| As you continue to exercise, you may find that your | | | | The inch-factor is significant. Which is why we have |
| weighing machine sticks stubbornly to one weight. For | | | | included body dimensions in the How Fit Am I? |
| example, if you were 70 kg when you began | | | | personal survey. Yes. there is increasing evidence that |
| exercising, you will still be 70 kg. Don't get disheartened. | | | | it is possible to be within the 'ideal' weight-range and |
| It does not mean that you are not losing fat. What it | | | | yet have excess body-fat that is detrimental to health. |
| means is that your muscles are developing, they are | | | | That is simple to explain. -If you have been leading a |
| getting stronger and becoming more efficient. It is a | | | | sedentary lifestyle, you have been losing lean muscle |
| temporary but a long drawn-out phase. Your muscles | | | | and gaining fat. Since the weight of fat has replaced |
| are burning fat. | | | | the weight of muscle, your weight remains the same. |
| But since they have grown in lean mass, they are now | | | | But, your body would not be toned and taut. It would |
| registering their weight on the scales. The good news | | | | show bulges of fat. |
| is that 70 kg now includes healthy muscle weight, in | | | | Excess fat, as you already know, can cause heart |
| place of fat weight. Take heart. The first indication of | | | | diseases. Generally, both sexes get big bellies with |
| fat loss will not come from your weighing machine but | | | | women also showing their spread on their hips and |
| your clothes. They won't be as tight as they were. | | | | thighs. But the danger - zone, according to researchers, |
| That is because muscle mass is lean and healthy and | | | | is the Âpot-belly-abdominal obesity that you should |
| takes less space than globules of fat. Your skin will | | | | guard against to avoid major heart problems. So, how |
| also show signs of toning up - it will be more taut and | | | | do you measure health in inches? |
| have a healthy glow to it. | | | | Through the waist-to-hip ratio guide. |
| For some inexplicable reason, almost everybody | | | | Here is how you do it: |
| refers to their fitness in terms of kilograms. But two | | | | Measure your waist. |
| individuals of the same height and build can have | | | | Measure your hips. |
| different weights. One could have more muscle and | | | | Divide your waist measurement with your hip |
| one could have more fat. For example two men who | | | | measurement. |
| are five feet six inches in height could both weigh 65 | | | | The answer is your waist-to-hip ratio. |
| kg. But while one may look fit, the other may have a | | | | For men, the ideal ratio is 1.0 or lower. |
| paunch. That is because the former has lean healthy | | | | For women, the ideal ratio is 0.8 or lower. |
| muscle while the latter has fat. Obviously, the first man | | | | Examples: |
| is fitter and healthier. | | | | A. Male: |
| You may have heard the story about the former U.S. | | | | Waist = 34 inches. |
| President, Gerald Ford. Ford was a university football | | | | Hips = 36 inches. |
| player in his youth. He is said to have proudly | | | | 34 + 36 = 0.94 |
| announced that in his 50's he weighed the same as he | | | | B Female: |
| did when he was a fit, youthful football player. No | | | | Waist = 34 inches. |
| doubt many people were impressed by his | | | | Hips = 38 inches. |
| observation. But fitness experts scoffed. You see, | | | | 34 + 38 = 0.89 |
| what Ford didn't mention was that in his 50s his waist | | | | The man is within his safety zone, but the woman |
| measured 38 inches as against 32 inches in his | | | | needs to lose inches of fat. |
| football-playing days! | | | | |