[Cecily]

Originally Posted by RecondoJoe [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I'm 5'10" and I think according to doctors I'm supposed to weigh 150 pounds? In the ARMY my weight fluctuated between 165-175 pounds, so when I got out of the ARMY and was finally able to relax my diet I ended up getting up to 195 pounds. I felt so fat because I had never weighed this much before, but people I would meet would still describe me as being the "super skinny" guy which caught me off guard because I felt so fat.

Years later I don't have body dysmorphia anymore, and I can genuinely say that I do not like to weigh less than 205 pounds. Not all men who are 5'10" are built the same. I have a 48 inch chest, and 20 inch arms naturally. I'm built more like the heavy weight fighters you see in the UFC who are of similar height. This idea that the only factor that should determine weight is height is ridiculous.

It makes a huge difference when I'm working manual labor. When I drop below 190 pounds, the chainsaw suddenly feels heavy, and I need to ask other men to help me pull a rope. When I am over 200+ pounds I pull a rope so hard that the men who are trying to help me fall over due to sheer amount of force I'm able to generate. I know which weight I prefer to be. I have random people always comment on how buff I am too. When you're lean you could be completely ripped, but unless you're walking around shirtless people just assume you are scrawny. When you're heavy and have muscle mass - people notice it from a mile away.

I remember being in the ARMY and having a little bit of a beer tummy and having to write this black kid up for being fat. He took his shirt off so I could measure his waist and he had an 8-pack of abs. It felt so surreal that he was considered grossly overweight by BMI standards. I think women get hit the hardest by these standards too.

When I went to MEPS to enlist, there was a female who was interested in joining as well. I can honestly say she was a 10/10 and looked like a Playboy bunny. The type of hot you don't see every day for sure. She failed the weight test for being obese due to her large breasts and curves... despite having a tiny waist.

BMI is simply a bad tool for individuals. This was made really clear in my health class 10 years ago, so people know this... They just don't care. If you apply a population tool to everyone it becomes a population tool. Just have to penalize the outliers as unhealthy so your data works. Institutions can't function with critical thinking about why exceptions happen.