Finding out the answer to this question was pretty easy – see the charts and tools below. However, actually obtaining my ideal healthy weight was another matter altogether. It sounded like an extremely daunting task! That is until I found this tool that helped me understand how to eat and exercise smartly to lose weight with the least amount of effort.
For so long I didn’t understand how important it was for me to fall within a particular weight range – my healthy weight range. I just thought dieting and exercise was for those who were really into their looks and wanted to be skinny like the people you see on TV.
That is until my doctor told me my blood pressure and cholesterol were a little high.
It turns out a healthy weight has all kinds of benefits such as a lower risk of many diseases, increases in energy and mood, better sleep and sex!
He told me I could start to exercise and modify my diet or go on medication. Well, I didn’t really like either of those choices. It sounded hard!
That’s when he pointed me to some information that guided me step by step in how to achieve my weight loss goal. This program told me which foods to eat that actually burn fat and which exercises to do to get the most bang for my buck.
Believe me – I’m no athlete and I’m no dieter. I love to eat and I hate to exercise, but I do understand that I’ve got to take care of my body so that it will take care of me.
I was so happy to learn that I could achieve the results I was looking for with only 45 minutes of exercise per week. All while eating all of the foods that I’ve always enjoyed in moderation.
I’ve even learned to enjoy my exercise. Getting outdoors really helps to boost my mood and help me forget about some of the stresses of the day, even if it is only for a few minutes at a time.
My life has improved dramatically. I’m fitter and healthier than ever before. I have tons of energy (although that was never really a problem!) and look great. I love that I’m able to demonstrate a healthy lifestyle to my husband and kids!
In addition to the charts and tables in the last post, you can use the tool below to calculate your body mass index and the healthy (normal) weight range for your height and gender. Simply enter the information requested and click Calculate.
As women, we tend to think our weight should be much lower than what is really healthy. This is probably because we’re constantly bombarded with all these skinny-minnies and anorexic supermodels all over the place. Use the BMI calculator to get a more realistic value.
Remember, if you are overweight, there are many health benefits to losing just 10% of your bodyweight – such as lower blood pressure and cholesterol (trust me!) and lower risk of heart disease.
Once you reach your ideal weight range, it will become much easier to maintain. Your body will adjust to the new weight and reset itself so that this is your new default weight.
If you are planning on trying to lose some weight, don’t go crazy and starve yourself. Change your exercise and eating habits slowly so that you will be able to adjust to this new lifestyle!
If you’re like me, you’re probably asking ‘What the heck is a BMI?’
Well, BMI stands for Body Mass Index (um, that doesn’t help).
BMI is a simple calculation that measures the ratio of weight to height. It’s an easy way to estimate body fat.
This number can then be compared to the categories in the BMI Table and BMI Chart below to determine whether or not you are within a healthy weight.
These values are for both men and women, but ladies beware – at the same BMI, women tend to have more body fat than men (go figure!)
While these numbers should be taken with a grain of salt, you should consider talking to your doctor if you fall outside of the ideal BMI range.
Where does your BMI fall in the charts below? If you are currently at an ideal healthy weight, then congratulations – keep up the good work! If not, don’t worry, it’s easy to make some minor changes and get on the right track.
Even if you are within your healthy BMI range, it can never hurt to adopt a healthier lifestyle of moderate exercise and eating foods that help you maintain your shape and fitness.
Online Fitness Log
Provides a comprehensive set of tools to easily and effectively monitor your health and fitness by tracking diet and exercise.
The Diet Solution Program
Comprehensive eating program for healthy body fat and weight loss that teaches how to create meal plans and includes simple and easy recipes
