Random Poll o' the Week: A Radical New Experiment...

Cool stuff! I didn't ask about BMI because, again, it is tied somewhat to the scale and isn't particularly accurate in judging a person's shape. By my BMI I am, I think, still obese (although by my weight I'm more "overweight" than "obese"). But what other obese person do I know that wears a size 10?

BMI is so disillusioning to me. But I guess until there's a better measure it's what we'll use.

I agree on the BMI.  My scale gives it.  One of these days I want one that does the body fat.  

Keeping measurements is something I wish I had done from the start.  

Two people could weight the same but have totally different amounts of body fat, but would still have the same BMI.

Huge difference between BMI and Body Fat %

BMI uses your weight and Height and assigns you a number using a formula that was developed a couple hundred years ago.

Body Fat percent is the difference between your weight and lean muscle weight which most scales determine by using a small unoticable electrical signal.

My BMI is 29.2 using my avg weight of 215, this makes me at the high end of overweight.
My Body Fat % is 21% making me at the high range of normal.

Either way you slice it, I'm still overweight!

But my doctor pointed out that I carry a LOT of fat in my excess skin, especially my arms. I have huge batwings with a lot of stubborn skin surface fat that won't budge! However, you can see my muscles under there. All that is to say I still have work to do but maybe it isn't QUITE as bad as I originally thought.

:)

I think this is good as long as we are comparing against ourselves not others. I am pretty far out from my surgery. I stayed within about 5 pounds of my goal until about 2 years ago. It is pretty scary, since I know a lot of people who have more trouble maintaining the further out they are from their surgery.
Honestly, it is a major effort for me now to try to get back to my goal.

I don't want to forget where I came from, but it is scary to think I could get back there.

Alicia

How much did you weigh at your last weigh-in? 203
What is the size of the clothing you are wearing RIGHT THIS SECOND? Size 18 jeans and 1XL top
What are your measurements in: Not sure will do when I get home.
Your hips
Your waist
Your bust
If you have a scale that measures body fat, what is your percentage of body fat? Don't Know
What is your shoe size? 10

 

1. How much did you weigh at your last weigh-in?  211
2. What is the size of the clothing you are wearing RIGHT THIS SECOND? capris are 16, shirt XL, but both are getting baggy.
3. What are your measurements in:
   1. Your hips
   2. Your waist
   3. Your bust
4. If you have a scale that measures body fat, what is your percentage of body fat? Need to get one of these.
5. What is your shoe size?  11.  I am hoping for a reduction in shoe size, but nothing so far.  I have always had huge feet even before I was 320 lbs.

Sarah

Ok, now I'm even more depressed.  Seriously.  I should have known better and stopped reading with the original post... 

I know this was intended to give the folks who are still losing some way to measure their progress in ways that are NOT scale related, but it seems more like a competition of numbers for those who are NOT still losing...

Lora

Lora,

I love you dearly but this is a case of perspective, I think.

I was thinking about this and I think this poll could come in handy to ME because it will prove to ME, once and for all, that I am MAINTAINING. In my head I am halfway back to 330 lbs. That's just not true. The data (and everyone's eyes but mine) prove it.

I understand if you don't want to participate, but I didn't create this poll as a way to exclude people who aren't losing anymore. I'm even participating in the darn thing, even though I KNOW my numbers likely won't change. For me, it's an exercise in self acceptance. I may be done losing. And that's ok. There's nothing wrong with the rest of the world, it's my perspective so often that is off.

So, all that is to say I adore you, think you're a great success and wish for you to accept the progress that I saw with my own two eyes when I met you. You are an inspiration, a great success and an asset to all of us here on this board.

Nik

No, I know it was not intended to exclude people who weren't losing... clearly MANY people who are maintaining are participating... and it IS a matter of perspective. 

From MY perspective, though, in the mental space that I am in right now, reading the stats from the first half dozen replies (and that is TRULY not meant to be a negative statement about ANY of the woman who posted those... its about the numbers) just emphasized the "less than" aspect of my own numbers (even though I am maintaining a steady weight and a very health body fat % at 4 years out(!) without TOO much effort), and it makes me wonder what kind of expectations or "bar" is being inadvertantly created for those who ARE still losing.  It's STILL all about numbers... it's just not ONLY the scale numbers.

I understand and appreciate your intent -- and you know that I love you, too -- I just hate that I feel like a reasonably normal sized person except here, that I feel like a "success" 90% of the time (except here).  HERE, when I read things like this, I feel like a "weight loss failure".  Yes, as with you, most of this is in MY head... but IIWII..

Lora