Happy Weight

Goodness. That frame calculator tells me I have a large frame. I don't believe it. I used "medium frame," and the caculator tells me I'm about 7 pounds under my happy weight. That's fine. Because actually I'm pretty happy with the weight I'm at!
 
Good Grief!!! I think it is difficult to find a happy weight for a person and all of us need to look at a range rather than a single number for "happinesss". They do list the healthy range on this chart and that seems like a better thing to look at.
 
As usual, they are not taking into account lean mass which as we all know weighs more than fat does for heavens sake. So obviously a person with lower bodyfat and more muscle can weigh alot more (above the "happy weight" they list) and still look better than someone who falls within their "happy weight" guidelines whose bodyfat is higher.
 
I subscribe to Self and they had a more detailed version of the "happy weight" calculator in the magazine. In addition to frame size, they had you multiply a bmi of 22(average)by .95 for small framed, 0 for medium framed, and 1.05 for a large frame. Then they had you add a pound for having an obese parent/sibling, 2# for every decade over age 20, 5# if you've had kids, -1# for working out once/week, -2# for working out 3x's/week, and -3# for working out 5 or more times/week. Add 4# if you smoked a pack a day for more than a year and have quit, and add 1# for having treats now and again. I don't know if it affects the number much but when I did the magazine version my happy weight was 2# less than the online version which is 20 pounds more than I weigh now! I'm 115 @ 5'6" and happy!

On a side note for all those interested in kettlebells, there's a pullout section of 12 beginner kettlebell exercises in the same issue, Feb '08.

Have a great day!
Klaudia
 
Now I'm below it by 14 lbs. after being at my "happy weight" for about 12 years and I like it that way. I was not happy at that weight, so I have to desire to go back.
 
Jodi - you are a definitely a small frame. I put medium down for me so if you're medium, then I'm XXL. :)

My happy weight is 14 lbs less than what I am now. It's funny because that's always the number I have in my head but I haven't been that weight since my early 20's.
 
I saw this chart and did my calculations a few weeks ago. I don't think charts like this are very helpful because they just can't target everybody as far as what's appropriate weight for each individual.

I am 30 lbs under what they consider my happy weight! That's ridiculous! I am not underweight. I am very small framed and this is what I've always weighed.

I does add pounds for age. I think that skews the results a lot for those of us older (I'm 51) and fit. However, I did the calculations with my current stats, but substituted age 21 instead of 51. Even then, it said I should weigh 20 lbs more than I do.

I'm not sure how these calculators can be made to take into account those of us who don't fit the mold.
 
Mine says I'm 2 lbs below my happy weight. I think I'll go eat some cookies and make myself REALLY HAPPY :p



Debbie


Everyone is entitled to an opinion. It's just that yours is stupid.
 
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