But you're confusing things here...

Sure, height and weight measurements are pretty tought to mess up, but the derived information isn't necessarily useful.

Think about it... What if we measured foot length and multiplied that with head circumference? Sure, you'd have a very repeatable measure but it would (probably) have no usefulness whatsoever!!!

On the other hand, a body fat measurement, even if off by as much as 2-3 percentage points between two measurements using the same method on the same person, it's still a very useful measure, since the healthy and unhealthy ranges overlap for individuals and are also fairly broad. If a an adult man measures as having 14% body fat, or 17% body fat, it still provides a good indication of healthy body fat levels.

A measure that has a high variability but a high degree of usefulness is much more valuable than a measure with negligible variability but almost no usefulness...

For 90% of the population, BMI is a reasonable surrogate for "fatness". Unlike body fat measurements, it's quick and easy to calculate.

That said, I also think that waist-to-hip ratio should be included whenever BMI is measured...it's at least as important an indicator of "overweight" status.

25.1.......a few more pounds to go I guess.....

No not really. But if you're on this forum, you're probably not the overly muscled NFL body type either. Most likely you are either:

1. A skinny little competetive cyclist with Q tip arms, or
2. A fat guy who wants to be a skinny little competetive cyclist with Q tip arms.

Either way BMI is a pretty good index for you. ;)

39.1


Yeah, i've got a long way to go.

16 Bmi.

Seriously? Are you sure you're not confusing Body Mass Index with Body Fat Percentage?

16% body fat is not too bad, but a BMI of 16 is well into "anorexic" territory.

5' 10.5" 164lbls- 23.5
Underweight = <18.5
Normal weight = 18.5-24.9
Overweight = 25-29.9
Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

At my height of 6'1 and lean body mass of 193 lbs, I'm officially overweight with zero bodyfat.:eek:

^^ what a fatty!

If that's the case, I guess I'm doing ok at 23....

I still have another 8-9 pounds to lose though, and then I'll be at 21.9. Any lower than that and I'd have to seriously watch my diet; and since I don't get paid to ride, I'm not THAT obsessive about it. I figure that 5'7" and 140 pounds is good enough (currently 149 pounds right now). Granted, I like climbing and all, but I don't want to look like Michael Rasmussen or anything.

Back in my teens, while cycling I think the lightest I remember myself being at was somewhere around 127-130 pounds at my current height. I could climb ok, but I was lacking a bit in power, so I really don't want to get to that point....my body seems to like 140.

So, what's your body fat percentage?

Many overweight people carry excess muscle mass too - they need it just to move all the fat mass around. In those cases, losing muscle mass as part of a long term weight loss strategy is normal.

23.8 on my way to 22.5(I figure the middle of the healthy range is a good spot)

Was 28 middle of last year, and as low as 19 in my early 20s

BMI...............31..............Obese

Actually I'm 5'8" and 204, with a 48-50" chest and a 35" waist. In times past I frequented the weight room a bit. OK, a lot.

Like to think of myself as a mountain of muscle overlain with a cuddly layer of 'soft tissue'.

And yes, I believe in Santa and the Keebler Elves.

Bmi
 

Here is a web sight that will do your BMI for you...


http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobe...on/bmicalc.php

21.88

Tour de France here I come!:roflmao:

21.5

Holding steady, though the increased intensity of my build period might send it down further.

28
I guess I am a sprinter......

Now, now, being overweight doesn't make you ugly. You must just be naturally ugly ^_^

29 down from 33 still working on it

22.6

6'2 and change & 178. I want to be at 175ish for race season.

21.6 5'8" 138 at 18 years old. My body fat percentage is usually around 9-10, i guess it pays to be the skinny long distance runner haha.

I understand what you're saying but BMI is really more for people who have a good amount of fat. It really started taking off for two reasons:

1. It's easy to understand
2. People with a lot of fat cannot be measured by a skinfold caliper.

For people with low fat (12% or less), you can and should use calipers instead of BMI. However, for someone over 20%, calipers just aren;t very accurate and BMI gives a better idea.

26 5'9.5 " 183