Today I just managed to hit my May 15 th goal of 241 lbs. This coupled with my ability to squeeze (not necessarily comfortably) into a pair of 36” waist jeans that I have been using as a “gage” really had me exited. I was suddenly very curious if the 37 lbs I lost would be enough to be no longer considered obese. After a quick search on the internet I discovered the government definition of obese is a BMI of above 30. I quickly entered my stats into the calculator and bingo my number was a 33.6... still obese . A little disheartened, I wanted to see what it would take to be classified as merely overweight. I few quick entries and I was told if I weighed 214 lbs I would no longer be obese . Checking this versus my goals, I was hoping to be at this weight by mid Sept. Now I was curious about what I needed to be classified as normal. A few entries quickly informed me when I weighed 178 lbs I would officially be normal. Ironically this was my last goal, estimated time of arrival Mid Feb 2004. Only problem is I had calculated my estimated body fat% would be 14%, which should not put me borderline to being overweight. The low range of the normal catagory would allow me to weigh 139 lbs before being considered underweight, considering my current lean body mass is 155 lbs I find this unlikely. So to conclude this needlessly long post I give you the following summary
1. I am overweight
2. The government still thinks I am obese
3. The BMI is a ridiculous standard to determine overall fitness, and in the goverments attempt to "simplify" optimal weights for the masses it has created a measurement which in no way considers the subjects LBM or body fat %.
4. I am no where close to the exited mood I was this morning