Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Some Important Numbers....

To most of us, numbers matter, whether its on a paycheck, doctor's results, weigh scale or a report card, we use them no matter what to measure things that DO matter to us or as markers.

And there are more numbers than just the ones that are measured in pounds that we need to consider when we want to make a healthy life-style change.  As I mentioned before, an individual can be thin and be completely unhealthy.  So that number on the scale is NOT a marker... its just a number to be aware of.  If the number is too high in combination with other numbers like your HDL (Bad Cholesterol) being too high and your LDL (Good Cholesterol) being too low.  THESE numbers matter.

Also a very important number is the BMI, also known as the "Body Mass Index", this particular number tells us potential  "risks" based on the number, for the individual.  Along with your medical "predisposition", which is based on your family history of health risks.

You can go to the doctor and have this done through different means but, most will use a simple calculation...

*WAIST MEASUREMENT___________INCHES* (Measure around the belly button, cause it won't move on your body)
If this number is GREATER than 40 Inches for a Man OR 35 Inches for a Woman, you are at a GREATER risk for health related issues, such as Diabetes and High Blood Pressure just to name a couple.


Keep this number in mind and lets move on to the actual BMI Calculation....

For most North Americans we're still thinking of body weight in terms of pounds and height in inches, so we apply the same formula and multiply by 703. As for you lucky ducks in the UK with the curious but wonderful combination of stones and meters the multiplying factor is 6.35!  In all cases the core formula is the same: weight is divided by height squared.


YOUR CURRENT SITUATION 
*WEIGHT IN POUNDS_________

*HEIGHT IN INCHES__________


I like the On-line Calculator, because this one in particular gives you a break down based on gender AND age! as well as several options and rationals as to what is your "suggested perfect" weight.

HERE'S A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT THE FINAL NUMBER MEANS...
CLASSIFICATIONS ==> THE BMI EQUATION

DescriptionLower BMIUpper BMI
AnorexicBelow 17.5
Underweight17.518.5
Optimal18.525
Overweight2530
Obese3040
Morbid ObesityOver 40

 This is one of the BIGGEST reasons that "Diets" do NOT work!! They are NOT one size fits all!

Just as important are other factors, such as "oxidation", simply put, do you digest some foods faster than others? Are there certain food items (does NOT include sugar or fat as they are NOT foods but, components of foods) that you seem to do better with than others?

Then there are the OMEGA Fats or Oils... which one are you getting too much of?  Which one are you not getting enough of?  Most people just go out and buy a bottle of these supplements without even knowing what they need... therefore the ratio is completely out of whack!  Oh the bottle has it right but, if you are eating salads with Olive Oil or Flax Oil... you just put it out of whack.

Knowledge of YOU, what makes you tick, is what is important... figure out the key that ONLY fits YOUR door and get the ball rolling.

More on Oxidation tomorrow ♥

Have a great day!! and GET MOVING!

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