The So-called "Ideal" Weight

[Amii]

What can you tell me about today's standards on what is a normal, healthy weight?

Every time I read about the benefits of going raw, one of the major highlighted ones is that the person eating raw can reach their "ideal" weight. But can we factor into this our ACTUAL ideals? Because my ideal weight would in fact be classed as "slightly underweight".

Their "normal" weight. Their "healthy" weight. Sounds good.

But, are we thinking about this in terms of modern standards? I'll give you an example, I have a BMI of 21.1. That falls smack back into the middle of the "average" category when you look at the body mass index charts. However, I have a body fat percentage of 36% - I'm more than 1/3 fat?! And yet this is considered to be healthy and normal?

Raw foodists are meant to have a very low body fat percentage (5-10%, if I remember correctly?) and yet still supposed to be a "healthy" weight? This is something I don't understand, either.

In Japan, I believe the expectant "healthy" weight is lower.. perhaps by a stone or a stone and a half? So obviously this "average" is a erm... matter of cultural perspective?

My question is, when we're told we will level out at an ideal weight, what should we be thinking this ideal weight would be? Would this weight be, technically, in the underweight category, just because today's BMI measurements says so? Or would we still be a similar weight to when we started, just with significantly lower body fat? Anyone care to weigh (pun intended :P) in on this?

[lovenlife]

I say an ideal weight or a normal weight for me is where I am doing all the right, healthy things and it is where my body settles, (with very little TRYING or wanting or hoping, other than eating raw foods )after a period of time, of doing these things.

I believe I am there now. I have been raw over two years.

[Revvell]

I don't concern myself with what other people think is "ideal". I go with how I feel when I'm moving, when I look in the mirror naked, whether I'm willing to go out in a bikini.

I had one woman in my last weight elimination class who is my height and her "ideal" weight is 179#'s. My ideal weight is about 50#'s less than hers.

I don't even know what my BMI is ~ and don't care. I go by how I feel, how I move, how I look, my stamina, my flexibility and mobility.

Revvell

[Marin Mom]

Interesting topic. My weight for years as a teen and young adult was 123. I'm tall so I was always considered slim and my height/weight ratio on any charts I ever saw was considered on the underweight side. As the years went by my weight slowly creeped up 15 lbs. or so but since going raw it has dropped down back to this number and no matter what I do (extra nuts and avocodo made absolutely no difference except to make me feel sluggish) it's as if it's programmed to fall back here. I'm resigned to it now.

[lovenlife]

I don't concern myself with what other people think is "ideal". I go with how I feel when I'm moving, when I look in the mirror naked, whether I'm willing to go out in a bikini.

I had one woman in my last weight elimination class who is my height and her "ideal" weight is 179#'s. My ideal weight is about 50#'s less than hers.

I don't even know what my BMI is ~ and don't care. I go by how I feel, how I move, how I look, my stamina, my flexibility and mobility.

Revvell

I LOVE THIS....the bikini is the best...to be over fifty and look pretty cool in a two piece rocks!

[DopeRawAbundance]

I don't concern myself with what other people think is "ideal". I go with how I feel when I'm moving, when I look in the mirror naked, whether I'm willing to go out in a bikini.
Warning: Too hot for comfort.

[Green_Woman]

I love being slim. I LOVE being slim!

I LOVE that I can eat a delicious, rich, filling, happy RAW meal and bounce out of my chair ready for whatever task is next on my daily goal list!

I was not always slim! Nor have I always had boundless energy -- but I have discovered that for me, "ideal weight" has nothing to do with the Scale or the BMI Charts (historically inaccurate and misleading things) but rather with the answers to questions like these:

"Do I fit into my favorite jeans?"

"Do I feel light and healthy, and is my skin quality good?"

"Is my IMMUNE SYSTEM strong??"

"Am I able to stay warm without eating a pound of cayenne every day?"


I will confess that while I agree with Revvell about most things, I disagree with one thing: I hate bikinis. On me, at least. But I loooove me a hot little halter top....

[Revvell]

....:D....


Warning: Too hot for comfort.

[Revvell]

I will confess that while I agree with Revvell about most things, I disagree with one thing: I hate bikinis. On me, at least. But I loooove me a hot little halter top....

Actually, I wear a thong 'kini. ;)

[Green_Woman]

:eek:


:D


Naughty raw Revvell! Why am I not surprised...?

[Beth]

Actually, I wear a thong 'kini. ;)

Revvell--you made my day, lol. I woke up feeling not exactly youngish--and I read this. Hey, if I could wear any bathing suit and feel good I'd be thrilled. Maybe by this coming summer :D

I know I'm not at my ideal weight yet--Green_Woman I can relate to what you wrote and can't wait to be there!

[Revvell]

Revvell--you made my day, lol. I woke up feeling not exactly youngish--and I read this. Hey, if I could wear any bathing suit and feel good I'd be thrilled. Maybe by this coming summer :D


Thongs ~ only way to go. Dontcha get tired of straightening out the other kind so it covers your butt ~ sort of? ;)

[lovenlife]

YUP...thongs stay right where you put em n there is no pickin em outta nowehre....hahahaha

ummm but it was not me you saw on the beach in a thongy thingy

Raw sure makes one feel like wearing this though(in private). Raw sure is great huh!!!

[Green_Woman]

Dontcha get tired of straightening out the other kind so it covers your butt ~ sort of?

Precisely why I hate bikini. Well, that and I've never had a vast amount of confidence in my rear region.

[cara4art]

I agree with Revell on this - and I'll say this, the mirror and the pants tell the truth(unless one has one of those awful mirrors that really do make one look a little wider than one really is). Even a local trainer said this as well - basically, stand in front of a mirror naked and jump up and down. That will tell you if you have body FAT to lose. The BMI is almost useless IMO, as it gives overfat, undermuscled people a false sense of security about their condition.
About the 5-10% body fat for raw foodists, where did the original poster read this? A lot of this depends on body structure(genetics), age, activity level, etc.
There are a variety of sizes even on raw it seems, although I would bet that over time it would skew towards somewhat lighter leaner individuals than the general population that has a huge weight problem(to say the least!)right now, just because of maybe lessened calorie intake.
For one's particular physiology, one can still be eating just too much food for one's caloric needs, even on raw, and if one is not working out significantly, one's body composition won't change much either. Some people can indeed eat a lot, not exercise much and be slender(genetics here), while others have to be more strict, even on raw, and be at the gym 6 days a week. There are some of us who don't venture much into raw desserts for that very reason - LOL, and tend to count out our nuts.
Another note, the weight charts IMO are too liberal especially at the higher end of what's acceptable to weigh - they say that technically I'm borderline underweight at 113 and 5'5", but I know I would like to get back to my "fighting weight" of 108 or so - I feel and look GREAT that low, since I have a very petite bone structure(not Asian, by the way). It's very slowly getting there - I've lost 5 pounds in the last year, and I expect to lose that last 5 this year. At my weight, 5 pounds DOES make a visual difference, especially since I have a short torso and that weight can pile up right there, especially since I'm post-menopause.

[appifanie]

I read somewhere that your ideal weight is what you weighed at 18 for women and 21 for me - something about the age and the height of your good metabolism. Seems sensible-ish.

[Revvell]

Not really. Look at all the overweight and even underweight 18 year old's. i was underweight at 18 being under 100#'s at almost 5'6".


I read somewhere that your ideal weight is what you weighed at 18 for women and 21 for me - something about the age and the height of your good metabolism. Seems sensible-ish.

[Amii]

I'm a binge-eater and with my metabolism already sluggish thanks to constant jumping from starvation to bingeing all throughout my early-late teens I'm now "overweight". I have a high body fat percentage and I know I'm not at my ideal weight. Even my parents like to remind me how I'm naturally thin and if I didn't binge and I sorted out myself I would be around 20 lbs lighter - THAT would be my real ideal.

Oh, and, I'm 18.

[Green_Woman]

Amii... I just watched a documentary you can get watch instantly on Netflix called AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL (part of it takes place in the UK)... I would strongly recommend you watch it! I'm 24 (so you and I are in the same generation :) ) and I know how hard it is to be our age in a world that demands we be stick-thin or else we're "overweight" or "ugly".


I know I'm not at my ideal weight.

Girlie, all you NEED to do is embrace RAW, shoot for high HEALTH, enjoy your LIFE, and revel in your BEAUTY! Forget the scale, ditch the Binging + Starving (it is extremely dangerous to your internal organs!), kick the "ideal" to the Moon, and focus on Health, Happiness and Abundance in every aspect of your Life.

[Honchcrow]

What can you tell me about today's standards on what is a normal, healthy weight?

Every time I read about the benefits of going raw, one of the major highlighted ones is that the person eating raw can reach their "ideal" weight. But can we factor into this our ACTUAL ideals? Because my ideal weight would in fact be classed as "slightly underweight".

Their "normal" weight. Their "healthy" weight. Sounds good.

But, are we thinking about this in terms of modern standards? I'll give you an example, I have a BMI of 21.1. That falls smack back into the middle of the "average" category when you look at the body mass index charts. However, I have a body fat percentage of 36% - I'm more than 1/3 fat?! And yet this is considered to be healthy and normal?

Raw foodists are meant to have a very low body fat percentage (5-10%, if I remember correctly?) and yet still supposed to be a "healthy" weight? This is something I don't understand, either.

In Japan, I believe the expectant "healthy" weight is lower.. perhaps by a stone or a stone and a half? So obviously this "average" is a erm... matter of cultural perspective?

My question is, when we're told we will level out at an ideal weight, what should we be thinking this ideal weight would be? Would this weight be, technically, in the underweight category, just because today's BMI measurements says so? Or would we still be a similar weight to when we started, just with significantly lower body fat? Anyone care to weigh (pun intended :P) in on this?

for the most common chronic diseases are associated with weights in the 18 to 21.9 range of BMIs. Those with BMIs between 22 and 25, even though this is classified as healthy have higher risk and worse health outcomes.

http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/161/13/1581

Cherie Soria makes this point in Raw Food Revolution also. See page 8.

Honchcrow

[RawKinTheRaw]

Kick the "ideal" to the Moon, and focus on Health, Happiness and Abundance in every aspect of your Life.


Thank you for saying that, that really made me think.