how to achieve a normal BMI

[Sis_2_51984]

I am 4'11 and weighed 138.4 lbs at the beginning of October. I started to count my calories and did more exercise. My mobility is limited (I have cerebral Palsy) and my legs are the limbs that are affected the most. I have a stationary bike that I use everyday and i record my exercise  in fitbit. I just recently decided to weigh myself. I dropped 8 lbs , however my BMI says that I am overweight. What am I doing wrong?  

[Dominique]

BMI is just a ratio between weight and height, so since your height is usually a given factor (once you have reached adult age), the only way to bring it down is to lower your weight.

At your height, you need to be 124 lbs to reach a BMI of 25.0 (upper limit of normal weight, according to that way of defining "normal weight").

By dropping weight from 146.4 to 138.4, you brought your BMI down from 29.5 (close to upper limit of overweight range) to 27.9 (close to mid-point of overweight range).

Any further loss from here is a positive outcome compared to your starting point, even if you don’t reach the normal range very soon. In fact, even maintaining your current weight would be a positive outcome.

So I guess the answer to your question is: you’re doing nothing wrong, you just need to do more of the same.

Btw: are you saying you weighed yourself in early October, and the next time you stepped on the scale was now (early December)? If so, I’d suggest you do it more regularly: it’s hard to know if you’re eating and exercising at the right level if you only get feedback every second month.

[Sis_2_51984]

Hi, 

Thanks for your reply. To clarify, yes I just weighed for the first time since the beginning of October. I am going to start doing weekly weigh ins (before breakfast). Also when I weighed myself in October I was 138.4 and dropped to 130.0, (I don't know if I brought my BMI down because it says I am overweight) my goal weight is 123 lbs. 

[Daves_Not_Here]

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Sis_2_51984 wrote: I don't know if I brought my BMI down because it says I am overweight

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HI @Sis_2_51984 - reiterating what @Dominique said: your BMI is a function of weight and height, so you definitely brought your BMI down - from 28 to 26.3.  Anything over 25.0 is classified as overweight.  At 123 lbs, your BMI will be 24.8.

[Julia_G]

@Sis_2_51984, it's really difficult for very small people, because you just don't need that many calories -- and especially difficult for you if your mobility is limited (so you can't "buy" extra calories for yourself with exercise).  So I think you have done amazingly well by dropping 8 lbs.  Unfortunately, the closer you get to your goal weight, the harder it gets!  

I would say just keep it up as much as you can, and give yourself a lot of credit for even small losses.  I would say weigh yourself at least weekly so you can keep on top of any tendencies to creep up and celebrate any creeping down.  Don't be in a hurry, and don't give up -- though there is a lot to be said for alternating weight loss periods with weight maintenance periods.  That will help prevent yo-yo dieting (when you gain back all -- or even more -- than you have lost).  

A lot of people have been helped by joining the weekly weigh in thread.  Anyone can join at any time.

[MagsOnTheBeach]

Don't focus on what is going wrong, it sounds like you are on the right track!  Congrats on the 8lbs.  Just keep doing what you are doing, you'll get there!  It will take me well over a year to get in the normal range.  Another thing tripping you up is that you are are already a lighter person so it will be harder to lose more weight and it probably won't happen quickly.  I lost my first 50 lbs in under 5 months.  But the last 17 have taken 6 ,months and even then it's been so little this past 3...  Just keep working on it, it will happen. 🙂