Look Ripped

Body Max Index doesn’t work for all

It would seem that the criteria for being overweight or obese might not apply to everyone. Body Max Index (BMI) is regarded as the way to identify a populations healthy weight range. It is constantly used to pigeon hole those with a BMI of 25 or above as overweight or Obese, yet what the BMI fails to take into consideration is muscle density.

Not all of us are created equal

Humans vary from person to person hair colour, skin texture, breast and butt size etc so why should the density of our bodies be any different? And here’s the nub, BMI is calculated by taking an individuals weight, dividing it by the square of their height (refer to formula bottom of page). Where the formula falls down is that if you are an athlete or a body builder with a high proportion of muscle you may find yourself lumped in with the fatties or obese although you are in peak physical condition.

It may work for most

Although the calculation may work for the majority of the population those that fall into the athlete come muscle head category need to keep in mind their muscle density, I for one have been put in the overweight category with a BMI of 25.82 although I still have a skinny ass. A few more kilos of muscle and I could move into the obese category with a BMI of 30.

The Mirror may be the best judge

I always think the best judge of how you are going in terms of your body is to strip all your gear off stand in front of the mirror (best done in the privacy of your home not at the gym) and have a good look at your jiggly bits, love handles and stuff, not the other ladies and men’s bits. The BMI was developed in 1830 and it would seem not to have been revised for this century, so keep in mind you’re a product of the twentieth century not the eighteenth.

BMI= Weight kg

Height 2 (m2)

 

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What’s the best way to lose weight?

Unfortunately for most of us, losing weight is really hard yet putting it on so easy.  A large number of those trying to lose weight usually end up going on the well trodden path of fad diets and quick fixes. But for every diet success story there are hundreds if not thousands of failures. So how can you loose weight successfully and keep it off?

Forget the quick fix

To date there haven’t been any successful quick fixes nor have the medical fraternity developed a magic pill that can melt away the fat and reduce our risk of disease. Those that succeed at loosing weight and maintaining the loss are those that incorporate a fitness regime with a sensible approach to eating. That means getting up off your backside increasing your cardiovascular activity and watching what goes into your mouth.

Increasing cardiovascular output

What does this mean? For the uninitiated increasing cardiovascular fitness means becoming physically active, increasing your heartbeat and the rate of respiration.

Taking the stairs a couple times a day, or the ham shanks express to work rather than driving, all contribute to increasing daily activity and have the propensity to marginally improve your fitness and health outcomes. And that’s without even really trying.

Seriously fit and healthy

Hitting the gym hard and fast is one of the best ways to get fit loose weight and increase your muscle density, a regime of weights (resistance training) and cardio (running, cycling, treadmill etc) will see those love handles and saddle bags melt into your past. Hitting the gym four to five times a week is more than adequate and for the best results increasing training frequency, intensity and duration should see you avoid the usual plateau experienced with fitness gains and facilitate maintenance of optimal body weight.

The best eating plan and training regime

The basics principles for exercise and nutrition apply to most of us but the implementation of those principles may differ from person to person, that’s why you should have your fitness regime and eating plan tailored, we know the one size fits all approach doesn’t work, and as individuals we require individually tailored programs and dietary attention. The quintessential ingredient for any fitness weight loss regime is adherence and the best way to assure adherence is to enjoy what you're doing.

So take one last look at those love handles and saddlebags for tomorrow they die!

A burgeoning problem for all

Yours truly has just returned from a world trip that took in the sites, food and ambience of a several countries, one of those was the US. Walking the streets of LA is like walking with elephants, the problem of obesity is evident on every corner, whether it be a local struggling along with an oversized rear end or a fast food joint pumping out burgers and fries, the signs are every where there loosing the battle. Unfortunately if you can believe what we are being told Australian’s are heading in a similar direction.

Not looking good

Americans are losing the battle but rather than trying harder to lose weight they appear to have thrown In the towel and are not only accepting obesity as a way of life but also redefining what being overweight is. Clothing is one example of redefining weight; US clothing sizes have increased to accommodate the evolution of the human body. Retooling chairs, beds, plane seats and even Disneyland has identified the need to modify their parks to deal with the rampaging herds of overweight customers.

It’s a small world not geared for large world

Disneyland’s boat ride for kids It’s a small world is being upgraded early this year to address the problem of boats bottoming out as a result of fat kids and their fatter parents. After the boat ride heading to the fast food section of the land is a must. Supersize me is alive and booming here, burgers, large fries and a bottomless jug of soft drink will assure that Disney’s customers keeping coming back bigger and fatter next year.

Lap banding and gastric bypass

Never fear the medical fraternity is here! It would seem that the battle of the bulge might have only temporarily been lost with medical intervention using up to date procedures to reduce at least some members of the populations burgeoning proportions. Those at the upper end of the obesity epidemic can have surgery to reduce the amount of food they are able consume. Lap banding and gastric bypass surgery is the new intervention that has been shown to turn elephants into saggy sacks of excess skin. We are the first generation in the history of humanity to have more people over fed than starving; we may also be the last generation to see our toes.