How do you determine what your "ideal weight" should be?

BigToque

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
11,700
0
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I am male, 5'9.

I've always thought that I had a bigger frame then average. What I've been told was that I've got the frame of a body builder. Broad shoulders and just look solid... with a few pillows attached.

Anyway, how can I tell what my ideal weight should be?

The online calculators seem to tell me that I should be between 150 and 160. That seems REALLY low to me. As I got down to 170 before, I figured going lower might even be too low and that what I really needed to do was add muscle.

I'd like to get to 13% body fat. So should I set my goal to be 170 with 13%, or should I set it at 180 with 13%? what is ideal?
 

imported_goku

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2004
7,613
3
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BMI, um get a scale that can calculate BF %. I use a sharper image scale and it has that feature (I know sharper image is overpriced) but it appears to work (I don't know the accuracy of the scale) but it obviously can at least show a difference when there is weight loss.
 

BigToque

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
11,700
0
76
Originally posted by: goku
BMI, um get a scale that can calculate BF %. I use a sharper image scale and it has that feature (I know sharper image is overpriced) but it appears to work (I don't know the accuracy of the scale) but it obviously can at least show a difference when there is weight loss.

I just got a body composition test today.

217lbs, 30% bf.

(152 lean, 65 fat)
 

dawnbug

Golden Member
Oct 29, 2002
1,670
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There's a range of healthy weights for heights and with your bigger frame, you're probably at the higher end of the range. Ask your doctor next time you go see them (you should probably talk to a doctor if you're trying to lose a lot of weight, too, just because . . . that's what they always say on the commercials for weight loss products . . .).
 

miri

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2003
3,679
0
76
Originally posted by: Stefan
I am male, 5'9.

I've always thought that I had a bigger frame then average. What I've been told was that I've got the frame of a body builder. Broad shoulders and just look solid... with a few pillows attached.

Anyway, how can I tell what my ideal weight should be?

The online calculators seem to tell me that I should be between 150 and 160. That seems REALLY low to me. As I got down to 170 before, I figured going lower might even be too low and that what I really needed to do was add muscle.

I'd like to get to 13% body fat. So should I set my goal to be 170 with 13%, or should I set it at 180 with 13%? what is ideal?


150 to 160 for 5'9 seem way to high for me. I am 5'9 and 120 and i could see maybe adding 5-10 more lbs but that would be it.
 

mrchan

Diamond Member
May 18, 2000
3,123
0
0
Originally posted by: miri
Originally posted by: Stefan
I am male, 5'9.

I've always thought that I had a bigger frame then average. What I've been told was that I've got the frame of a body builder. Broad shoulders and just look solid... with a few pillows attached.

Anyway, how can I tell what my ideal weight should be?

The online calculators seem to tell me that I should be between 150 and 160. That seems REALLY low to me. As I got down to 170 before, I figured going lower might even be too low and that what I really needed to do was add muscle.

I'd like to get to 13% body fat. So should I set my goal to be 170 with 13%, or should I set it at 180 with 13%? what is ideal?


150 to 160 for 5'9 seem way to high for me. I am 5'9 and 120 and i could see maybe adding 5-10 more lbs but that would be it.


5' 9" and 120 lbs?????? that sounds really really disgustingly skinny.

5' 9" I would shoot for 180 w/ 10% or less body fat/
 

HN

Diamond Member
Jan 19, 2001
8,186
4
0
Men: 5' 0" = 100 lbs., add 6lbs for every inch over
Women: 5' 0" = 100 lbs., add 5 lbs for every inch over
give or take