Starting out on the road not the gym

[Teddy]

I really like the idea of using a combination of how you feel, your performance and your overall health as indicators to your ideal weight. I think weight as a number is so much less important than taking all factors into consideration. So, your ideal weight may be far different than that of someone who is the same height and age - and may even change over time. Bone density and size, muscle mass, athletic performance goals all have bearing on what each person's ideal weight will be. Perhaps as you start working toward your ideal weight, you can gauge how you feel and if your overall performance goals are being met along the way. That way you can work towards a goal that is geared toward how you feel and how you perform and your overall wellness, and not so much a hard and fast number on the scale.

I have gone back and forth with the whole weight issue all my life. And I would be lying if I said I never bought into the idea of an "ideal weight". For most of my life, I have been pretty fit and active, but have at different times carried quite a bit more muscle (tried body building), less muscle (was a professional stunt woman), a lot less muscle (aspirations of being a professional kickboxer) and then a lot less muscle and a lot more fat (combo of aging and a very high stress work environment). Now, at the age of 44, I weigh in the neighborhood of 118 to 120 lbs. (I'm 5'3"). I rarely get on a scale and it makes me laugh when people are shocked to hear that I weigh 120 lbs. I suppose that seems heavy for my size (I'm small boned and have a small frame), but my body fat is around 12%, and my resting HR is about 38 BPM. It's funny because I think a lot of people view my physique as not very attractive. I have muscular legs and arms and I have begun to get pretty vascular. I sometimes notice people staring at me and not necessarily in a good way, but I don't really mind. I think I look just like I want to look, I am fit and strong, and more importantly I feel terrific. So, perhaps try to forget about the number on the scale. Your ideal weight is achieved when you feel great, perform great and are in excellent health.

[LadyinWhite]

I'm 5'5 and I weigh about 165. I say that with pride Yep, a whopping 165. I used to weigh 211 - then I changed my lifestyle. The biggest change I've made is accepting the fact that I weigh 165 and feeling like that's OK.

I'm not a competitive rider, I don't ride with a group, I ride just for me. I definately gain a few lbs when I have to take a break from riding due to work/family or most recently back injury. I also lose it again as soon as I get back into a regular schedule of riding.

For me, the fact that I eat healthy, that I'm fit (Yep, fit at 165.), I can run, I can breath, my cardio strength constantly surprises me and I know I can hop on a bike and ride for 30 - 50 miles @ 14mph avg speed and feel just fine - THAT's what it's all about !!!

Maybe - someday - I'll get down to 150 but who cares if I do or don't. (my lightest weight in my life was 135 and that was with diet and running EVERY DAY - it was exhausting to maintain!) My doc is so proud of me and gives me a big thumbs up every time I see her.

And you know what else? I feel sexy as hell. I'm curvy in all the right places and I love it! Yes - my thighs are disproportionately large and where I carry the remaining extra lbs - but I have sweet muscle definition and did I mention I'm HEALTHY??? LOLOL

42yo - I'm alllll about being healthy!! My vote is thin or not so thin - find a place where you can truly be happy with who you are, as you are. Who cares what other's think? Life's too short

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Lady in white-
RIGHT ON!