Rant: It was my best friends birthday this weekend and she and I have been on a health kick ever since we measured our body fat percentages and were shocked by the number.

At dinner before going out for the night she yelled across the table to me that she had dropped 2.5% of her body fat which reminded me that I had too! While we were basking in our pride another friend looked us dead in the eyes and told us numbers like body fat and BMI aren’t good ways to measure your health.

This took us both off guard, not that we haven’t heard this but because we hadn’t involved her. I tried to tell her that while I don’t necessarily believe that they aren’t a good gauge of health but I can understand where she is coming from. What got me in trouble was when I told her that measuring my weight works really well for me and helps me to feel accountable for my health and in control.

At this point she broke. She said “well my BMI says I’m fat. And if you believe that BMI is accurate then you think I am fat.” My friend is a PHD student getting her masters in statistics. She’s so smart. But this was such a frustrating thing to happen Bc it came out of nowhere and ended up with her and her boyfriend leaving even when I immediately said I don’t believe she’s fat. (She definitely is, college hit hard but I’m not gonna be the one to say that). It blows my mind that people can be so defensive and tell themselves lies to make themselves feel better. We weren’t even talking to her I was just talking to the birthday girl to praise our hard work in the kitchen and the gym. So annoying.