Waist Circumference and Your Health

Some people are very fixated on what the scale says. They believe that if they are a certain weight, that they are unhealthy and that they are worthless and need a change. A scale is just a machine. It measures the force of gravity you exert on the earth. A number does not define you. Yes, I believe that everyone should live healthy and active lifestyles, but you don't need to tie a number to your health. I already know that when I am a practicing dietitian, I will not be weighing my patients unless it is absolutely necessary. People fear going to the doctor because they do not want to know what they weigh or what a doctor will say about their weight. We can make changes without tying a number to ourselves. By simply focusing on our eating and health habits, we can achieve goals. I personally do not step on the scale unless I absolutely need to. A better way to gauge health is to do waist circumference. Women should strive to have a waist circumference of 35 inches at most and men should have a waist circumference of 40 inches at most. Waist circumference can be a good predictor for being overweight and obese, and can help dietitians predict if you more likely to develop a disease. There are two main types of adiposity, Central adiposity and Gynoid adipostiy. Central adipostity is excessive amounts of fat around the abdominal area. When there is a significant amount of fat in the abdominal region, there is a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension. Less harmful but still bad is Gynoid adipostiy. This is where fat deposits around the hips and glutes; less harmful but still an issue. These two types help dietitians and physicians to describe where fat is gathering and storing on the body. Gauging waist circumference and adipostiy type can help you and a dietitian figure out an action plan to achieve your goals and become healthier.  

         
Want to figure out how healthy you are without stepping on the scale? Try measuring your waist circumference and figure out where you stand! Need help reaching your goals and making a change? Message me and we can get you on the right track!

Motivation Monday

No one said reaching your goals, whether fitness and health or not, was going to be easy. There will be times where you feel like giving up and that you have to go back to your old ways but you can push through and achieve your goals. Everyone is looking for the quick fix to weight loss or the quick fix to eating healthier or working out more. There are thousands of posts on Pinterest that  say that they can help you lose 10 pounds in a week. As previously talked about in another post (http://theroadtobeinganrd.blogspot.com/2015/12/pinterest-diets-and-detoxes.html) , these diets and tricks really only have you lose water weight which is easily gained back. They don't teach you healthy habits or help you make lifestyle changes. Making small changes to your daily routine can help you change your life! You don't have to completely cut out your favorite food from your diet or change the way you eat all together. You have the power and the means to control what you eat and how healthy you are, you can take this information and apply it to yourself or you can just keep it in the back of your mind. Once you start contemplating making a change, you're already on your way to make that change and better yourself. Getting discouraged at some points is only part of the process. Believing in yourself and having a solid support team behind you; friends, family, significant other, coworkers, medical teams, can make you successful and stay on track with your goals. Surrounding yourself with positivity and support can only add fuel to your desire. So whenever you're down on yourself and feeling like that you're having trouble reaching your goals, look within and find that fire you had when you decided to start the journey and the process. You've got this!

Next post will feature a workout program and workout help!