What defines a person’s ideal body weight?
It depends who we are asking.

Amazingly enough, the answer to this question varies a lot depending on our self perception. If we ask the American Heart
Association, they will direct you towards a healthy BMI (body mass index) for a heart-healthy range. If you ask a friend about your weight, you’ll usually hear “you look great”. And if you ask yourself, you are most likely wanting improvements.

Try to think of your weight in terms of your need and health. If you love ballet dancing or you have bad knees, you will benefit from being lighter on your feet. But if you are getting ready to compete in a body-building competition, you want the largest muscle mass possible, so you will weight more. Granted, this weight is very low in fat mass.

Your first priority should be health. If your weight is, in part, responsible for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type-two diabetes or you just don’t fit in your clothes….lose weight.
Food is only food and is not about to run out so don’t eat like it will. Eat until you are satisfied, not stuffed.

Active people eat more because they need the energy provided by food; so if you like to eat more, move more. If you eat several small meals a day, you can speed up your metabolism and use food more effectively. Weight gain or muscle gain is just as hard for people as it is perceived to lose weight and can also impact your health one way or another.

Mainly, be the size that helps you feel good and confident. Try to eat before you are starved just as you should drink before you are thirsty. Avoid overeating and eat balanced meals; you will be happier with your weight and feel energetic as well.

Using the chart below, find your body mass index. If you need help to make adjustments, contact us. At Virtualfitness1, we design food programs adapted to your needs. Some people need a specific diet and others just a simple guideline. Extreme diets are always short term and are a set up for weight gain once you return to a normal eating habit! Not usually the best approach.

What is your BMI? BMI (Body Mass Index) is a measurement of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both men and women between the ages of 18 and 65 years. BMI can be used to indicate if you are overweight, obese, underweight or normal. A healthy BMI score is between 20 and 25. A score below 20 indicates that you may be underweight; a value above 25 indicates that you may be overweight.

BMI Chart

BMI 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 35 40
Height Weight (lb.)
4’10″ 91 96 100 105 110 115 119 124 129 134 138 143 167 191
4’11″ 94 99 104 109 114 119 124 128 133 138 143 148 173 198
5’0″ 97 102 107 112 118 123 128 133 138 143 148 153 179 204
5’1″ 100 106 111 116 122 127 132 137 143 148 153 158 185 211
5’2″ 104 109 115 120 126 131 136 142 147 153 158 164 191 218
5’3″ 107 113 118 124 130 135 141 146 152 158 163 169 197 225
5’4″ 110 116 122 128 134 140 145 151 157 163 169 174 204 232
5’5″ 114 120 126 132 138 144 150 156 162 168 174 180 210 240
5’6″ 118 124 130 136 142 148 155 161 167 173 179 186 216 247
5’7″ 121 127 134 140 146 153 159 166 172 178 185 191 223 255
5’8″ 125 131 138 144 151 158 164 171 177 184 190 197 230 262
5’9″ 128 135 142 149 155 162 169 176 182 189 196 203 236 270
5’10″ 132 139 146 153 160 167 174 181 188 195 202 207 243 278
5’11″ 136 143 150 157 165 172 179 186 193 200 208 215 250 286
6’0″ 140 147 154 162 169 177 184 191 199 206 213 221 258 294
6’1″ 144 151 159 166 174 182 189 197 204 212 219 227 265 302
6’2″ 148 155 163 171 179 186 194 202 210 218 225 233 272 311
6’3″ 152 160 168 176 184 192 200 208 216 224 232 240 279 319
6’4″ 156 164 172 180 189 197 205 213 221 230 238 246 287 328