If you are like most Americans, you dread stepping on the scale. It can cause a myriad of emotions, many of which are not positive. Since this week is National Healthy Weight Week and Full Bloom Acres is getting ready to start a weight loss challenge with Jazzercise of Washington/Dodge County, I thought it would be a great time to talk about why reaching a healthy weight is so important for your health. Throughout the month, we are going to talk about different areas of weight loss. Today, we will look at Body Mass Index and how being overweight can increase your risk for chronic disease.

I want to be clear, you are more than the number on the scale. This information is not meant to make anyone feel bad or embarrassed. Rather, it is meant to educate and inspire readers and help everyone understand the importance of your weight. But the most important thing to remember is that YOU are in control. Once you learn the ways the food marketing companies have stacked the deck against your weight loss goals, you can stop feeling guilty and start feeling empowered!

Your body works its best at a certain weight. Organs function better, blood and fluids flow more freely, and joints move more naturally. What is your ideal weight? This is the point in this conversation when I have to point out that I am not a doctor and the following information is for educational purposes only. You should see a healthcare professional to help determine your ideal body weight and before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. The Body Mass Index was developed to help with determining your ideal weight. It takes into account your height and weight, not just your weight. A taller person should weigh more than a shorter person because of extra bone, muscle, ect.

There are limitations of the Body Mass Index (BMI). For example, the BMI may overestimate body fat in athletes or those with more muscular builds. Think of a bodybuilder. He or she has very little body fat but will weigh more because of their muscle mass. Additionally, the BMI can underestimate body fat in older people or others who may have lost muscle. This is why BMI is only one tool used when determining risk factors for various diseases.

BMI can be determined by using a calculator like the one below by the National Institute of Health.

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc.htm

According to this source, this is how the BMI results are categorized:

• Underweight = BMI below 18.5

• Normal = BMI of 18.5-24.9

• Overweight = BMI of 25.0-29.9

• Obese = BMI of 30.0 and above

How do lower your BMI and get into the “Normal” range? Either increase your height (I’m sure someone somewhere is working on that! 🤣) or decrease your weight. Yes, as you gain muscle, you will increase your weight a bit. That is normal. However, that new muscle will be so beneficial to you that you should try not to worry about it. The pounds will start to come off as you continue working out, cleaning up your diet, and manage your stress.

Being overweight or obese is one of the top risk factors for developing heart disease and other health conditions. Additional risk factors for developing chronic disease include:

• High blood pressure (hypertension)

• High LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol)

• Low HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol)

• High triglycerides

• High blood glucose (sugar)

• Family history of premature heart disease

• Physical inactivity

• Cigarette smoking

The good news is that losing any weight helps to decrease your risk of developing disease. Whatever weight you are now is likely due to the habits you have developed throughout your lifetime. Losing weight is basically just a matter of changing your habits. However, that can be a really tough challenge! Working with someone who understands that and is familiar with positive support can be very beneficial. We all need a little help!

If you want to check out my philosophy on health and wellness plus get some really great tips for losing weight, I encourage you to register for my online course, “Weight Loss Reboot”. I will walk you through a four-week program to make small, manageable changes each week which add up to lasting results. I am offering this course for free!

If you want to join us in the February Weight Loss Challenge, you can get unlimited in-person and virtual Jazzercise classes from Jazzercise of Washington/Dodge County for the month, PLUS the Weight Loss Reboot, PLUS eligibility for weekly prizes and a final cash prize!

Click here for more info on these programs!

Stay tuned for the upcoming post on dietary fat and type 2 diabetes. This will be a great one since diabetes is really misunderstood!

Reach out if you have any questions or want more information on services or the online course!

Peace, love & kale!

Lindsay