BMI vs. Body Fat Percentage.

Now that you are all weight loss connoisseurs, established as "regulars" at your neighborhood gym as well as in the raw food isles at your local grocery store, I'm sure you're coming across some new terminology.
Take BMI (Body Mass Index) for example...perhaps you've heard of it but it's role in your fitness life remains a mystery. In short, BMI is a measure of your weight scaled in relation to your height. You can configure your personal # by utilizing an online calculator, like this one:
http://www.halls.md/body-mass-index/bmi.htm

or you can manually calculate your BMI:
- multiply your weight (pounds) by 703
- divide that # by your height (inches)
- divide that # by your height (inches) again
A healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9 - where do you stand?

Now I'm going to completely confuse you and tell you that the number you just calculated (your BMI) is a much less accurate picture of your overall health and fitness when compared to your Body Fat Percentage. The BMI configuration doesn't account for how much of your body is muscle and bone and how much of it is fat. Essentially, you could have a 'healthy' BMI while still carrying a great deal of visceral fat (the belly bulge). You might be asking why I had you calculate your BMI to begin with, let's just skip straight to the good stuff, right? Easier said than done. Calculating one's Body Fat Percentage requires more than just a scale and a measuring tape. Body Fat Percentage measures an individuals fat divided by their weight, requiring the use of calipers (a device used to pinch your skin folds) or a high-tech scale. Body Fat % provides you with a correct estimate of your overall body construction and health and is a more accurate fitness representation when compared to the BMI.

For those of you with a gym membership, I encourage you to inquire about a training session during which you can have your Body Fat Percentage assessed and proceed to develop a training schedule geared towards your goals and needs.
My mom and I recently inquired about this ourselves (the YMCA offers a free training session and follow-up to recent members) and it was quite an eye-opening experience. I encourage it!!
In the mean time use the BMI calculator to establish a rough estimate of how far you've come and where you'd like to go. But remember, fitness extends far beyond the numbers on the scale.

- NMC