Best Fitness Blog

...By Karli Taylor

You have heard it before -- if you want to know the state of your health, turn your attention to your waistline. Waist circumference is getting a lot of attention as the new risk factor for future health problems, even becoming more popular than the old standard of BMI. Why? It’s because belly fat is thought to be more dangerous than fat that pads other parts of your body. Even people who look to be “skinny” should be concerned if they hold any extra baggage around the middle.

Your body needs some fat, but where the fat is on your body makes a big difference. Fat can behave differently in different places, and the stuff that lies along your midsection has been proven to be the most unhealthy. There are two types of fat that can live around your waistline, the first is subcutaneous fat, or the fat just under your skin. This is the fat that you can pinch with your fingers. Though it is what most of us concern ourselves with, it’s actually the lesser of the two evils. It’s the visceral fat, the belly fat that hides deep inside, around your inner organs, that may pose a silent health threat if there's too much of it.

There are four keys to losing visceral fat: exercise, diet, sleep, and stress management.

Though there are no specific moves or activities that lessen visceral fat, by including both cardiovascular and resistance exercise into your daily routing you will be able to burn off fat while you are exercising and add lean mass that will continue to burn fat while you are at rest.

It has been proven that 30 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity, done four times per week, reduced subcutaneous and visceral abdominal fat. Resistance training alone reduced only subcutaneous fat. However a stronger, leaner body burns more calories at rest so it is always best to do cardio as well as strength training to accomplish your weight loss goals.

Contact Best Fitness in your area for assistance in creating a weight loss plan that incorporates the loss of belly fat.

Visit one of our Best Fitness Clubs to learn even more about this topic. We have locations in Albany,NY, Tonawanda, NY, Schenectady, NY, Erie, PA, Nashua, NH, Chelmsford, MA, and Drum Hill, MA.

...By Karli Taylor

Yup, you read that right. You can be skinny and fat at the same time! In a recent survey only 45 percent of Americans strongly agree that body weight is an indicator of a healthy diet, and you know what? They're right. In fact, body weight isn't a good indicator of health period. Some of the skinniest people I know are also the least healthy.

In a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, researchers found that among more than 15,000 patients, for those with a "normal, healthy" body mass index (BMI) who carried excess fat in their bellies, the risk of dying was no lower than those with BMIs in the "overweight" or "obese" category. In reality where you carry your weight and your day-to-day lifestyle are the true keys to optimal wellness.

Though I’m not saying that weight is not a factor in being healthy, I am saying that there is a much bigger picture that needs to be examined. To better grasp your health ask yourself these 10 questions — the more that you answer yes, the better:

• Do you consistently eat 3-5 servings of fruit or vegetables every day?
• Do you consistently eat whole grains and limit refined grains?
• Do you consistently limit your intake of processed and fried foods?
• Are you consistently physically active at least 30 minutes 5 days a week?
• Do you consistently get at least 7 hours of sleep each night?
• Would you describe your stress level as moderate to low?
• Is your waist measurement below 35 inches (women) or 40 inches (men)?
• Are you a non-smoker?
• Do you consistently avoid saturated fats?
• Are you more focused on how you feel (energy, strength, endurance) rather than your size or weight?

Because many people keep focused solely on the number on the scale, they are willing to engage in behaviors that worsen their health. But those 'skinny fat' habits, like skipping meals, smoking, relying on diet pills and over-exercising are major health traps that can speed up the aging process and ruin your quality of life. At the end of the day, monitor your weight, but focus on your health.

Visit one of our Best Fitness Clubs to learn even more about this topic. We have locations in Albany,NY, Tonawanda, NY, Schenectady, NY, Erie, PA, Nashua, NH, Chelmsford, MA, and Drum Hill, MA.