Is 165 considered heavy weight

by Lorraine
(Midland TX)

I'm about 165 or 170. I feel like I am heavy, what do you think? Thank you.

Susan from PDFF replies:

Hi Lorraine! :) I assume your question refers to whether or not you're too heavy to pole dance? If so, the answer is definitely not!

The good quality dance poles available today generally advertise a weight limit of 250 pounds. However, that's for weight bearing moves. But even if you weighed more than that, there's no reason you couldn't use a dance pole for the many sexy ground-based moves.

However, your question seems a bit more general in nature. It seems you're asking my opinion on whether 165/170 pounds is a heavy weight for you.

But, without knowing your height or body composition or bone density or fitness level, I'm afraid I can't offer an educated opinion. For example, if you're a 5'10" muscular powerlifter, then I'd probably say no, you're definitely not too heavy.

On the other hand, if you're a petite 5'2" and a professional couch potato, then I might have a different opinion.

The thing is, if you're just looking for validation, it's easy for your sister to say, yes you definitely need to lose 20 pounds, or for your best friend to say no of course you're not too heavy!

But keep in mind Lorraine, the only opinion that really counts is yours. You say that you feel like you are heavy. My question would be, do you feel that your weight or your fitness level stops you from doing the things you want to do?

Liz McCallum has a fantastic website called Big Beautiful Wellness. No matter what your relative size, I think you'll find her premise inspiring. Essentially, Liz encourages women to focus on creating good health instead of obsessing about their weight, whatever it might be.

So when you wonder if you're "too heavy," perhaps you could ask yourself "too heavy for what?" If the answer is "too heavy for someone else's perception of what an appropriate body weight is," I'd (gently and kindly) encourage you to stop allowing other people's opinions to dictate what's appropriate for you, and go do the things you're not doing because you think other people think you're too heavy.

Like pole dancing for example. Or yoga, or salsa dancing, or fencing or hiking or synchronized swimming.

Please come on back and let me know what limb you decide to go out on...remember, everything you want is just outside your comfort zone!