The BMI mystery solved

So, I've been trying to get to the bottom of the whole BMI thing - specifically why I am now below my target weight by some way, but still regarded as overweight. When I moved onto Phase 8 the doctor at Alizonne said this was frequently because people who have been overweight in the past end up with a slightly higher BMI, but I wanted to find out what weight I would need to get to to be considered normal.

I tried the NHS BMI calculator, which is frankly useless as it only tells you what your current BMI is, not what weight you need to be based on your height to be normal.

Luckily I found a really good calculator on the Diabetes UK website, and the results are:

- Current weight: 68kg (10st 9lbs)
- Current BMI: 26.6
- Normal range: 20-25
- Required weight to be within normal range: 63.9kg for a BMI of 25

Mystery solved!

They also have a great BMR calculator, which puts my medgem at 1,429 - so not a million miles away from what Alizonne calculated.

Definitely recommend their tools ;)

Medgem update

I had my medgem reading done again at Alizonne this morning, and the great news is that it's 1,330 - which is MILES better than the 1,180 reading I got straight after finishing Phase 7. It's also much closer to the 1,410 I started out at, and the 1,500 the doctor had estimated.

Generally happy with that and I think I can live with it, although I plan to have it checked periodically if I start getting any problems

Measurements - one month later

I decided as it's been a month since finishing, and as I had my weight done this week, it would be useful to get my measurements taken today, which are:

Bust - 86cm (0cm loss since finishing - 22cm lost in total - 3cm below target)
Waist - 79cm (1cm loss since finishing - 25cm lost in total - still 7cm off target)
Hips - 91cm (2cm loss since finishing - 40cm lost in total (!) - 4cm below target)

I haven't lost anything further on my arms or thighs - but then I have just been on holiday for 2 weeks with virtually no exercise - so it's not entirely surprising.

I know there are sizing differences, but I bouth 2 stunning pairs of trousers while I was away in a Size 10!!! As they didn't have them in a Size 12 I initially thought I wouldn't be able to get them, but then decided to try on the 10's on the off chance the cut was generous - which could have been as they are amazing and look great. Now I'm just waiting to have them taken up, as they were too long, so I can wear them

One month later

It's been a month-ish since I finished Phase 7 and moved to Phase 8, and I had my first month official weigh-in and LPG/endermologie Alizonne treatment. We've also just got back from our 2 week trip to see my folks, where I had no access to a scale and only some control over my food, so I wanted to see how I'd done.

The good news is the results have been good - which despite the shock of my medgem reading just before I went away was great to see:

Current weight - 70.4kg (1.6kg loss since last weigh in) - 39.5kg total lost to date
Weight in stone - 11st 1lb (3lbs loss since last weigh in) - 6st 3lbs lost to date, or 87.1lbs

I am getting my medgem reading done again next week to double check it - really hoping the initial 1,180 reading was wrong!

Shock!

I popped into Alizonne this morning to get my medgem reading - and it showed up as 1,180!!!

Considering the doctor estimated this at 1,600 but told me to stick to 1,500 and I started out at 1,410 I'm absolutely gobsmacked! Luckily I've been sticking to the routine I set when I finished, which probably explains why I've been able to maintain the weight.

I still don't trust it, especially as it was a different machine they used, so have booked in to have another reading on 25th Aug after I'm back from seeing my folks, and will then speak to the doctor on 26th Aug just to clarify it is correct.

Jeez, talk about a shock to the system ......

Measurements - two weeks (ish) later

I thought it might be useful to continue getting my measurements taken every few weeks just to track how things are going. My home scale says I am 70.6kg, so below the 72kg Alizonne had when I finished, which feels good. Allowing for the difference of around 0.3kg between my home scale and theirs, that would put me at around 70.9kg (11st 2lbs)

Current measurements are:

Bust - 86cm (1cm loss since finishing - 22cm lost in total - 3cm below target)

Waist - 80cm (0cm loss since finishing - 24cm loss in total - 8cm off target)

Hips - 93cm (2cm loss since finishing - 38cm loss in total - 2cm below target)

What is clear is where my problem area lies - my waist!! No further loss on my arms or thighs.

Luckily Alizonne have now replaced their medgem machine, so I’m popping in on Tuesday morning to get my reading done, which will be good to have the “official” metabolic rate

Generally feeling ok and managing to keep on top of things, fingers crossed for the trip to my folks - we leave on Thursday .....