> **Healthylife** — Healthylife Pharmacy | Your online health destination > [Products](https://www.healthylife.com.au/browse) · [Health Hub](https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn) > > --- # How to find your 'happy' weight Lyndi Cohen4 May 2022·2 min read ![Healthy woman wearing wireless earphones taking a break from workout and checking her fitness progress on mobile phone.](https://assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/3e01c88d-6d32-0086-9f07-7574b3104890/e820078f-33cb-41a3-a54a-5d3b360347f3/happy-weight.webp?quality=75&auto=format) Spread the word [](https://x.com/share?url=https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/how-to-find-your-happy-weight "x sharing")[](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/how-to-find-your-happy-weight "facebook sharing")[]( "email sharing") [Add us as a preferred source](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=Healthylife.com.au) ### Jump to There’s so much pressure to be the ‘correct’ weight. But what if it’s making us less healthy? It’s time to embrace a much gentler, simpler approach to weight where you don’t have to look perfect in order to be healthy - or happy. ## What is your happy weight? Your happy weight probably isn’t the same as your goal weight. And it’s unlikely to be the same weight you were during school or on your wedding day. Or when you lost all that weight on that gruelling cabbage diet you were so committed to (but ultimately couldn’t stick to). What a surprise! Your happy weight isn’t about fitting into a smaller size of clothes.  [ healthy weight healthy weight ![What is a healthy weight? (Spoiler alert: It’s personal)](https://assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/3e01c88d-6d32-0086-9f07-7574b3104890/0ef9c921-a07a-46b6-bf26-659b8c85638b/healthy-weight-thumb.jpg?quality=75&auto=format) ](https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/what-is-a-healthy-weight) [ ### What is a healthy weight? (Spoiler alert: It’s personal) ](https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/what-is-a-healthy-weight) What is a healthy weight? It’s a complex question. Research has shown that some people with a ‘healthy’ weight are considered to be “metabolically unhealthy”. Here’s what you need to know. [ read more ](https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/what-is-a-healthy-weight) For me, a happy weight is where you and your body functions at its best. It’s the weight where your hormones are balanced, your body is strong and your mood is stable.  Your happy weight is where you fall asleep easily, you have boundless energy and your mind is free to think about things other than macros, calories or reps at the gym. It’s the weight where your body naturally wants to be when you’re doing healthy things and you feel good in yourself.  And of course, your happy weight is where you feel comfortable in your skin.  ## Finding your happy weight If you are looking for the answer to “How much should I weigh?”, scrap the BMI.   History lesson alert: The body mass index was invented by a statistician, not a medical professional, Adolphe Quetelet nearly 200 years ago. He developed an equation of height (m)2/weight (kg) to assess population health trends, not individual health. As such, BMI doesn’t take into account muscle mass, age, sex, fitness, race, or any other metric. In other words, it has absolutely no way of measuring your wellbeing.  ## Then how can we measure health?  Of course, health is different for all of us including those with different abilities. So a good doctor will take into consideration you as a whole person instead of looking at a measure as arbitrary as height and weight. And it’s a really good idea to find a GP who can help you track and care for your health with other metrics.  [ healthy weight healthy weight ![Say goodbye to weight loss as a motivation to be fit and healthy](https://assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/3e01c88d-6d32-0086-9f07-7574b3104890/53b72209-1d9c-454e-8db4-bb82a768c19c/Say-goodbye-to-weight-loss-thumb.jpg?quality=75&auto=format) ](https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/where-to-find-motivation-to-lose-weight) [ ### Say goodbye to weight loss as a motivation to be fit and healthy ](https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/where-to-find-motivation-to-lose-weight) A healthy and fit body looks different for everyone, but many of us mistakenly use weight loss as a motivator. So it’s time to ditch the weight loss goal and make a healthier, more active lifestyle your priority. Here’s how. [ read more ](https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/where-to-find-motivation-to-lose-weight) Some things to consider include how much energy you have, blood test results, your mental wellbeing and simple movement metrics like being able to keep up with your kids.  It's time to scrap the idea of a perfect, healthy weight - and embrace your happy weight instead.  For me? I won’t ever have a perfectly flat stomach or be cellulite free. I have accepted I won’t ever be a supermodel and I’m OK with that. I’m comfortable in my skin and I wake up with energy. Of course, do all the healthy things that make you feel great but forgive your body when it doesn’t ‘look perfect’.  After all, it’s not worth sacrificing 95% of your life to weigh 5% less. Ditch the idea of a ‘perfect weight’ and choose to be healthy enough to live your best life.  ## related reads [ diet diet ![How veggies (actually) benefit your health](https://assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/3e01c88d-6d32-0086-9f07-7574b3104890/7a0376e9-4c38-4b56-82e1-ad478173cf99/eating-vegetables-thumb.jpg?quality=75&auto=format) ![Lyndi Cohen](https://assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/3e01c88d-6d32-0086-9f07-7574b3104890/cefc749d-656f-41a5-b7ad-26bf5ea5f3dc/lindy-cohen.webp?quality=75&auto=format) Lyndi Cohen ](https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/the-health-benefits-of-eating-vegetables) [ ### How veggies (actually) benefit your health ](https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/the-health-benefits-of-eating-vegetables) Why exactly should you be going to the effort to eat enough veggies? And what are the health benefits of eating your daily veggies? Let's find out. [ read more ](https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/the-health-benefits-of-eating-vegetables) [ diet diet ![5 of the best budget-friendly pantry staples](https://assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/3e01c88d-6d32-0086-9f07-7574b3104890/e678fd29-3581-43f3-83d7-c09c453d4c1b/healthy-pantry-basics-thumb.webp?quality=75&auto=format) ![Lyndi Cohen](https://assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/3e01c88d-6d32-0086-9f07-7574b3104890/cefc749d-656f-41a5-b7ad-26bf5ea5f3dc/lindy-cohen.webp?quality=75&auto=format) Lyndi Cohen ](https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/best-affordable-and-healthy-pantry-staples) [ ### 5 of the best budget-friendly pantry staples ](https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/best-affordable-and-healthy-pantry-staples) Discover dietitian Lyndi Cohen’s top 5 affordable, long-lasting pantry staples to make healthy eating easy and budget-friendly. [ read more ](https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/best-affordable-and-healthy-pantry-staples) [ diet diet ![What is low GI eating... and how to do it](https://assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/3e01c88d-6d32-0086-9f07-7574b3104890/c579879f-83cd-432a-b057-a5829fd5add1/low-GI-eating-thumb.jpg?quality=75&auto=format) ![Lyndi Cohen](https://assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/3e01c88d-6d32-0086-9f07-7574b3104890/cefc749d-656f-41a5-b7ad-26bf5ea5f3dc/lindy-cohen.webp?quality=75&auto=format) Lyndi Cohen ](https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/low-gi-eating) [ ### What is low GI eating... and how to do it ](https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/low-gi-eating) Get the low-down on low-GI eating, including why eating a low GI diet is healthier for you and how to do it. [ read more ](https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/low-gi-eating) Next slidePrevious slide Reviewed by the [healthylife Advisory Board](https://www.healthylife.com.au/healthylife-advisory-board) May 2022 [Lyndi Cohen](https://www.healthylife.com.au/lyndi-cohen) is one of Australia's most trusted dietitians (APD) and is a member of the healthylife Advisory Board. She's also the creator of [Back to Basics](https://www.lyndicohen.com/back-to-basics/), an app to help you be healthy without dieting. It takes the guesswork out of choosing what's for every night and helps you ditch yo-yo dieting. You'll get quick and deliciously simple recipes inside a flexible meal planner to make planning, shopping, and cooking a breeze. Plus, access to enjoyable workouts and expert mindset tips by qualified health experts to help you stay on track. And it's pregnancy and postnatal-friendly. Start your [free 7-day trial](https://www.lyndicohen.com/back-to-basics/) today. Spread the word [](https://x.com/share?url=https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/how-to-find-your-happy-weight "x sharing")[](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/how-to-find-your-happy-weight "facebook sharing")[]( "email sharing") This article is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. If you have any concerns or questions about your health you should consult with a health professional. --- **About Healthylife**: Find everything you need for a healthy life: Shop over 15,000 curated health products, pharmacy, fact-checked health information, telehealth & health programs. **Useful links**: [Customer Support](https://www.healthylife.com.au/contact-us) · [Browse All](https://www.healthylife.com.au/browse)