Weight management and living a healthy lifestyle are very popular topics. In my 20+ years of training experience I’ve seen many people join gyms and one of the first things they do is weigh themselves.
A few weeks later there are sighs of disappointment as more pounds have been gained instead of lost. Focusing on one’s health, and not the scale, is the ideal way to prioritize when exercising and living a healthy lifestyle.
Erin Stern stated it well when she said, “The scale doesn’t tell the entire story. Body fat composition can change for the better, and the scale will only show a gain in weight. This can be discouraging, even as your clothes start to fit better…”
Resistance/weight training exercises help to improve bone density and muscle tone. As bone and muscle mass is denser than fat there may be a little weight gain for some people commencing a resistance exercise program.
Also, many consider the flawed BMI Charts/Indexes to be accurate indicators of health. When one embarks on an exercise regimen that involves weight training there will be muscular hypertrophy, or muscle growth.
Even if one is obese DO NOT let weight be one’s sole focus, but one’s health. The scale is not an indicator of good health. When one weight trains the body gets stronger, toned, the heart becomes stronger, one’s circulation improves, the benefits are almost endless.
A BMI Calculator or BMI charts, do us injustice because apart from the standard three main body types(ectomorphs, endomorphs, mesomorphs) there are countless people with a combination of those body types with many varying genetical differences as well.
Stating that because someone is a certain height they should weigh a certain amount is rather silly and a lofty expectation.
If being slender is a sign of good health, why are there many slender people with lifestyle diseases such as Type II diabetes, hypertension, etc.?
The point I’m making is that, again, the scale is NOT an indicator of good health. One’s focus should be getting healthy by incorporating a weight training regimen, done weekly, along with dietary supplementation.
Don’t worry, or focus, on losing weight. The body toning, weight management, strength increase, improved circulation, a stronger heart, and many other benefits will develop over a period of time.
Get clearance from your doctor then begin a healthy lifestyle that consists of resistance/weight training exercises and good dietary supplementation. Train for your health to improve your quality of life! Be consistent and have fun!
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