Hit 'normal' BMI...but is it?

Oz_Squad_Leader

Oz_Squad_Leader

Well-known member
Well, folks, the number on the scale finally put me in the 'normal' BMI range. HUGE milestone. Lots of effort to get here, lots learned.

But seeing *that* word – 'normal' – on the chart kinda threw me. Was I 'not normal' before? Less valuable somehow? Just a weird feeling, mixing pride with… something else. Anyone else feel this way?

Full disclosure:
I started weekly injections last summer. Been working out like crazy since then – almost every day, tons of cardio, plus just walking everywhere. Also, overhauled my entire diet. Been on a maintenance dose for months, but I'm stopping now!
 
Best of luck to ya. I stopped and my old bad habits came roaring back in a month or so. Gained some back and am now trying a maintenance thing - spacing out my injections. It's rough out there! The urge to eat crap is strong!
 
It's wild that you're super fit and your BMI is still close to obese. Makes you question the whole thing. To be truly in the middle of the 'normal' range you'd have to be underweight.

Anyway, congrats on the hard work!
 
Congrats! Sounds like a lot of work. I started similar meds last summer. I've dropped about 45 lbs but still have maybe 10 more before I'm 'normal'. I think I kinda bought into the mindset, but I am feeling more normal. I never realized that I was always thinking about food. Other people didn't seem to be, and it was way more than willpower. My wife will forget to eat sometimes; that was crazy to me. But not anymore.
 
I think you're misinterpreting 'abnormal' in this situation. It doesn't reflect on you as a person or your worth at all. It's purely a health descriptor. Without a doubt, from a health standpoint, you *were* abnormal, and now you're normal. (aka, healthier) Congrats!
 
Woohoo, congrats!!

I totally get it. I've lost close to 50lbs but my BMI still says 'overweight' lol. I feel awesome, I look fantastic, but seeing that is still discouraging. I've hit a plateau, and it feels like the meds aren't working as well, but posts like yours help me keep going.

You're worthy, you're normal, and you're awesome. BMI is kinda BS.
 
It's just that higher BMIs are statistically correlated with higher risks of certain health issues. The societal part, feeling like you don't fit, is different.

Congrats. Reached that goal at Christmas but am still counting calories and doing intermittent fasting daily. It's the diet after the diet I guess. Mom was always dieting, losing weight on systems then stopping, planning to 'just moderate', but never could.

I know I'll eat over my maintenance, and we're built to do that, when we've lost weight we feel hungrier, there's a study that showed that's how set point works. It's interesting seeing how we only understand illnesses, etc, after the science explains them.
 
Cool. I've stalled about 8 lbs above the 'normal' BMI range, but I think I won't be where I want to be until I lose more than that, maybe another 15 lbs. But the 'Normal' BMI is still a win. So is being able to wear some of my old shirts again.
 
I'm sorry the BMI got to you like that.

You are all those things and always have been. The only difference is that you're now healthier in a way that makes you feel happy and self-assured.

Keep up the great work, and remember that even if you gain back some weight, you're still a unique person, with a unique body, and you deserve love, just like everyone else.

P.S. Super jealous of where you live. I visited and was shocked. I usually can only walk a mile max in my city before I'm worn out. I walked four miles easily there and could have kept going. Walkable cities are amazing!
 
Oz_Squad_Leader said:
But seeing *that* word – 'normal' – on the chart kinda threw me. Was I 'not normal' before? Less valuable somehow? Just a weird feeling, mixing pride with… something else. Anyone else feel this way?
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I think it's about the stigma. People treat you different when you're heavier, even if they don't mean to. Then when you lose weight, they act like you leveled up or something.
 
I'm noticing that people don't talk about my weight loss much. I kinda thought everyone would be asking me how I did it and stuff, but hardly anyone mentions it. It's weird!
 
GeekyKing466 said:
I'm noticing that people don't talk about my weight loss much. I kinda thought everyone would be asking me how I did it and stuff, but hardly anyone mentions it. It's weird!
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Could be a couple of things. Maybe they're jealous? Or maybe they don't want to say the wrong thing and offend you. Some people are just awkward about that kind of stuff.
 
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