Weight/size issues

I'm 43 and 5'4 and I'm 162. No one believes me when I tell them how much I weigh. My sister asked if I was 110. 

im very muscular, I have always been stronger than a bull. 

My body fat is 21%. I wear a size 8

 do what you need to do, work your tool and find a happy place you can be

Exactly! The main thing I wanted to know is if anyone else weights a lot more than they look. Thank you for speaking to that.  I am not done with losing weight by any means. I have always been pretty solid and proportional but just too large.  I am not happy at this weight but at least the loss seems to have taken care of the health issues. When I was in High School I got to a much lower weight and I looked horrible. Plus I have been out of High School for 35+ years. For me, I think it is unrealistic to think I will get that low. I want to be at at works for me now. 

I am on of those people for whom the BMI charts do not work. I weigh far more than I appear to weigh and always have. I'm build sturdily and have good muscle structure and truly big bones (and yes, my doctor and orthopedist consider me to be very big boned for my height. As a matter of fact, my elbow measurement is larger than what was considered large on the old life insurance measurements!). I hated the BMI because I was still considered overweight when I was at my lowest and wore 30" waist levi's (I'm a guy). It totally messed with my head that I couldn't get into the "normal" range (at 159 I would have looked like hell!). I eventually decided that I would go by health measurements (blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and cholesterol and body fat %). Everything is good, except my body fat number is too high for my liking right now. I'm working on that.

Seems to me that you need to decide what is right for you. I'm guessing that you were hoping for validation that being 155-160 would be an okay weight for you to carry. If you're healthy and you are happy at that weight, sure why not? It's probably not a weight at which I would be happy, but I like feeling being and feeling thin. It's a matter of taste and personal goals.

It's really up to you where you feel comfortable. That being said, I'm eight inches taller than you and 182...I still feel fat and plan to lose more :) I'm already 40 lbs below my lowest previous adult weight, and into the "normal" area of BMI and don't know how much more loss I'm aiming for. Probably at least 20 lbs. My doctor advises I ride the wave and see how much I can lose. I've still got a big fat stomach and am leery of the inevitable regain, as Grim pointed out. 

At 5'4" and 168, you have a BMI of 29.9 -- a tenth of a point from the obese category.  Of course, you should be where you are comfortable and most healthy, but I personally would want to get to the healthiest BMI possible using my tool.  

I am 5'5" and currently weigh 145 with a BMI of 24.1.  I am still working to lose an additional 10 to 15 pounds and am certainly not too thin.  I wear a size 6 in most brands -- but I never go by size as I can wear a size zero in chico or some gap clothing and a size 8 in others.  Size means very little.  

But of course, your weight is up to you.

Wow. Kathryn is Small.

you're a smart ass Grim...

It's why you love me. 

Touche.  

I am 5'4" and between 163-166. I am not at ALL too thin, as you can see from my profile picture. I wear a 12 and once in awhile a 10. I don't have much fat left on my upper body, but I do have a solid 10 pounds on my hips and lower abdimen I would like to lose. It has been a real ***** The last time I had my body fat tested it was 27%. Much improved but still a bit high. I am aiming for 25% or under. I get the sense from your post that you are afraid that you will not or cannot get to a lower number. I'm not saying you need a lower number, but don't let fear hold you back.