For many of us with weight issues, the question of how much should I weigh is not one to be taken lightly. Choosing a goal weight for weight loss or simply knowing your ideal body weight can be complex both physically and emotionally. I’ve provided a free body weight calculator to give you one possible measure but it’s not the only important factor.
What’s Your Ideal Weight?
As someone who has lost 100 pounds, I remember so clearly all the times I would look at those little charts, carefully drawing my finger across the diagram to what was supposed to be my ideal weight range for my height.
Then came the depression when I realized my weight was so far away from what was considered an ideal range, it was almost laughable to think it would be possible I could ever achieve it.
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Factors that Affect Body Weight
There are many factors that play a part in what your ideal body weight should be and what your body weight is currently.
Here are some of the most important factors that contribute to body weight:
- Diet
- Genetics
- Gender
- Age
- History of dieting, obesity, or eating disorders
- Body frame
- Amount of muscle
- Socio-economic status
- Medications
- Other healthy conditions
BMI or Goal Weight?
BMI, or Body Mass Index is another type of measurement to determine if you are underweight, overweight, or in a healthy range. BMI is a simple mathematic formula that was developed about 100 years ago.
BMI is certainly not perfect because it is simple. People who are especially muscular can be told them have a BMI that puts them into the “overweight” category while this isn’t at all true.
BMI is a helpful measurement but keep it in mind it’s just one measurement and not to be taken as exact.
Why You Need to Know Your Goal Weight
I remember when I was in school, the theory at the time was that bigger and smaller bone structures factor into ideal body weight.
They had us wrap our hand around our opposite wrist. If there was space between your fingers, you were big boned, if your fingers touched you were typical-size boned, and if your fingers overlapped you were small boned.
Bigger boned people got to weigh more while smaller boned people were expected to weigh less.
I have no idea if there was any accuracy to that whatsoever, but I do remember purposely leaving a wide gap between my fingers so that I could say I was large-boned.
See, I’m not overweight! I’m just big boned!
I laugh at that now but I think it brings home an important point. Many of us who are overweight hate looking at this types of charts because it all feels overwhelming and unrealistic.
Yet there is validity to knowing what is a healthy weight range for you.
Overeating often includes denial. We pretend we aren’t overeating when we are. We fool ourselves about how much we are actually eating. We kid ourselves about how overweight and unhealthy we have become.
While the truth can be painful, it’s important to know your goal weight or a range of what would be a healthy weight for you.
Do You Struggle with Not Being at Your Goal Weight?
I can share that I am a little bit above what the charts say is my ideal weight and this is tough. I’ve lost so much weight and yet feel like I’m not where I want to be.
This is where the mental work comes in and the importance of understanding if your current weight is because of factors inside or outside your control.
I’ve lost 100 pounds and my body continues to feel the effects of that. My metabolism is a bit slower. I have some loose skin (that I have chose not to have removed with surgery).
And, I simple continue to have to work hard every single day not to overeat. My body wants to return me to a certain set-point that is above a healthy weight, perhaps due to the many years that I was obese.
Read more about this here – 5 Things I’m Embarrassed to Tell You About My Weight
You Are Not Your Weight
Ultimately, it’s most important to remember that you are not your weight.
You, my beautiful friend, are not your weight.
You are an amazing child of God who has incredible gifts, talents, and quirks. You are a friend, mother, daughter, or wife.
You are a masterpiece.
If you find yourself fighting voices in your head that say things like –
- I am not worthy.
- I am not good enough.
- I don’t even know why I am here.
Here’s the thing.
You don’t get to decide that.
You are here so therefore you are worthy and you are good enough to be here – because you are here. God created you for this time and place in order to make your impact on the world.
You are good enough.
(If you struggle with negative self-talk, check out this helpful video about one easy way to turn it around.)
Free Body Weight Calculator – How Much Should You Weigh?
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I can’t get the calculator to work. It keeps saying it needs more information.
Hi Alexa, It’s a little tricky because it “pre-fills” some of the boxes to show you where to put the numbers. Make sure you erase those and add your personal information. If you need more help, email us at sara@theholymess.com and we can help you.