"Ideal" body weight.

[RetiredHappy]

The body likes homeostasis, healthy or not…

Still, calories in, calories out is the biggest knob.

I am in agreement. I am stuck at 137 to 138 lbs for the past few years. When my weight creeps up to 140 lbs, it just comes back down to 137-138 lbs. When I try to lose weight and would get to 135 lbs and it would creep back up. I am 5 ft 7 inches, so while I am in normal weight range, I would really like to be 128 lbs. Just not happening.

 

[Koolau]

I am in agreement. I am stuck at 137 to 138 lbs for the past few years. When my weight creeps up to 140 lbs, it just comes back down to 137-138 lbs. When I try to lose weight and would get to 135 lbs and it would creep back up. I am 5 ft 7 inches, so while I am in normal weight range, I would really like to be 128 lbs. Just not happening.

Yeah, I'm almost afraid to cut much more in the way of food because of the need for basic nutrition.

I'm getting compliments on my weight loss, but I still see myself naked at each shower and realize I DO have a long way to go yet. (By the way, Hawaiian style of dress is ideal for hiding the fact that one is over weight - thank goodness).

 

[imjustawarrior]

Yeah, I'm almost afraid to cut much more in the way of food because of the need for basic nutrition.

During my weight loss, I had to be very diligent in eating high nutrition food.

I also learned that 1mg of caffeine is -1 calorie. I usually only drink one cup of coffee a day and two diet sodas (~160 mg caffeine). When my weight loss stalled, I added a cup of coffee (80-100 mg caffeine). It helped. A cup of coffee burns about the same number of calories as walking 1 mile. Just be careful not to have too much caffeine.

 

[corn18]

My body decided its own goal weight and seems to stay there no matter how much I eat. Problem is it's 50 lbs heavier than what I think is my ideal weight.

 

[Ronstar]

IMO, weight is just a number. Relatively meaningless. That said, I’d like to drop about 10 pounds to lessen impact through my marathon training. But right now, I’m 6’, 198 lbs - the same height and weight as 22 yo Philadelphia Eagles star Cooper DeJean. So if 198 lbs is ok for him, it’s ok for me.

 

[Car-Guy]

I never went in for diets personally. I don't drink nearly as much beer as I did just a few years ago, but still eat junk food, drink sodas and eat whatever I want. (Lot's of "beef") I don't get nearly as much exercise as I did a few years ago either. Doesn't seem to matter, I'm 6'1" and have weighed in at ~220 for the past 20 years. However, I may start smoking again (seriously) and maybe that will get me down to 200 or so. Yes, I know but I plan to keep it to a pack or two a week.

 

[bjorn2bwild]

I never went in for diets personally. I don't drink nearly as much beer as I did just a few years ago, but still eat junk food, drink sodas and eat whatever I want. (Lot's of "beef") I don't get nearly as much exercise as I did a few years ago either. Doesn't seem to matter, I'm 6'1" and have weighed in at ~220 for the past 20 years. However, I may start smoking again (seriously) and maybe that will get me down to 200 or so. Yes, I know but I plan to keep it to a pack or two a week.

Interesting, would oral nicotine be just as effective - lozenge, pouch, gum?
I read this piece in Politico a few days ago about the nicotine pouch 'culture war'.

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/02/07/tucker-carlson-nicotine-pouches-00200455

 

[Koolau]

IMO, weight is just a number. Relatively meaningless. That said, I’d like to drop about 10 pounds to lessen impact through my marathon training. But right now, I’m 6’, 198 lbs - the same height and weight as 22 yo Philadelphia Eagles star Cooper DeJean. So if 198 lbs is ok for him, it’s ok for me.

So I guess I'm not overweight - I'm under tall.

 

[Car-Guy]

Interesting, would oral nicotine be just as effective - lozenge, pouch, gum?
I read this piece in Politico a few days ago about the nicotine pouch 'culture war'.

Doubt it. I never was a heavy smoker (just a pack a day) but I enjoyed it, a lot. I don't miss it as much now as I did when I quit ~39 years ago but I still want to smoke. FYI, I'm often around others who smoke. Enough is enough.

 

[imjustawarrior]

I'm 6'00". When I was in the Army, I was 195lbs. That was overweight, but when they put the tape measure on me, I was deemed fine. I'm guessing they used BMI. BMI may be fine for an average population, but for a certain percentage of people it is just wrong.

Last year I got down to the normal BMI range of 180 (<183lbs). My DW hated it. She said I was too skinny. I am now at 190, and I look more normal.

Weight is very personal on what works for people. Everyone is built differently.

 

[corn18]

I'm 6'00". When I was in the Army, I was 195lbs. That was overweight, but when they put the tape measure on me, I was deemed fine. I'm guessing they used BMI. BMI may be fine for an average population, but for a certain percentage of people it is just wrong.

Last year I got down to the normal BMI range of 180 (<183lbs). My DW hated it. She said I was too skinny. I am now at 190, and I look more normal.

Weight is very personal on what works for people. Everyone is built differently.

When I was powerlifting competitively, I was 6 ft, 215 lbs with 12% body fat measured in one of those pod thingies every month.. BMI said I was obese.

 

[badatmath]

Yeah, I'm almost afraid to cut much more in the way of food because of the need for basic nutrition.

I'm getting compliments on my weight loss, but I still see myself naked at each shower and realize I DO have a long way to go yet. (By the way, Hawaiian style of dress is ideal for hiding the fact that one is over weight - thank goodness).

You are probably eating around maintenance calories. You may think this is obsessive but try getting a food scale and weighing out your portions for a week. . . you are probably eating more than you think. . . and liquid calories or calories from sauces add up very quickly. 10 calories a day can be a pound a year. . . I mean of course it isn't perfect . . . but I'm just saying it isn't gluttony that is getting most of us. . . it is the little things.

Kind of like compound interest. . . that little crap adds up.

 

[Koolau]

I'm 6'00". When I was in the Army, I was 195lbs. That was overweight, but when they put the tape measure on me, I was deemed fine. I'm guessing they used BMI. BMI may be fine for an average population, but for a certain percentage of people it is just wrong.

Last year I got down to the normal BMI range of 180 (<183lbs). My DW hated it. She said I was too skinny. I am now at 190, and I look more normal.

Weight is very personal on what works for people. Everyone is built differently.

When I was powerlifting competitively, I was 6 ft, 215 lbs with 12% body fat measured in one of those pod thingies every month.. BMI said I was obese.

Yeah, muscle weighs proportionately more than fat, so military fit people and those who maintain their muscle mass don't seem to fit the normal BMI scale.

Heh, heh, I'd go with what DW likes! Who else matters??

 

[TickTock]

heh. BMI.

I quit worrying about BMI many years ago when I ran height/weight number for hockey players and they came out overweight. Not a lot overweight, mind you, but overweight.

For fun I just did a recheck. Average NHL left wing height is 6' - 1" and weight is 200 lbs. According to the calculator, for a 28 yo male this is a BMI of 26.4 - overweight. "Healthy BMI Range" is 18.5 - 25. Lose 10.5 lbs to get down to a healthy weight, NHL left winger!

I imagine that soccer players would fall inside healthy range, but I haven't bothered to check that.

I don't need a calculation to tell me that I could stand to lose some weight. I haven't worried about the actual number in several years; I concentrate on how my clothes fit and strength/endurance changes.


Average Height and Weight of Hockey Players (NHL 2024)

BMI Calculator

 

[Harpy Eagle]

Great job @Harpy Eagle . Enjoy your trip! I would suggest that you and your DW plan in advance how you want to handle eating while you are on vacation, and your plan for when you return home (i.e. have some good high protein meals ready for you in the freezer for your first two or three back home, so to the extent necessary you can get right back on track and won't be shopping or choosing meals hungry).

Also sometimes you don't know what's in the food while you are on vacation, and if you start getting "food noise" I wouldn't hesitate to return to your low dose for a period of time until you readjust - and then continue with your pre-vacation plan (with your medical care provider's clearance of course).

While we are traveling we rarely worry about what we are eating, as trying new things and finding good food is one of the goals always when we travel. We will watch portion size, but other than that our vacations are free game for food!

I do like the idea of doing the low dose for a period of time until you readjust after getting back from the vacation. This will be the longest trip we have taken in our 32 years of marriage so it will be fun to see how it goes. We are not retired yet (though with the new Administration that could change) so longer trips are hard to schedule

 

[walkinwood]

It is easy to eat local and well. Use the grocery stores. Many stores, even in small towns in Europe, have prepared foods that are tasty and healthy.

We will often buy food from local stores/markets for breakfast and lunch and have a nice dinner outside. Of course, we're on a trip (I can't say vacation anymore, being ER'd for 15+ years) so we go with the flow & don't stress about it.

I hope you have a wonderful vacation. Bon Voyage.

 

[HFWR]

 

[Koolau]

It is easy to eat local and well. Use the grocery stores. Many stores, even in small towns in Europe, have prepared foods that are tasty and healthy.

We will often buy food from local stores/markets for breakfast and lunch and have a nice dinner outside. Of course, we're on a trip (I can't say vacation anymore, being ER'd for 15+ years) so we go with the flow & don't stress about it.

I hope you have a wonderful vacation. Bon Voyage.

We often buy carry out meals from local store delis here. Local fare is amazing. We can't cook that well nor provide the variety. The slightly higher price is no issue to us. As often as not, we stop on the way home and have a picnic at a beach park and we watch the surf break over the reef. It's so peaceful and quiet. Restaurant-lanai atmosphere with great local food at bargain prices. Doesn't get much better than that.

 

[Scuba]

Congratulations to you and DW on your weight loss! Even with the GLP-1 meds, it still takes discipline and focus to change unhealthy habits. Enjoy your travels. I'll be interested to hear whether weaning off the meds completely is possible for you. I have read that these are "lifetime" meds but not sure anyone really knows what's possible since widespread use is relatively new.

 

[Cujet]

As a thyroid failure (Hashimoto's) sufferer, weight has been a constant problem. The instant my thyroid failed, my weight went from an athletic 175 pounds, bicycle racer, to 239 in 6 months. No change in diet or exercise. In fact, I even tried to make my training bicycle rides longer.

I was determined to get back to 180 pounds or less. What it took was nothing short of staggering. I was down to a salad with 4 ounces of fish for lunch and nothing else. No dressing, no cheese or bread. Of course, my energy levels plummeted but I reached my goal. I was unable to exercise unless I fed myself, so I added in some workout fuel and weight came right back. The best new normal was 205 pounds and daily gym workouts.

However, when I travel to remote countries, I lose some weight. It seems the natural local foods don't contain the compounds our foods do. I can be less careful in rural Italy or Africa and not gain weight.

 

[Healthy Lifestyle]

As a thyroid failure (Hashimoto's) sufferer, weight has been a constant problem. The instant my thyroid failed, my weight went from an athletic 175 pounds, bicycle racer, to 239 in 6 months. No change in diet or exercise. In fact, I even tried to make my training bicycle rides longer.

I was determined to get back to 180 pounds or less. What it took was nothing short of staggering. I was down to a salad with 4 ounces of fish for lunch and nothing else. No dressing, no cheese or bread. Of course, my energy levels plummeted but I reached my goal. I was unable to exercise unless I fed myself, so I added in some workout fuel and weight came right back. The best new normal was 205 pounds and daily gym workouts.

However, when I travel to remote countries, I lose some weight. It

 

[corn18]

As a thyroid failure (Hashimoto's) sufferer, weight has been a constant problem. The instant my thyroid failed, my weight went from an athletic 175 pounds, bicycle racer, to 239 in 6 months. No change in diet or exercise. In fact, I even tried to make my training bicycle rides longer.

I was determined to get back to 180 pounds or less. What it took was nothing short of staggering. I was down to a salad with 4 ounces of fish for lunch and nothing else. No dressing, no cheese or bread. Of course, my energy levels plummeted but I reached my goal. I was unable to exercise unless I fed myself, so I added in some workout fuel and weight came right back. The best new normal was 205 pounds and daily gym workouts.

However, when I travel to remote countries, I lose some weight. It seems the natural local foods don't contain the compounds our foods do. I can be less careful in rural Italy or Africa and not gain weight.

This is my wife. I think we measured her Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) @ 800 - 900 calories. As with you, it takes extraordinary measures to lose weight. My BMR is 2200 calories. I can almost lose weight by sleeping all day.

 

[braumeister]

when I travel to remote countries, I lose some weight. It seems the natural local foods don't contain the compounds our foods do. I can be less careful in rural Italy or Africa and not gain weight.

I don't think anyone can argue that the ultra-processed foods we get in this country don't have a deleterious effect on our metabolisms. Many of us experience the same thing when we travel to Europe or other continents.

 

[Koolau]

As a thyroid failure (Hashimoto's) sufferer, weight has been a constant problem. The instant my thyroid failed, my weight went from an athletic 175 pounds, bicycle racer, to 239 in 6 months. No change in diet or exercise. In fact, I even tried to make my training bicycle rides longer.

I was determined to get back to 180 pounds or less. What it took was nothing short of staggering. I was down to a salad with 4 ounces of fish for lunch and nothing else. No dressing, no cheese or bread. Of course, my energy levels plummeted but I reached my goal. I was unable to exercise unless I fed myself, so I added in some workout fuel and weight came right back. The best new normal was 205 pounds and daily gym workouts.

However, when I travel to remote countries, I lose some weight. It seems the natural local foods don't contain the compounds our foods do. I can be less careful in rural Italy or Africa and not gain weight.

Don't you use hormone replacement? I would think that would help. I no longer have a thyroid, but my hormone levels are regulated with levothyroxine. (Oh, and I still have Hashimoto's - which the doctors don't quite understand.)

 

[audreyh1]

I was wondering the same thing! To maintain an appropriate TSH level.

I guess it just means that the body can still produce thyroid antibodies even if you don’t have a thyroid. My doctor thinks that it’s usually related to gut health and some not completely digested foods mimicking certain proteins which trigger the antibodies.