waist to hip ratio | It's Time To Lose Weight

After only one week, I actually managed to climb the two flights of stairs that lead to my office at work without panting like an overheated dog. I’m certainly not is great physical shape (yet) but it’s a noticeable improvement. I still have not found a walking partner at work, so (I’m sure you’ve guessed) I have not started to walk at lunch. I still plan on doing it but (another excuse) the weather may get in the way.

There is a major storm heading our way and there may be many inches of snow by morning. It’s March – only 16 days until Spring! Mother Nature must be out of synch. Winter is coming later and later. Now the forecasts say between 5-10 inches. That may not be much for some areas already hit by major snowstorms this year. But for the past two years we have not had any snow. If we do get the snow that is called for, I can still workout on the treadmill. No excuses that I can’t get to the gym or it’s too cold outside.

I was an excuse maker for many years. I didn’t like it when it was cold outside. I didn’t want to walk in the cold or rain or snow or anything else that made me uncomfortable. I didn’t want to walk in the mall because there were too many people. I didn’t want to work out in the gym because I felt self-conscious with the beautiful people working out. No excuses. I can workout alone with all of the pleasures that come with an Internet connection and routines already planned for me. No thought necessary.

Once I have this every other day treadmill routine worked into a habit, I will need to change up things. I don’t want it to become monotonous. I will add or vary my routine to keep me interested. That’s the only way that I can continue. If I get bored or find that I’m not invested in the workout, it becomes all too easy to stop. There’s not stopping allowed. I have to keep myself from thinking that is an option. More than anything else I need to stay motivated. I cannot fail this time.

By the way, I did figure out my waist-to-hip ratio. The way to measure is in yesterday’s post. For women, the ideal ratio is .80. Mine is .86. My measurement was not as disheartening as my BMI until I read on Wikipedia that above .85 is considered obese. Really – I can’t get a break. That word keeps following me around. How does that simple .01 push me over that edge?

So much more to do…

How did it go? Check for yourself:

I did alright – lost one pound! It’s a movement in the right direction. I am so glad that I didn’t gain anything. I tried not to think about it too much beforehand but I was worried that I might not see any progress. This was encouraging. Now if I can do that 30 more times, I’d be good to go!

I realize that I didn’t tell you why my BMI was overwhelming. If I were six foot tall, it wouldn’t be an issue. I’d be in the normal range. Since I’m 5’3″ – not so much. I’m way past the growing stage so getting taller isn’t an option. Losing weight is the only solution to bring down that BMI.

I read the Jillian Michaels newletter everyday. This week she says BMI is not the only method to use to calculate desirable weight. Here is an excerpt:

Today, the medical industry has set its weight guidelines according to the waist-to-hip-ratio method, which is a much more accurate way of arriving at an ideal goal weight. Follow these steps to find yours:

Get a tape measure and measure your waist right at the belly-button line.
Standing with feet hip-width apart, measure your hips at their widest point.
Now simply divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement. This is your waist-to-hip ratio.

The ideal waist-to-hip ratios are 0.80 for women and 0.95 for men.
www.jillianmichaels.com

Now I have to go check my waist-to-hip ratio. Who knows – maybe that number will make me feel less “obese” – what an ugly word. I will keep searching for the best information so that I can arm myself with facts that will work for me. But this hip measurement has me worried. Why do men get an additional leeway of .15. If anything, women should get that leeway because we generally are curvier. Having a rounded rear asset is supposed to be a good thing.

Next – waist-to-hip ratio (something else to add to the list of things that don’t make me smile)