The 18%
If you've ever had your BMI calculated before, you know that there are four main categories: underweight, average, overweight, and obese. Generally, 18% fat is widely sought after as the golden standard for women. In my fitness journey, 18% was always the goal. In fact, as we grow and work with more women across the country, it’s a number we hear a lot. Women, like me, aiming to achieve 18% without having any real understanding of what that number means for their bodies.
Body mass index, or BMI, is a simple calculation based on your height and weight. Typically, anything below 18% is considered “underweight” for a woman. The problem with this measurement is that it reinforces the idea that anything over 18% is overweight and that fat is bad, which we’d like you to know, is fake news. BMI can label active women as "overweight" because muscle weighs more than fat and BMI doesn't take into account body composition. It is also important to remember that a woman's body requires more fat than a man's body. This may sound unfair, but body fat isn't a bad thing. It has many super important roles in the body, such as regulating temperature and storing energy. Your body needs fat to function.
While BMI can be a useful tool in your fitness journey, they are so many factors that can affect your body fat percentage. How old are you? Are you an athlete? Are you pregnant? Do you even lift, bro? Because of this, a healthy body fat percentage doesn't always equal abs of glory. Two people with the same body fat percentage can look very different depending on their bodies and workout routines.
When it comes to being healthy and feeling happy with your body, success cannot be determined by a percentage. There is no measurement or scale that will help you find a happy balance in your specific diet and fitness routine. What actions make you feel confident, physically and mentally? If achieving 18% makes you feel your best, then go for it. But is that number something you just want to reach because other people told you that's the ideal? The most successful diet and fitness journeys start with reevaluating your relationship with your body and food, not trying to adhere to a number.
