Is Your ‘Perfect Weight’ A Healthy Weight?

The most common question is, ‘How much should I weigh?’ This is simply not an easy question to answer. If you are over the age of 40, odds are that you weigh more than you did in your 20’s.
  
So What Is Healthy?
What is your healthy weight? Many experts would define it as your ‘blueprint’ weight that makes you feel good and is healthy on your heart. 





This simple definition however can be deceiving because ‘I feel healthy’ doesn’t always equal ‘I am healthy’. In 2013, The Journal Of The American Medical Association published a report that people who were technically overweight, yet thought they felt healthy, were less likely to die at an early age than those of a normal weight. 

There is however one major concern with this. Studies have shown that people who are more than 30 pounds overweight are more likely to develop serious health issues. The extra weight that you carry can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer. These health problems related to obesity can lead to long term negative consequences. So when does your 'Healthy Weight' become healthy? Your healthy weight is different from ‘The Perfect Weight’. 

What Can You Do? 

The first thing that you can do is forget the idea of a ‘Perfect Weight’. Many doctors don’t discuss a ‘Perfect Weight’ because it is often too stressful and unrealistic to achieve. 

To achieve a healthy weight, It is better to achieve smaller amounts of weight loss over a period of time. Focusing on a 10% weight reduction has a higher probability for success in reaching your long term goal. Smaller changes are more likely to last and have healthier impacts. 

The second thing you can do is forget the scale and make your waist your friend. The scale measures weight, correct? Well, the daily recommended intake of water which can fluctuate your weight by 2lbs or more. Does two pounds make a difference? Well, that's 7000 calories and an extra 10+ minutes per day of workout that you think you need to do. Remember, muscle also weighs more than fat.

People often rely on the BMI however generic Body Mass Index (BMI) check can misinterpret muscle for fat. If you have a lot of lean muscle mass, it can give you the wrong impression. 



Many experts today simply don’t use this in their evaluation. Sally Stieghan, a RN and dietitian in Atlanta says that the BMI tool, is more of a guess. If you want a good indicator, ask your waist. Your waist won’t lie to you. 


By measuring your waist, horizontally and across the belly button, you can measure your progress. I personally measure using a waist to height ratio. This methodology has been shown to better predict heart disease, heart attacks, diabetes and hypertension than the BMI methodology. As a Health Coach and Nutritionist, It also gives me a better picture of how you are doing.

This method is also much simpler to do. To measure the waist circumference accurately, you should measure it mid-way between the lower rib and the iliac crest (the top of the pelvic bone at the hip), this is the method recommended by the World Health Organization. 
For More Information And How I Can Help You, Give Me A Call. 
Luv Ya--Kathy 
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