Is there a more accurate BMI scale?

sirant

sirant

New member
Sorry if this is a repost of another one somewhere. If so I couldn't find it.

But I really dont agree with the standard BMI scale. It can't possibly be even remotely accurate for everyone. Based on the standard BMI calculator I would need to be 180 pounds to be at a healthy weight. I KNOW I never want to be 180 pounds because I would be disgusted with myself. I would have to be anorexic at best to ever achieve that. I have buddies here who are built like me in everyway, except not fat in the slightest. They are not big beefy bodybuilders either. Yet their BMI readings put them at severly overweight at best, even obese. But looking at these guys to call them obese is a crime. They look absolutely fit healthy and happy. I know BMI is a general rule, but is there one that is more accurate? My doctor back in Canada seemed to think that my healthy weight, without looking like a Steve'esque beefcake was around 240 pounds. My mother on the other hand thinks I probably should shoot for 180-190. I have seen those guys on biggest loser go down to 180-190 in order to win the prize, and I thought they looked awful, skinny and downright disgusting. I NEVER in my life want to look like that, until maybe 90 years old, then that fine. So between my Doctor and the standard BMI scale it is a whopping 60 pound difference....

So even without becoming a bodybuilder I dont want to go as low as the standard BMI says I should. Is anyone else in that boat? Any ideas why that scale is so unrealistic for a large percentage of us?

sirant
 
How tall are you man? I mean 175 is my goal weight. Im 6'1, im currently 215lbs. Thats they absolute bottom I want to get to and then build back up. I want a leaner body type. Ive never liked the fat, muscle bound look. I mean im sure, even at my current weight I could start lifting and bulk up but in my opinion I think I would look terrible. But thats just my goal.
 
I am 6 ft tall

that one guy said:
How tall are you man? I mean 175 is my goal weight. Im 6'1, im currently 215lbs. Thats they absolute bottom I want to get to and then build back up. I want a leaner body type. Ive never liked the fat, muscle bound look. I mean im sure, even at my current weight I could start lifting and bulk up but in my opinion I think I would look terrible. But thats just my goal.
Click to expand...

But, I am barrel chested and broad shouldered. I have a 48 inch chest without any muscle or fat on it. My chest is already bigger than my stomach. At 220 I wear size 36 jeans and look seriously skinny. 220 is my goal weight, because at my thinnest thats where I was and I couldnt have possibly imagined going smaller without hurting myself. I have always been that guy that my skinny friends wished they could be just for my chest size alone. I guess time will tell, but I am not going to kill myself to get to a weight I dont think I will be comfortable at. When I was a pro wrestler I was 250 pounds and it felt great, even though I had a little belly.

sirant
 
My advice -- forget about the ridiculous BMI. If you have any muscle mass at all, it's totally ridiculous.

Here's a much better way to set your weight goal.

1) get a good reading of your current body fat percentage.
2) using that, calculate your current lean body mass (LBM):
Current weight x (1 - current body fat pctg)

3) figure out your target body fat percentage (TFP). For me, it's 12%, but anything less than 16% is pretty good.

4) divide your LBM by (1 - TFP). For example, if you have 170 lbs. of LBM, and your target is 14% body fat, then the calculation would be:
170 / (1 - 0.14), or 198 pounds.

By going through this, you can end up with a very lean body, but one which is "overweight" according to BMI. If you're losing weight the right way, about the only way you can get to the BMI ideal weight is by losing a good portion of your lean body mass, hardly an ideal goal.
 
Best Measure for Success Method....

Mirror;)

It is true though, when you are happy with what you see, when you are happy with how you feel physically, this is all that matters.

BMI is a horrible measure, by these measurements bodybuilders are obese;)
 
BMI doesnt work for all definitely not!!!

Sirant your probably the same build as me. As i said in my intro i was 290 lbs ive come down to 228 now but the BMI says i'm still clinically obese. I'm 5ft 11 and broad chested and shouldered.

My plan is not to have a target weight i know i still have a few stone more to lose and i want it off. However when i'm completely barrel chested the BMI will still say i'm 3 stone overweight
 
Forget the online calculators. I own a tanita scale which is pretty accurate. It measures lean body mass anf fat and water. The new ones measure bone mass as well.

If you don't want to spend the money you can get a caliper that measures you from 9 points on the body:
 
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