What is an acceptable weight for my height?

I'm kinda new here, so bear with me...I'm recovering from an ED. I got out of inpatient a couple weeks ago but lost a little since then. They released me at 85%, but obviously I'm lower than that now. My perceptions of healthy weights is skewed because of ED, and I just want to know what weight is acceptable for my height of 5'1" so I know what to aim for.

People in your situation are usually advised to aim for a BMI of 20 as a minimum.  That would be around 106lbs.

agreed. get to bmi 20; you will be Gorgeous. keep working at getting better.xx

I have never cared for the BMI index myself. It is far too much of a generalization. People who work out consistently are going to put on weight from muscle. I can use what happened to me as an example. For the last two months I increased my daily calorie intake from 2000 to 3000-3400 calories per day of the right foods, hit the weights hard 3-4 times per week, and started doing what is known as High Intensity Interval Training for cardio. I have put on 15 pounds, but my bodyfat is down by 7% (19% to 12% and falling) and my waist is 2 inches smaller. If you were to go strictly by scale weight and the BMI, a lot of people would be considered "obsese" who are in fantastic shape with a low bodyfat %.

That is why whenever people ask about the BMI and what their weight should be for their height, I recommend worrying less about scale weight and more about getting on a program that would allow you to lose bodyfat. This is done through good nutrition and lifting weights. Then even though your scale weight will increase, your bodyfat % will lower and you will be happy with how your clothes fit.

Here is what I would recommend..

- Get your bodyfat % taken and other measurements taken like waist, etc. Keep getting new measurements taken every two months to monitor progress.

- Get on a good nutrition program of protein, good carbs from whole grains/vegetables, and healthy fats. Also drink lots of water. Take one day per week where you have one or two small cheat meals to offset metabolism and deal with cravings.

- Lift weights consistently 3-4 times a week for 45-60 minutes a session.

vyperman7 you have to remember that people with EDs ..as lots of the people on here are...have huge issues with body image.  Emphasizing about body fat etc and losing body fat is probably not the wisest thing to do on this forum as it may be a trigger for some folks.  I'd ask you to think about that with future posts. 

I apologize if I offended anybody. I wasn't trying to imply that people had a lot of fat to lose or anything. I was just trying to bring across a different way of thinking. If your goal is to lose bodyfat instead of weight, you are more likely to have healthier eating habbits geared towards gaining muscle and implimenting a solid lifting program which is the best way to speed metabolism and transform the body overall. When people think "I need to lose weight" they often force themselves to have too high of a calorie deficit and do way too much cardio.

Once again, I am sorry if I offended anyone. It wasn't my intention. I just wanted to get across that eating more of the right types of foods and weightlifting will achieve better results in the end then having a calorie deficit.

viperman,'

'but my bodyfat is down by 7% (19% to 12% and falling) and my waist is 2 inches smaller. ''

do you realise how deadly to an anorexic in recovery saying that can be? SHE SHOULD NOT be expending any extra calories; she is trying to RECOVER  and heal her body.

please think before you post on a topic you clearly know nothing about.

The rule of thumb that I learned in high school is 100 lbs for 5 feet tal and 5 lbs for every inch over 5 foot.  You are 5' 1", so 105.  I'm 5' 6" so 130 for me (not the 170 I am).  I think this a great rule of thumb.  Every weight guide I've seen keeps close to this.  I think aiming for a healthy body fat is a great idea for you.  (21-29% is in the healthy range).  Follow your outpatient care plan most of all.  Choose healthy every day. 

ED is usually a behavior issue, you can unlearn this, you CAN get better and feel better about yourself.  I stopped smoking a few years back.  In the begining I had to make the choice to not smoke every few minutes.  After a while I had to make the choice to not smoke every day, then every few days, then once a week, and now, it's a few times a year.

Choose to be healthy with every urge. Contact a couselor or a person who can give you positive support every time you need it.  You will feel better, and look better health.

I don't know if you are religious or not, but prayer or meditation can be very helpful.  Talk to the people in your program about relaxation and focusing meditation.

I will keep you in my thoughts.  I wish you the best of luck!

105 is about right for 5'1 [I'm not saying that it is the perfect weight, but its good to have something to aim towards and is more of a 'minimum weight' rather than a maximum.

I'm 5'1 too and my paediatrition set my first goal at 90lbs, which I have already reached, and my next goal is 99lbs. I find it easier and less overwhelming to set smaller goals, because going straight to triple digits would scare the s*** out of me.

Oh and I wouldn't worry too much about your body fat percentage at the moment, its best to wait until you are weight restored.

HI,

I'm 5 feet 5 and 1/2 inches tall and right now i weigh 92 pounds.  I have a small frame..very small bones so i'm wondering what would  be an acceptable weight for me.  I was thinking about 110-112..i weighed that once before and liked how i looked at that weight.  What im finding hard is that i think i don't look too terribly skinny right now...i've been this weight for such a long time it just seems normal to me and anything else seems abnormal.  Anyone else have this feeling too?  I have not been actively anorexic for quite some time...i've been consuming 3 regular meals per day.....i just kept myself at a rather underweight level. 

You are severely under weight. VERY few women are naturally 92 pounds at 5 ‘ 5; and the women who are chronically underweight naturally are able to eat 1900 or more calories and stay 92 lbs; these women almost always seek medical help, because being chronically under weight is a medical condition that puts women at great health risks.

I am about your height and I am about 114 - 115 lbs with BMI of 19.

This can be a healthy weight for women of our height; if you have a small frame there is a possibility you could look great this weight. However, no one on this site can tell you what is best for your body, as we can not asses your body type and what is best for it. We are not experts.

You say you have not been actively anorexic. Your 3 meals may still be drastically under eating; when my weight was about 100 - 105 lbs I still ate 3 meals as well as snacks every day, but I still was not eating enough calories. Eating 3 meals does not mean you are eating enough.

Just because you do not look terribly skinny at 92 pounds does not mean it is less important for you to gain to a healthier weight.

I am very curvy at a BMI of 19, therefore when I become under weight at 105 lbs I still look healthy because of my build. 105 is still a little low for my height, so I gained because being underweight can put you at risk of many problems, therefore I gained purely through my knowledge of the medical facts; I looked perfectly healthy, but I knew better.

Thanks for that personal trainer...good advice!