weight, BMI, set point and calories

[Guest guest]

wrote:

" Could I get some advice? I'm now 48 and 65.5 inches (not quite 5'6 " ). My

high school weight was 113, a BMI of 18. (My highest non-pregnant weight was

120.) Based on what I've read in BYT120Y Diet, and this forum, I've reduced

to my current weight of 106 (aiming for 105), a BMI of 17. If I went down

to 102 (the 10 percent reduction which is the most moderate recommended to

get CR benefits) I'd have a BMI of 16. Will sticking at 105 be likely to

give me the maximum CR benefits that could be achieved at my age without the

negatives, or should I reduce calories further? "

: It is now generally accepted by members of the lists that the %

reduction is best taken with regard to calories not weight or BMI. If you

read pages 49 and 50 of 120 Year Diet, you'll see what I mean. Also the

amount of caloric restriction desired changes with age, the older the lesser

restriction is best; severe restriction is unhealthy if you're middle aged.

Set point moves around in adulthood and can't really be depended upon (which

is what I found in my own experience). So compare your calories with regard

to what you what be eating ad lib. That's all you need to worry about.

Forget weight and BMI. When you have your blood tests done, you'll know

that you're on CR by the results.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/6/02 9:02:32 AM, fskelton@... writes:

<< If I went down

to 102 (the 10 percent reduction which is the most moderate recommended to

get CR benefits) I'd have a BMI of 16. Will sticking at 105 be likely to

give me the maximum CR benefits that could be achieved at my age without the

negatives, or should I reduce calories further? " >>

Good question, . My profile is similar. I have chosen NOT to reduce

further than 105 lbs. (I'm 5'5 " .) My menses get very irregular and painful if

I drop lower, and I take this as a negative sign. Instead, I really try to

optimize my nutrition at this level, and I work hard at the complexities of

this (while holding my calorie intake steady.) Since I do not have to grapple

with calories, I turn my attention to other issues (ON, exercise, etc.) BTW,

my caloric requirements have dropped over the years, from about 1700-1800 to

1200-1300. My activity level has remained the same.

[Guest guest]

Hi ;

I'm just starting my CRON regimen, and I face the same problem as you and

Francesca. You seem to have cut your calories by a third, which I gather is

perhaps the most important step, and stopped at 105. If I may ask, what was

your weight when your calories were 1700-1800? It sounds like you've achieved

dramatic caloric reduction with less than a 10% weight drop.

My set point has been just under 150 pounds during most of my adult years (and

all through my twenties), so I'm pretty sure I know what it is, but losing 10%

of my weight will be difficult at my set point of 147.5: I'm 5'9 " . Please give

me hope (!)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/7/02 3:32:53 PM, J6215@... writes:

<< If I may ask, what was your weight when your calories were 1700-1800? >>

My weight was approx. 108 lbs. before the calorie cut. My system seems to be

working more efficiently.

[Guest guest]

on 7/7/2002 2:19 PM, J6215@... at J6215@... wrote:

> Hi ;

>

> I'm just starting my CRON regimen, and I face the same problem as you and

> Francesca. You seem to have cut your calories by a third, which I gather is

> perhaps the most important step, and stopped at 105. If I may ask, what was

> your weight when your calories were 1700-1800? It sounds like you've achieved

> dramatic caloric reduction with less than a 10% weight drop.

>

> My set point has been just under 150 pounds during most of my adult years (and

> all through my twenties), so I'm pretty sure I know what it is, but losing 10%

> of my weight will be difficult at my set point of 147.5: I'm 5'9 " . Please

> give me hope (!)

>

>

: Don't worry about your set point. Or your weight. Just cut your ad

lib calories slowly. You will lose the weight BUT even if you don't, weight

loss is just a SIDE EFFECT, not the goal of CRON. The goal is the calories

cut (10%, 20% or whatever). It is the calories (or lack thereof0 which

gives you the health enhancing and life prolonging effect of CR, regardless

of weight!

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/7/02 3:32:53 PM, J6215@... writes:

<< My set point has been just under 150 pounds during most of my adult years

(and all through my twenties), so I'm pretty sure I know what it is, but

losing 10% of my weight will be difficult at my set point of 147.5: I'm 5'9 " .

Please give me hope (!)

>>

Don't worry about it, . My guess is that your BMI is 21-22 (?) Just

reduce your calorie intake by 10%. Don't forget about the ON part of the

regime (VERY important.) Exercise moderately - you're there! (Unless you have

any unusual medical conditions, in which case you should consult a doctor.)

[Guest guest]

: I did fine with just cutting back and estimating. I used a calorie

book I have which lists calories of every food imaginable. I weighed myself

to monitor " results " (even though weight loss is not the main point of CRON

- calories are). If you don't know where to start, start with the file " CR

Made Easy " on our website which gives several different ways to begin. Go to

the main page and click files in the left hand margin. Others have used the

nutrient tracking tools such as DWIDP. (We also have a new file on various

nutrient tracking tools (some free) on the web.).

Dr. W discusses how to start in his books and a one page summary on his

website as well. Go to http://www.walford.com/aastart.htm

on 7/22/2002 8:35 PM, sikuta2002 at sikuta@... wrote:

> I just re-found this group after losing it for awhile. Thank you for

> the responses. To date, I have been unable to spend the time (and my

> environment is not conducive) to accurately track calories. It is

> much easier to track BMI and weight. I will gradually try to phase

> into calorie tracking. Not ever having been on a diet, I am not

> familiar with the tools that are needed to track calories. Do I

> require a scale, and if so, what kind? Are any other tools required?

>

>

>>

>> " Could I get some advice? I'm now 48 and 65.5 inches (not quite

> 5'6 " ). My

>> high school weight was 113, a BMI of 18. (My highest non-pregnant

> weight was

>> 120.) Based on what I've read in BYT120Y Diet, and this forum, I've

> reduced

>> to my current weight of 106 (aiming for 105), a BMI of 17. If I

> went down

>> to 102 (the 10 percent reduction which is the most moderate

> recommended to

>> get CR benefits) I'd have a BMI of 16. Will sticking at 105 be

> likely to

>> give me the maximum CR benefits that could be achieved at my age

> without the

>> negatives, or should I reduce calories further? "

>>

>> : It is now generally accepted by members of the lists that

> the %

>> reduction is best taken with regard to calories not weight or BMI.

> If you

>> read pages 49 and 50 of 120 Year Diet, you'll see what I mean. Also

> the

>> amount of caloric restriction desired changes with age, the older

> the lesser

>> restriction is best; severe restriction is unhealthy if you're

> middle aged.

>>

>> Set point moves around in adulthood and can't really be depended

> upon (which

>> is what I found in my own experience). So compare your calories

> with regard

>> to what you what be eating ad lib. That's all you need to worry

> about.

>> Forget weight and BMI. When you have your blood tests done, you'll

> know

>> that you're on CR by the results.

>