Posts by pmatthews83

I will provide the scientific, physical fitness answer for you.  There are three different body types:  ectomorph, mesomorph, and endomorph.  Ectomorphs have very small skeletal structures, these are the very petite people you see.  Mesomorphs are those who are generally considered stocky or muscular.  These are the people with broad shoulder and able to pack on muscle easier than most.  Endomorph are those with large frames (think lineman from a football team).  Now from determining your own build type, the easiest way to due so is to take your thumband middle finger and wrap them around your wrist.  If they overlap you are ectomorphic, if they barely touch you are mesomorphic, and if they can't touch they are endomorphic.  This is more about the size of your skeletal structure than anything since that can have a major impact on your weight.

Personally, I don't put much faith in BMI.  When I finished basic training I was 205 lbs, bmi 29, but only 9 % body fat.  If you want a more accurate view of where you stand from a health standpoint, go out and by a measuring tape and due a body fat calculation (there are multiple sites out their that can calculate this for you).  Bear in mind that as a woman you are supposed to have a higher percent body fat than a man.