Have you ever looked at one of the “ideal” weight charts in your doctor’s office and thought, “get real – there’s no way I’ll ever get down to that weight again unless I can find a time machine to take me back to my teenage years or grow six (or twelve) inches in the next month!”

I look at them and think “yeah -right.” My “ideal” weight on the chart below is between 127-141 pounds (The data originated from Met Life’s Ideal weight charts first established in 1943 and revised in 1983).

I haven’t weighed 127 pounds since I was a junior in high school where I regularly skipped breakfast and lunch (and only picked at my dinner) so that my size 5 hip hugger jeans would fit.  I was lightheaded and dizzy every afternoon.  No thanks to doing that ever again.

Today my realistic “get real” weight is 160 pounds.

How did I come up with that number?  Nope, didn’t just pull it out of my butt and decide it was a nice number.

After the birth of my second child, 160 pounds is the weight I maintained for a little over a year (until I got pregnant again).  I felt healthy and energetic at that weight, and even though I couldn’t get into single digit jeans, I still fit into normal clothes.  And, maybe most importantly, I didn’t look into the mirror at that time and hate what I saw.

So that’s why 160 pounds, which isn’t even close to what some stupid chart says I should weigh, is the weight I think I should weigh and is even the weight my doctor agreed would be okay for me because it’s sure a lot better than the high of 286 that I was at 3 years ago (and am NEVER EVER GOING BACK TO).

What’s your “get real” weight?

At what weight will you feel healthy and feel good about yourself?

Height & Weight Table For Women

Height & Weight Table For Men