What Is Your Healthy Body Weight and How Do You Find It

So as a personal trainer and health coach this is the very first step I take clients through, figuring out what weight range is healthy for them and what nutrients, calories, and energy is needed to reach and maintain this goal.

First off I suggest if you're not working with a trainer or coach that you use an online tool to calculate your healthy weight range- mind you I say range because there is no one specific number anyone has to be. Your range maybe between 111-150 (this is mine), I could choose to be 111 or 150 (I'm 130) no mater where in there I choose higher or lower I'm healthy and at low risk for developing health conditions. I say that to say there is no right or wrong number as long as it falls within your healthy weight range and of course you're happy with how your body looks and feels at that weight. I recommend the BMI calculator by WebMD to get your number, it's really specific and provides you with your total daily calorie intake. This is the number of calories you will need to eat each day to either lose weight or maintain weight.

Another good number to know and one that maybe even more important than your daily calorie intake is your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) which is the number of calories your body burns everyday if you were to do nothing but rest for 24 hours. It represents the minimum amount of energy needed to keep your body functioning, including breathing and keeping your heart beating. Here's why this number is so important, if you are attempting to lose weight but you eat less than this number your body will slow down meaning slow down the amount of energy it uses to perform task in an attempt to conserve and meet its daily demands; thus slowing your metabolism which means you won't lose weight! This is a big one because the idea is eat less lose weight...right? Wrong, the saying should go eat the right amount your body requires and lose all the weight you want without plateauing :) My BMR is about 1300 calories a day, that is what my body needs every day to just function so I make sure to at the least hit that calorie number every day to ensure my body doesn't go into starvation mode which leads to a slow metabolism, muscle loss, and slow fat loss. So you definitely what to get that number. I'll post at the bottom a link to where you can get all these calculations.

But the biggest take way I want you to have is that you need to know your healthy weight range, not number but range. You need to know your total daily calorie intake number because when you stay within range of this number you hit your goal whether that's fat loss or to just maintain. And lastly but most important know you're BMR and don't starve your body, this number is your starting point for losing weight, gaining lean muscle mass, and experiencing consistent results on your journey to creating the body you want!

If you need guidance on this or coaching simply email me at shanek@fitgalonline.com for further assistance!

Helpful Links:

Healthy Weight Range Calculator- www.webmd.com/diet/body-bmi-calculator
Total Daily Calorie Intake Calculator- www.myfitnesspal.com or WebMd
Basal Metabolic Rate Calculator- www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bmr_calculator.htm