What is a healthy weight range?

[ShelShel]

Hello. I am confronted with this issue...a lot lately. What is normal for a person on Raw? Is the BMI calculator a good guide for all of you or do you find yourself below or above that number? What should I be expecting? Will the weight loss just stop at my body's ideal? Just curious because my sis-in-law asked me when I was going to be done losing....and I didn't have an answer. I'm comfortable with my body as it is, knowing I could still lose a bit more, but how much is too much and will I eventually plateau? I have been overweight for most of my life...and this is new for me. Any ideas?

[Rawkinlocs]

Yep, that is precisely what will happen...as long as you are eating as optimally as possible, you can expect that your body will do what is in it's best interest and reach IT'S ideal weight (which isn't always OUR ideal) and plateau.

I have often stated that I prefer to identify with my body's ideal weight RANGE rather than one number because different things (menses, water retention, etc.) can cause a slight fluctuation. So, after having dropped to what I felt was too low, my weight increased a little to a range of about 124-128 (I'm 5'4").

Also keep in mind that (and I say this not knowing how long you've been raw) it is common and normal in the beginning to (as Alissa says in her book) "shed your false body" and get rid of the old fat cells, toxins, etc. and then your body will rebuild with healthier "stuff".

But I had the same issue with some of my in-laws who DEMANDED that I "stop dieting and losing weight" and I just told them that I'm not dieting nor am I TRYING to lose it...my body is doing what it has to do, etc.

[ShelShel]

Well, this started about a month ago when I had lost about 45...and my husband brought up "how much was I going to lose?" I married him 13 pounds heavier than I am currently. (And since our wedding day...I've consistantly gained...and stayed that way for the last 12 years!) He's never seen this me before. He was uncomfortable with me losing more. After about a week...he changed his mind. He tended to prefer...what he had. Isn't he sweet. But he realizes now...that's not me anymore...and he prefers me...and if I'm thin...thin is in! He's been so utterly supportive...I couldn't ask for a better spouse.
However...now that I've dropped 52 pounds...everyone spent several weeks asking what was up? Am I going to stop soon? What do I wear a size 0? There is such a thing as too thin. (this was said by my brother!!! who at one time told me how cute I would look if I just lost a little weight! )
You know I have to laugh...because based on the bmi scale I still need to lose 8 pounds to be at the very top of my "healthy weight range." I'm still considered overweight! So, it suprised me a lot. I thought everyone would be thrilled that the fat unhealthy Shel...had finally found herself thin and healthy.
Amazing.
Now my family seems to be calming down. His family seems a bit concerned.
So, I just felt the need to ask those of you who have done this longer than I!

[greeninloanageles1]

It might be also because our bones do not adjust to new weight as quickly as body shape, so you look much bonier than other person who is thin very long time. It will change in several years though and then we will look just fine. I lost 30 pounds and look too bony -maybe that's why even people who are thinner than me tell me, that I am too thin now. i am on the lower end of BMI though.

[Ireland]

Our bones don't adjust as fast? By that, do you mean they get lighter somehow as time goes by on raw?

I've never heard of this and would like to hear more if you know more.

[rawnora]

ShelShel,
What is your height & current weight?

Nora
www.RawSchool.com

[KindnessToAllCreatures]

ShelShel, congratulations on the weight loss and, especially, for having such a fantastic relationship with your husband.

I by no means am an expert. Nor have I been doing this long-term (although I'm working on it!). However, common sense tells me that your family will adjust to the 'new you'. Give it time and be patient with them. Eventually they'll see for themselves that you're not going to keel over and, in fact, are much healthier than the 'old you'. Hopefully they'll even get to a point of being happy for you or, at the very least, will move on to other things!

May you continue to have good health and much happiness.

With Love.

[Pansy]

To me, it is where I feel the best and look the best!

Your body will let you know!

Stay Trim,

Pansy ;)

[Sharon in Colorado]

I have a small frame, and at 6'0 I feel comfortable at the lowest end of the range, high 130's. It might make me appear thin to others, but I don't feel good when I'm over 143.

[ShelShel]

Thank you everyone for your words. I thought that the bottom of the bmi would be normal for raw foodists. Yes, I totally agree that it will just take everyone a little while to get used to it. I was expecting that response in another 20 pounds, but not now. A bit crazy. What am I going to do? Continue in Raw! Be healthy, happy and live life to it's fullest! ;)

RawNora~You are beautiful. I have saved your site to my favs. I actually look for pics of raw foodists to get used to the idea of being really slender. Which I never thought I would have to do...weird how things can change. But I'm still not comfortable with my numbers. Sorry. Maybe some day I will shout them from the roof tops...but for now...not happening!

[rawnora]

Hi Shelshel,
No problem, I understand. I predict you will yell it from rooftops one day. :)

To answer the original question, the so-called "ideal" weight charts that are used by doctors and other health professionals are not a reflection of what is ideal at all, but what is average in our culture. This is the problem with all of their standards. Average and ideal are not only different, in our culture they are very far apart!

Judging by my own weight and that of other long term raw fooders I know, I'd say true ideal weight can probably be figured by subtracting anywhere from 5 to 20 pounds from the lowest weight commensurate with height on the standard weight charts. I think this can even be high in some cases, especially for men.

My own raw weight fluctuates between 107 and 118, which means when I'm my heaviest I'm still 6 pounds below the lowest number in the range for my height. I think my best weight, at which I will probably permanently settle eventually, is 110-112 pounds, which is a whopping 14-16 pounds below the lowest weight in the range. I do not regard myself as "underweight" at all, even at my lowest weight.

Best wishes,
Nora
www.RawSchool.com

[greeninloanageles1]

Our bones don't adjust as fast? By that, do you mean they get lighter somehow as time goes by on raw?

I've never heard of this and would like to hear more if you know more.

Well, I do not know that much, but I know, that bone cells change slowly and it takes around 7 years for them to fully change. And the study with raw fooders bones showed that their bone mass is smaller than regular food eaters, but the same time they are denser. Someone posted the study link on this board a few months ago.

[rawpriestess]

People expect us to stay the same. LOL


I lost 85 pounds, so far, and people are calling me skinny, now they do this out of love, but my face is way more thin than it ever has been, even when I was much thinner, so I've lost alot of weight off my face, and my upper body, specifically my waist and arms are very thin, I still have most of my weight on my legs, always have.

But if you just see my upper body, you would think I weight about 130, I am 5'3" tall, but I actually weigh over 200 pounds, still.

All of my weight in in my legs and hips and I mean all of it.

So, when people see me, as I normally wear loose dresses or sarongs, then they see my top part, and the bottom is covered, so they think I'm way thinner than I am.

I used to always wear leggins and turtlenecks, which hugged the body, they are elastic, and I put them on and they fall off me, litterally, so I had to buy some cute long dresses, and they are way too big now too. Just got them a month ago. LOL

So, just know that it doesn't matter what people say, they have your best interest at heart, and they think that normal is a size 16 now, so just keep eating raw, what you like, and then you will see the pounds melt off and the real you emerge from that cocoon.

by the way, I wear a medium top and a large bottom, I used to wear 22/24 super streatchy, and they were so tight I couldn't hardly move, also I wore XXL tops all the time, big difference now!!!

[lissomllama]

RAW! As long as you are eating a balanced raw, vegan diet with variety and getting enough moderate physical activity, your body will take you to the weight you should be at. It's different for everyone, I think.

[ShelShel]

Again...you are all awesome...and I love your words and encouragement!

RawNora~ Thank you...thank you! ;) That is the exact information I was hoping for! You Rawk! I can not get over how slender you are. I went to look at your pics...beautiful...and then just seeing your weiht in numbers...wow...just amazing. Based on the estimate you gave...I've got some major losing to do still, but like RP always says...I've got the rest of my life...cause I'm staying raw!

RP~ Wow! You go girl! Your weight loss is amazing! Don't you feel great!?!?! I want to see before and after pics!!!!!
I went clothes shopping today. Just to try things on...not to purchase anything. I swear sometimes I stand there staring at myself asking, "Are those really my arms?" NO...Way! I feel like a flower who is opening in the warm sun! And I guess I don't want people to look at me as too thin yet because there is so much more weight to come off. You know??? That's why I asked about an ideal range. I've gone from a size 15/16 to a size 5/6...which to be honest was better than I could have hoped for...ever, but with my frame...if I could reach my ideal...it would look something like a 00 Petite! Which...yes, is tiny, but if that's me...why is that a bad thing? Every pound that melts away reveals a bit more of me that was hiding. SO, I embrace the weight loss as it comes. And as everyone else says...in time, I'm hoping so will those who love me and want what's best for me! Thank you for sharing!
Raw (((HUGS))) Everyone! :)