore, if I can control my weight, that’s the least I can do.
3) To feel great more often.
The older I get, the more niggling health issues I seem to experience. If it’s not a bum shoulder it’s funny vision. Losing weight will also help put less stress on my knees, which are surely wearing down from so much tennis.
4) To look great.
When you look great, you feel great. Your self-esteem goes up and you are more confident to do more things. I’m already a confident person. However, it’s nice to look in the mirror once in a while and think, “Damn, you fine!” Having self-confidence is great for meeting new people.
5) For my wife.
After a while, it’s easy to get sloppy in our appearances. After all, we’ve already secured the love of our lives, why stay in shape? Not only will I get in better shape for my wife, but I’m also going to dress better as well.
I’ve dressed in old track pants, t-shirts, and old warmup jackets practically every day since the pandemic began. Now I will dress sharper by using more than 10% of my wardrobe.
6) To save money.
Being overweight may have also caused me to snore more and have episodes of sleep apnea. This ultimately hurt my chances of getting the best life insurance rate when I wanted to renew a couple years ago. Please get life insurance before seeing a doctor for a non-life threatening issue. Being overweight costs more money.
My Plan For Losing Weight
1) For every two hours I spend online writing, I will spend 30 minutes exercising. So long as I keep this 4:1 mental-to-physical ratio, I will at least not blow out. I regularly spend 20 hours a week online. Therefore, I will regularly exercise 5 hours a week by walking, playing tennis, and playing softball. The weight loss formula is as simple as apple pie with vanilla ice cream on top.
2) I will do 60 push-ups and 150 sit-ups for every basketball or football game I watch. Watching sports is the worst for an athlete, because it’s a double negative. Instead of playing sports ourselves, we’re rotting away our bodies and our minds.
3) I will eat more slowly to give my body time to know that I have eaten. It takes 15-20 minutes for the body to know one is full. Hence, that 15-20 minutes is a crucial period where one can overeat and gain a lot of weight. The solution is to eat slowly and be mindful of everything I put in my mouth.
4) I will eat vegetarian three days a week. Eating vegetarian feels great, is good for digestion, and could very well be cheaper too. I will also consciously reduce dairy and sugar from my diet. Sugar is really the silent killer of our generation.
To achieve the ideal weight really requires mostly better eating habits. I need to achieve a calorie deficit to lose weight.
Ideal Weight + Money = Better Life
The ideal body weight pisses me off because it’s so low. In actuality, I’m just pissed off at myself for letting myself go. As a father of two young children, my goal is to live long enough so they can be independent adults.
I used to tell myself that I’m heavier because I have more muscles. I used to also blame a slower metabolism and my kids for my weight gain. Unfortunately, these are all excuses.
Today, I am saying NO to weight creep. Even though there’s this new study that says middle-aged people who put on weight live longer than those who remain in healthy shape throughout their lives. You see, another excuse!
Being overweight puts a burden on society. By being overweight, other people ultimately pay for my extra health care costs through longer wait times and more expensive premiums. At least, for now, my family is currently paying an unsubsidized $2,250/month in health insurance premiums.
I will get back to the ideal weight range of 165-168 pounds by 2024! That’s roughly 6% off from my current bodyweight that I plan to lose in 12 months. It shouldn’t be a problem if I stick to my weight-loss goals above.
Who else is annoyed enough at the ideal body weight to do something about it? I’d love for more people to join me on my quest. Let’s both get in ideal shape and make lots of money!
Related: The Health Benefits Of Early Retirement Are Priceless
Recommendation For Life
If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us, it’s that life is not guaranteed. We must do everything we can to protect our dependents. Being out of shape increases your chances of an earlier death.
As a result, please get life insurance and try to get fitter. Not only should you get enough life insurance to cover your liabilities, your life insurance term should last long enough to get them through college.
The best place to get life insurance is through PolicyGenius. PolicyGenius will help you find the best plan for the lowest price tailored to your needs. Use no-obligation quotes to get the best rate possible.
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Be careful of “ideal weight” charts. Depending on age, they are not so ideal. For a young person they are fine, but as age progresses studies show that somewhat heavier people actually live longer than skinny people after adjusting for factors like smoking and various diseases that could cause lower body weight. The short version seems to be that heart disease is the number 1 killer and higher weight is a risk factor for it. But there are a lot of less common causes of death that collectively kill more people than heart disease and they tend to prey on skinny people.
Frankly.. I think the charts are bullshit. When I was in University, I was riding a bike 8 – 10 miles four days per week, and swimming a mile three days per week.. and was also on a very limited caloric intake (poverty, I think it’s called).. my weight, at 5’9″ – 171 lbs.. I was a freaking rock.
Now – after many, many years, I was up to 248 four months ago and, yes, I was FAT.. I can tell the difference. Today I’m down to 213.. and still know I need to lose, I’m guessing, about 20 lbs to be, basically, healthy. That will have me at about 190 – 195.
Oh.
BTW.. in the last three years, I’ve completed four triathlons.. so, put less stock in these so-called “scientific” charts and consider where your blood pressure is, where your cholesterol is, what your resting heart rate is.. (all normal or below normal for me, even my current weight) and how active you are and how you “feel”.
And throw the chart in the garbage.
Great to hear these charts piss you off as well! But I think if we are honest with ourselves, we realize we’ve still got more pounds to lose.
How’s you find my article in the first place curious to know.
Cheers
Seriously! These charts have been telling me BS for YEARS – esp cuz muscle weighs more than fat anyway, and I was like 120lbs & 5’8 (but very thin) & now I’m 137lbs, & I have a lot more muscle, but I look the same (in far away pics/I’m practically the same size) – but, muscle weighs more than fat! People need to remember that & care about what’s in the mirror, rather than what’s on the scale
Frankly, this ‘ideal weight’ stuff reminds me of teenage (physically or mentally) girls worrying about ‘split ends’ of their hair, or that one zit on their forehead.
In other words, lack of real problems make people obsessed with trivialities.
Is your ‘weight’ causing you some health problems? By all means, solve that. But other than that, ‘ideal weight’ is probably just that hysteric teenage girl talking.
You must be overweight lol
Hahahahaha
You are an inspiration dude. It’s like I’m reading my own mind when I read your blog posts…. except they’re written by someone who’s much more eloquent then myself. Thank you for putting so much of yourself on the internet for others like myself to take in and enjoy.
Thanks Tokoda! Hope you enjoy the rest of the posts on my site. Just watch out for the mind benders!
Hey man..enjoy your posts – you’ve given me many good ideas that I have employed regarding personal finance. Just curious…what is your ntrp rating in tennis?
Hi Dan, I’m a 4.5.
Cheers
I’m right at 6’0″. I was up over 180lbs in high school and normally ranged from 175-180lbs in college. Now I bounce between 158-162lbs, which puts me on the low end of the “medium frame.”
A lot of people focus more on exercise and less on eating, which is the exact opposite of what they need to do. Cut out the sodas and junk food. Eat real food. If you cannot pronounce the ingredients in what you’re eating, maybe you shouldn’t be eating it. Would you like some Tert-Butylhydroquinone with those chicken nuggets? MMmmm, tasty.
This year I had two surgeries — one in June and a follow-up in October — and even with all that downtime, I didn’t gain weight even though I eat enough to feed a small village. I still need to focus on turning some fat into muscle, but losing weight was incredibly easy as soon as I paid attention to what I was eating. I honestly started out at 175lbs and planned to stay that weight, but to convert the fat to muscle. However, as soon as I cut out the junk food, the weight came off without even trying. I actually had to increase my meal portions just to maintain my weight. My 17 year old self would have never believed losing weight was so easy. I guess drinking a 2-liter bottle of soda a day and eating fast food all the time back then didn’t help…
I think the scales are a little light. I’m exactly 6 feet tall, small, or rather slim, frame, lean & toned. On “heavy” days I can barely make it to 160 lbs. That’s right at the top of the scale for my height and fame. But for 35 years people have been hounding me that I need to put on weight. I’m a good athlete, lift weights and bike or run daily; my exercise routine is 60 to 90 minutes, and I have done this routine for 30 years. I eat what I want when I want, but generally reasonably healthy.
Since age 17, my weight has ranged between 155 and 165 lbs. I’m now 48.
Again genetics, I’ve gone from 177 age 24 to 260 at age 53 and guess what, I’ve reduced my portion size by some 50% over the last 10 years. I do snack on junk food but has always done that.
Bullshit! I’m 5.8 and the lowest I ever weighed was 156 and that was practically starving myself and working out everyday like nuts! Right now I’m 168 and if I could get down to 160 I’d look like a super model. I do lift weights but that makes you burn even more calories so I think you’re being too hard on yourself. Depends on body type. Do the mirror test. If you look good, you’re healthy as F!
Bullshit was my first response too until I realized I was just bullshitting myself. 3.5 months later im I’m down to 158-159 and I feel great.
I hope you don’t put too much stock in these nonsense weight guides. I was scrawny and 132 pounds my first year of college. I have a small frame, no doubt about it, my wrists are quite small and my fingers do indeed overlap. I weigh 180 now. I’m in perfect shape, so no, 160s isn’t overweight for 5’10”, it’s actually small. I bench press 275 and I have a resting heart rate of 52. My body fat percentage is usually between 13-15%, and no that’s not high. A good range for guys is 12-18% and 18-24% for women. If you’re under 12% you’re probably a boxer or another athlete who needs to be lean and not so much strong. If you’re strong especially, you probably won’t be under 12%. I was at 165 once and 9% body fat but I couldn’t bench more than 185, either. I much prefer to be strong. I can’t imagine being in the 160s again, way too scrawny lol.
No problem Linsey! It’s nice to have some set charts for targets to shoot for.
The problem with the scale is that no one checks it until they are trying to lose weight. You need to know your body’s normal fluctuation first! Without doing anything out of the ordinary, my weight can easily fluctuate by 5lbs day-to-day! This doesn’t really mean that I’m gaining or losing a pound a day. I’d say learn your body first before trying to change it.
I believe that Leslie. Kind of like finance! We need to know what we are spending money on in order to optimize. The chart makes me mad, but in reality, I know it’s the truth, b/c I was 15 lbs lighter when I was in prime shape.
I think your charts just told me I need to lose weight, which coincided with what my jeans were telling me today. I’m supposed to be baring the bikini in Italy in July :/ I better get myself in gear, yowza
Haha, I hear yah! My jeans were quite tight too. Since this post, I’m feeling good now. I was sufficiently angry at myself to change!
Though I don’t do it any longer, I used to be a very high level personal trainer. I’d be happy to help you with any additional information you need to reach this goal. No foolsies. No strings attached.
Hit me up at mighty at funkmode dot com. Please don’t hesitate to ask. No obligation. Totally gratis. Glad to do it.
Hi… I’m a female … I am 5’11 .. And starting to put on some weight .. I was out searching for something or someone for help … I need help loosing the weight… To get motivated something … I had a killer body but I guess getting married having two kids and somewhere in all of that I learned how to cook so I just started packing it on … I’m uncomfortable with myself everyone else says I look fine but at the end of the day it’s the mirror and I that have the problem … Please help …
Don’t rely too heavily on what the scale says. Your weight will vary from day to day. What you should focus on are measurements and pictures. You should take a picture of you now, only in your underwear, and then another picture every week or two. When you look at yourself everyday in the mirror, you won’t “see” any changes. But by having pictures, you can see the changes.
Also, take measurements. Even if the scale says you are still at 1XX, if your waist measurement is going down, then you know you are losing fat (and probably gaining muscle).
My girlfriend just started a weight loss program and was focusing on the scale weight. She was getting discouraged because the number wasn’t dropping. I told her to focus on her measurements and pictures and she is rejuvenated because she sees progress there.
Maybe. I just don’t think the scale lies, but pictures and our minds do.
Business travel this past year or so has been murder on the waistline. From 34″ to 36″, and from 184 lbs to 193 today. I was at 198 right after the holidays, and feeling not so very good. I hit my high about 10 years ago at 225, which is a lot on a 5’6″ frame. It helps that I have wide shoulders, but as you said that’s a BS excuse. I’ve had a personal goal to get back to playing indoor soccer this year, but not before March. Still have a fair bit of phys therapy and conditioning to do.
Yeah Andrew, “big bones”, “wide shoulders”, “big cajones”… all kinda excuses man! Just think back to how heavy you were in high school and college, that is if you were of normal health.
How are the goals going?
I think I have just the thing that will help you obtain your body weight goal, connect socially with friends (so your Financial Samurai readers can follow your progress), and challenge other bloggers to become more fit. You ready for this???? WeightTraining.com! :)
Definitely easy to pig out on somebody else’s dollar, but not necessarily a healthy habit to get into! Good luck on the weight loss goals.
Thanks. 3 months later, I think I’m there! Need to write a post.
Im right at my ideal weight. I eat like a pig but I play soccer 2-3 times a weeks and am generally really active. I am scared that once my activity level dips, so will my metabolism.
I hate the charts too Sam! Ugh so frustrating. I’m working on getting my weight down 40 pounds, which will just get me to the end of the medium frame for my height. I don’t want to be as thin as I used to be, but I also don’t want to be as fat as I am now. I’m tracking my calories, working out, and incorporating juicing too. Good luck!
Good stuff! I like that you incorporate juicing. I try and drink barley green and eat two pieces of fruit every morning.
You can do it! Good to get mad to enact change!
Blogging has been terrible for my exercise regimen. Since I work as a computer programmer half the day and I spend some time writing, I sit way too much. Now that it is winter, it is harder to get outside and run around. Blah blah blah.
I need to lose a few pounds probably. I have been focusing mostly now on making sure what I eat is actually beneficial to my body and not just satisfying some craving. Also, I am just trying to move more each day and not be sedentary. When this knee of mine is fixed though, look out!
You don’t burn 100 calories an hour typing like I do?
Come on Kris, keep up! :)
Whatcha do to your knee?
I feel your frustration, but I am in a different boat. I have to wait at least until the middle of May to attempt to do something about my weight–that will be six weeks after my delivery.
I do not think I have ever gained more than 30 pounds during a pregnancy but you know you look incredibly large when you get up from eat dinner at a restaurant and you can hear someone say “Oh my G*D”…then again, my kiddo was 10 pounds.
Lol, that’s awesome. Yes, your kiddo weights some weight so don’t beat yourself up about it! HOpe the pregnancy goes well!
Can you give an example of a “4-hour diet slow carb mod”? thx
Sounds very healthy and low calorie! Are you constantly hungry afterwards or no?
You are lucky to be the shadow of the man from 1.5 years ago. One of my old posts was about gaining weight to lose weight. Feels good gaining b/c the food is so yummy, and it feels good losing.
100 pushups at one go? The most I’ve done is like 45, then i’m dead.
Yeah, sorry to depress. I was SO agitated that I gained 5 lbs in two days that I just had to write this post. I know it was 5 lbs of fat or whatever, but still, I was pissed.
Glad you’ve joined the pledge. I like the no excuses attitude!
Those that don’t believe that metabolism, age or menopause plays a role in weight gain – come back and talk to me when you are 65!
When I decided to stop smoking (in my 40’s) I lost weight ahead of time because I knew I would gain when I stopped. I got back to my ‘ideal’ weight for my small frame and height – but to do that I ate about only 500 calories a day and rode my bike for 20 miles every night after exercising for at least 30 minutes each morning.
I like to eat – but I do exercise and stay in shape.
Good luck with your goal Sam.
Thanks Marie. Women who are moms and past menopause get a hall pass!
Nice job quitting smoking and planning ahead. I think i’d faint if I only ate 500 to even 1,000 calories a day AND rode 20 miles every night!
Best, Sam
Well, I have a long way to go!! According to your charts almost 100 pounds. “Rome wasn’t built in a day” is what I keep hearing. They did something in a day, in a week I bet they built a house. After going to the gym for 4 weeks not much of a change but I am getting stronger, my stomach is going in a little bit more every day. I will get there. I just have to blog about it more, yeah that is what I will do!
I used to take it slow, until I realized, shit, I’m going the wrong way. Before 11 years ago, I had an instance where I ballooned to 180. That kinda sucked. My buddy said I looked like Charles Barkley!
I like the title of your site! What’s it about? Just kidding :)
As other people have chimed in Sam, don’t put too much emphasis on weight loss. As a “former athlete” I like to motivate myself with athlete-specific challenges such as running farther/faster, lifting more, getting back to a high recreational level in a sport etc. This gives a much better indication of where your at in my opinion. BTW, 15% is not bad at all man! I do appreciate your dedication to getting back to ideal shape though. I’ve been toying with the idea of getting back to boxing (I’m about 45 pounds over my old fighting weight of 195, at 6’2 with a large frame). There’s no better motivator to get in shape than getting hit in the face!
Those definitely are good suggestions. Were you the one who mentioned you played basketball in school? Sorry that I forgot if so.
My motivation is to win my matches at my tennis level. I think i’ll have an easier time if I don’t have an extra 15 lbs dumb bell on me.
Yah, played in high school. Even though my frame can accommodate a little extra weight let’s just say I’m carrying around a bigger dumb bell than you!
Sounds good Hunter! 50-100 miles of riding is great. Another datapoint that suggests food intake is more important than exercise to lose weight.
I’ll definitely shoot for my goal by September!
With as much tennis as you play, I should think a lot of your weight really is healthy weight such as muscle. Still, healthy living is always a positive thing. Good luck.
As for me, I try to stay within the BMI chart for healthy weight (18.5-24.9). I’m within the range, but slowly creeping up to the top of it. Losing about 10 pounds would put me back in the 22 range, which is considered healthiest – according to my Wii Fit Plus :) . Therefore, that is my goal for this year.
It would be nice to believe that I’ve got a lot of muscle. But alas, I don’t see now Bowflex Muscle Man in the mirror here! haha.
Read about your plan on Consumerist. Sorry to see that you are taking the non-evidence-based approach — but not surprised that you are because most people without a science background and who don’t know the evidence-based dietary science think as you do that exercise is the key to weight loss. Look up Gary Taubes’ piece on exercise in New York Magazine for the corrective science on this.
Furthermore, per Taubes massive research into dietary science (vs. the “science” you’ve been led to believe is correct), it is carbohydrates — sugar, flour, starchy vegetables like potatoes, apple juice — that cause the insulin secretion that puts on fat.
Here’s a woman who went by the science:
freetheanimal.com/2011/03/phd-med-school-biology-researcher-goes-paleo-racks-up-70-pound-weight-loss-gets-hot.html
Furthermore, I sit at a computer all day and I could never exercise again and be thin as a rail (which I am — now weigh what I did in high school at 47) because I eat bacon, eggs, steak, plenty of meat fat, buttered green beans, salad with a lot of dressing. What I don’t eat are carbs, save for the few that are in the salami and cheese I snack on. If you eat this way, you will not be hungry and pounds will drop off you like stones off a truck.
To do this well, see Dr. Michael Eades “Starting or Restarting a low-carb diet” at proteinpower.com/drmike/
If you read the comments, I believe weight is about food, not about exercise.
Glad you are in prime shape. You don’t have to feel sorry for me.
Amy is correct. If you want science based information on “fat”, go to Gary Taubes. And cardio exercise will almost always lead to weight gain. Strength is more important than cardio, especially as you get older. Read Mark Rippetoe.
http://garytaubes.com/works/
https://pjmedia.com/culture/mark-rippetoe/2014/01/29/strength-vs-endurance-why-you-are-wasting-your-time-in-the-gym-n149345
I run HealthStatus.com, glad you checked out our calculator. I want to raise a big flag about your weight chart and the fiction of “frame size”. The difference on your 5’10” with a small frame and same height with a large frame is 26 pounds (154 lbs vs. 180 lbs) on the high end but only 14 pounds on the low end???? If bone structure is the issue then it should be the same on both. Many sources quote that skeletal weight is about 15-20% of body weight, so these tables “back in” to the numbers, taking a weight range, assigning an amount to the skeleton based on a % of the body weight. In reality, if you take a bunch of 5’10” male skeletons, you are only going to see a 7-10 pound deviation in total weight (not 14-26). So you don’t want the westernized version of your ideal weight, don’t include frame size in the calculation. Thanks again for using HealthStatus.com and mentioning us on your site.
Howdy Greg,
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts on bone structure and deviation.
Does HealthStatus.com have an Ideal Weight Table you’d like to highlight? I’m happy to check and and share too.
Thx!
Sam