Are Weight Scales and BMI a Good Way of Measuring Health?

Some of the most covered topics in the media today is related to diets and weight loss programs.One day you are told to eliminate all fat from your diet.The next day, carbohydrates are the evil culprits you are advised to avoid.

Some of these diets are more stupid than others.Remember, the media is supposed to make headlines, and the more out of the picture, the better.

So what is the problem with all these diets and weight loss programs?

To start with, most of them involve subtracting one or more food groups from your diet.The truth is, when you take carbohydrates or fat out of your diet, you are doing more harm to your health than good.

The media often seems to have found a new mind blowing diet or weight loss program that is capable of getting you in the best shape ever.

They provide images of people that have lost HUGE amount of weight in NO TIME.This is the wrong picture to portray for two reasons: the word weight, and the methods advertised.

1.The BS About Weight

Just about anyone who wants to become healthy focuses exclusively on weight.

Lets say you want to look good in the mirror or be able to fit into those amazing jeans of yours.

Should you really focus exclusively on your weight?Definitely not!

For those of you who know anything at all about the human body and its functions, you know that muscles are more dense than fat, which leads to the fact that muscles mass is more compact than fat and only takes up 1/3 the space.

What we should focus on instead is body fat and the way we look and feel.Weight itself does not show whether you are unhealthy or not, at least not the way the general public tends to believe these days.

When you read about health in the newspaper, they always talk about weight!It is rarely about fat, and that is really the big issue today.

2.BMI - A Good Way of Measuring Health?

BMI stands for Body Mass Index and is supposed to determine whether or not a person is healthy or overweight/obese.

Magazines often provide a BMI calculator for the reader so they easily can determine whether he or she is in the danger zone.

You may think that BMI sounds like a decent measurement to determine health, but let me tell you that it is NOT!Look at this list:

- Shawn Crawford, Sprinter (USA)
- Mark Lewis-Francis, Sprinter (GB)
- Ryan Bayley, Cycling (AUSTRIA)

I could keep adding names to this list all day long.

Wondering why I am showing you this list?

These world class athletes are all classified as overweight by the BMI guidelines.You can also find athletes that have been classified as obese by BMI guidelines.Come on!

Do you really think world class athletes that basically live for training and health would be overweight and obese?

The reason you should take BMI guidelines with a grain of salt is similar to the issue of weight scales.BMI does not consider the fact that muscles are more dense than fat.

Bottom line is: from now on, do not use weight scales and BMI when it comes to monitoring or deciding whether or not you are unhealthy, or in the danger zone.

About the Author

Jonas Forsberg is the author of Burn Fat At Home, a workout program that helps people lose ugly belly fat and build sexy muscles in only 12 min per day.

He updates the official Burn Fat At Home Blog daily at http://burnfatathome.blogspot.com

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Weight Loss Surgery Options

With almost a third of the American adult population classified as obese, it's clear that if you're overweight, you certainly aren't alone.Obesity is a growing health epidemic, and it affects the emotional and physical well-being of those who suffer from it.

Some of the many health risks that are associated with obesity include the following:

- Increased risk for many types of cancer
- Increased chance of having type II diabetes
- Higher risk of developing heart disease
- Increased likelihood of having high blood pressure and stroke
- Higher chance of having joint ailments like arthritis
- Increased likelihood of having breathing problems

How Can Obesity Be Controlled?









Traditionally, obesity has been considered a result of overindulgence in food and lack of exercise.For some people, this is the case.Diet and exercise play an important role in controlling obesity, but in some cases, the extra weight gets in the way to starting a good diet and exercise program.

For those people, weight loss surgery, including lap band surgery, may be an effective option in getting excess weight under control.When the weight is gone, it's possible to implement a good exercise plan.

Types of Weight Loss Surgery
Weight loss surgery may be a good option for people who have not had weight loss success with non-surgical methods.
Weight loss surgery can provide the best results for these individuals, including longer-term loss of weight.

The two most common types of weight loss surgery are lap band surgery and gastric bypass surgery.There are significant differences between these two weight loss surgery options, and it's important that those considering weight loss surgery understand the risks and benefits of both options.

What is Gastric Bypass?
Gastric bypass is a weight loss surgery option that involves several steps, including the following:
- Stapling the stomach to reduce its size
- Bypassing much of the stomach and some of the intestines
- Surgically attaching the intestines to the smaller stomach pouch

This procedure makes it impossible for the patient to eat as much food as they normally would.




The shortened intestine also means that the body cannot absorb as many nutrients from the food.

There are some advantages to this weight loss surgery option.They include a rapid loss of weight and a long history of successful use in the United States.Gastric bypass sometimes results in a higher total average loss of weight than is found in patients who have undergone a lap band procedure.

The disadvantages of gastric bypass surgery are significant.The procedure is extremely invasive.Gastric bypass surgery results in more complications than lap band surgery, and patients who have undergone gastric bypass procedures have a difficult time absorbing essential nutrients from their food.

In addition, there are several negative side effects associated with the gastric bypass procedure, including "dumping syndrome" and medical complications.Reversal of gastric bypass surgery is very difficult, and gastric bypass surgery has a mortality rate that is ten times higher than lap band surgery.

What is Lap Band Surgery?
Lap band surgery is a weight loss surgery option that involves placing an adjustable gastric band around the upper portion of a patient's stomach.This procedure restricts the amount of food the stomach can contain, because it restricts the size of the stomach.It also increases the amount of time it takes for food to pass to the intestines.

The lap band procedure works because it limits the amount of food a patient can eat, slows digestion, and reduces the patient's appetite.This procedure does not interfere with the body's ability to absorb nutrients from food.

Lap band surgery has many advantages, including being minimally invasive, adjustable, and reversible.There is a much lower risk for malnutrition.The short-term mortality rate for lap band surgery is one tenth the mortality rate for gastric bypass, making it a much safer weight loss surgery option.

The disadvantages of lap band surgery are that it results in slower weight loss than gastric bypass surgery, requires follow-up medical visits, and has a small risk of leaking or slipping.

Please note that the lap band is also known as the slimband, or slim band.
About the Author

Making a decision on if the lap band weight loss surgery is right for you is a personal choice.

When researching options on weight loss surgery, consider the Lap Band Info blog.

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How to Put Together a Fitness Training Plan

You work out at home, at the gym, maybe even at work.But do you really know what to do?This article will provide you with information on how to put together a fitness training plan that fits all of your needs - lifestyle, fitness level, time constraints and interests.Whether you're just starting out or been at it for years, the following information will be beneficial to you.

So you have home gym equipment and/or a health club membership, and you may even be using them on a regular basis.But, how do you put together an exercise plan that not only helps you improve your body's health, but also do it in a way that fits the rest of your life?

1.Define what your goals are.Are you looking to lose weight?Gain muscle?Tone up what you already have?You'll need to decide what it is you want to accomplish before you can define what your plan is.

2.Understand that you need to start slowly.Your body will adjust quickly to the changes that will take place as you get into a regular exercise program - but overdoing things at the beginning will have the opposite effect you are looking for.Start with a simple program, and build onto it as your fitness improves.

3.Decide how much time you can spend per day.And, and dedicate yourself to using that time for your fitness workouts.Keep in mind that committing two percent of your day will get you to where you need to be!

4.Write it down beforehand.Plan out your workouts, and keep track of your results.Pick your exercises, pick your weight for the exercise, pick your number of sets / number of reps, pick your time that you'll do cardio, and commit to it.

5.When doing your planning - break up your routine.For example - if you're doing weight training, don't try to train all your muscle groups in one session.Rather, schedule your chest and arm exercises for one session, back and shoulder exercises for the next, and legs & abdominals for the third.Keeping variety in your training will not only help keep you motivated, it also helps keep you from overtraining and getting hurt.

6.See your doctor.Before you put your plan into action, talk to your doctor, and make sure that what you've planned won't hurt you, only help you!

7.Learn about your body.Learn about what muscles make up your body, and what exercises work the muscle groups you'd like to concentrate on.Learn about what the difference is between "cardio efficiency" and "burning fat".For example, running on the treadmill at your peak speed, may build your cardiovascular system, but running at a much slower pace actually is better for training your body to burn fat.

Your plan is just that - yours.In the end, you'll only get out of your plan what you put into it.And, the best way to create a successful plan is to create something that you're not just comfortable with, but a plan that challenges you to push yourself just a little bit farther!You only get out of your plan what you put into it.And, the best way to create a successful plan is to create something that you're not just comfortable with, but a plan that challenges you to push yourself just a little bit farther!
About the Author

Bob Lachinet is the owner of Fitness 4 Home Superstore, a specialty fitness equipment dealer recently named the #1 choice for home fitness equipment in Arizona by BestFitnessDealers.

com!Find the best fitness training equipment in Arizona - visit our site today.

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