I had a very snacky afternoon triggered by being tired and stress from not getting any of my classes for next semester. Boo. The damage wasn’t life changing but it’s not good either. I think there was some cereal, a yogurt and the rest of my Luna Bar involved.
Now onto the the interesting stuff 
I read about Healthy Body Weight for my Nutrition class today. I really appreciated the definition of a healthful body weight and wanted to share:
– A weight that is appropriate for your age and physical development
– A weight that you can achieve and sustain without severely curtailing your food intake or constantly dieting.
– A weight that is compatible with normal blood pressure, lipid levels and glucose tolerance
– A weight that is based upon your genetic background and family history of body shape and weight
– A weight that promotes good eating habits and allows you to participate in regular physical activity
– A weight that is acceptable to you
From: Nutrition An applied approach by Thompson and Manore
I really love the first, second and fourth points. I am very guilty of aiming for a weight that I feel other people my age and fitness level are at, but I don’t take into account my genetic background or body shape. As much as I’d love to be a delicate flower, I’m not. I shouldn’t try to look like a Daisy when I was born a cactus Rose.
I still have weight loss goals, but my world does not revolve around them on any level now and I am happier. I just need to make sure my goals are appropriate for me and not based on other people
Dinner was a couscous mix – in the pile: couscous seasoned with olive oil and garlic powder, beans and topped with pasta sauce.
Bad lighting doesn’t do that roasted broccoli justice.
I found this on the bottom of my purse. Why hello, Mr. Lolli
Vegas loves Ben and comes to sleep on his lap when he gets home. It’s too cute.
These cookies are in the seasonal section at Target. They are perfectly ginger-y and have 10 cookies in a serving for 120 calories. That means I can eat 2 servings, right?
Anyways, buy them. Dip them in hot chocolate, pumpkin mousse, yogurt…
Thoughts on the healthful body weight?
Like Susan in the comments above, I am very tall (6’0) and am often called “giant, huge and big”. I know that people are referring to my height (since I am at the low end of the healthy BMI range), but it is hard not to get caught up in that if I were somehow skinnier, those descriptors would not be used.
I also have a lot of running teammates and training partners who are 5’4 and under, so I do feel like a giant compared to them. But I have learned that if I try to compare myself to them, I will drive myself insane.
I am thankful that I have found a healthy balance and have moved away from worrying about my weight to working on maximizing my fitness for racing.
I really like #6…it’s important to remember that your healthy body weight should be acceptable to you…not to anyone else. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that it’s my body and I shouldn’t let unrealistic expectations of others influence me!
Since I have gone from “morbidly obese” to “obese” to “overweight” I was really looking forward to the day when I could finally be “normal.” Unfortunately, I am stuck in the “overweight” BMI range and although I have gotten somewhat close to “normal” I had to drastically cut back on food and increase my exercise to get there. And then I STILL couldn’t get any lower.
I eventually had to realize that I’m a lot healthier now than I have ever been in my entire life and I need to not worry about the exact number on the scale.
I’m not sure what a “healthy body weight” is for me. When I was trying to lose my 100 pounds I had a goal of 150 in mind because I felt like it was “doable.” Once I got there, I wanted to be 140. I’m about 144 now and I’m strong, toned, and athletic. That’s more important to me than being 135 like my doctor claims I should be.
Loved this post, and it serves as a reminder that I’m not totally there yet with acknowledging my accomplishment and not focusing on what more I can lose. It really is so important to take into account factors like genetics and age and body shape, and I just don’t do ithat enough. This Turkey Day I’m going to be thankful for being the weight I am and not worry about the weight society thinks I should be!
everything I read tells me that my healthy body range is from 129-169..I think that is a huge range..of couse I am not even in the range. I am not happy with my weight so, I am learning to change my lifestyle…adding movement to everyday and changing unhealthy food choices with healthy ones…I feel better but no weight is coming off…I would love to be around 165…only 20 lbs to go.
Love the definition of a healthy body weight – makes so much sense. And I know how you feel about wishing you looked another way. I’m 5’10” and have always felt so “big.” But that’s my perception – others look at me and say “wow, you’re so tall, I wish I was that tall.” Grass is always greener, right?
Reading your blog has been a bit of an eye opener – it makes me a bit sad when I see that you are not happy with your body, when in reality your body looks awesome! You look fit, strong and healthy…..And I think I am the same way, just too damn hard on myself. Let’s just be happy with ourselves, shall we???
And another thing, your sense of humor just cracks me up. Love reading the blog – you are an inspiration!
Thanks for sharing. Comforting to know right before I am going to eat myself into oblivion tomorrow – at least I am (I can) running a Turkey Trot (my first one too)!
love the definition provided. definitely always forget to take genes into account when i’m thinking about weight…
seriously LOVE LOVE LOVE those points you said about a healthy weight. Oh and I know you weren’t fishing for compliments but you should know I think you look freaking dang good too, you look so strong. STRONG is so in!
I love this post! I really have struggled with my own feelings about my body lately. In the past year I have put on weight despite the fact that I work out daily and eat better than anyone I know. I have been trying to come to terms with it. I still look good. I’m still healthy. I don’t need to look like a super-skinny supermodel to look okay. I have had four kids, for heavens sake!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I think I might have to borrow those points for my own blog if you don’t mind!!
I love this post. I used to be a competitive ballerina, so needless to say throughout highschool I was very, very thin. I think I got it into my head that underweight was ideal, and spent my freshman year of college striving for a BMI below 18.5, wanting to look like I did in high school again. I’ll be 21 in February and it kind of clicked with me that having a BMI of 19.5 is no where near overweight, its healthy..and I’ve been enjoying my life so much more.
Thats great that you’re less focused on losing weight, I’ve always found it comes off the quickest when I’m the least focused on it.
Happy Thanksgiving eve!
Those are great points. Genetics and lifestyle are both huge factors when considering your weight. My daughter, age 8, has been playing with our Wii fit a lot lately. The Wii fit weighs you and without knowing your height, gives you a BMI score. My kid, who is 55 inches tall and weighs about 74 pounds is obese according to the Wii fit! She’s long, lean and solid, but that Wii fit BMI just messes with her. I keep telling her, you’re healthy, thin, and TALL, the machine doesn’t know these things.
There can be incredibly healthy overweight people and incredibly unhealthy skinny people. It’s so much more than a number.
Wow! How does it give a BMI score without knowing your height? I’m sure there are good intentions there, but handing out faulty BMI scores (or even accurate BMI scores) to the general public seems a little dangerous. I’m glad you let your daughter know that it is wrong!
I wish more people would realize that “their” healthy BW is not always dependent on what the books say. I think this is why I’m so much against Weight Watchers. I think it paints unrealistic pictures for people and then they just get disappointed.
I had a terrible day of eats, including a massive bag of chips, a block of chocolate and a packet of microwave popcorn… all because I chose not to go the gym. Talk about all or nothing!
I like the idea of a healthful body weight. Last night I had a ‘aha’ moment. This time last year I was at my “healthiest” ever.. read: skinniest. I’ve since put on a few kilos of “study weight” and have been obsessed with losing that and getting back to last year’s levels. So I was looking at photos taken last year and photos taken this year. And I realised I liked a curvier me better.
I’ll be honest and say last year I was obsessed with working out and that is far from healthful. Where I am at now is a lot more manageable, so I am going to try and stop worrying about my weight, and focus on strength training and curbing the binge eating. Blah.
I like the third point. Although for me it is contradicted by the second to last point. I have great genetics. I have low blood pressure, normal cholesterol, etc. However, I could definitely lose a few in order to be a bit lighter (faster) on my feet. Or at least be in better shape, regardless of my size. Very interesting article.
I love the 2nd to last point (though they are all great). I really try to celebrate what my body can do, and how eating right makes me feel strong and powerful no matter what the scale says.
#2 is so true, but was REALLY hard for me to accept for years. I thought it would make me a better runner and I’d just be happier if I could keep my weight at 1xx lbs, but I just couldn’t get that low unless I stopped eating well, and then my workouts went to crap.
It’s WAY too easy to get wrapped up in a number without taking all those factors into account. Like you, I’m not a delicate flower and you can tell by looking at my family that I never will be!
First, I absolutely love your blog and I am a huge fan 🙂
Second, I love this post!!! it’s so true, we are made a certain way and we need to always remember that! I needed to hear this! Such a wonderful post!! 🙂