The weight which is just right for your body is determined by several factors, such as sex, age, height, muscle-fat ratio, bone density, etc. However, the ideal body weight depends on ethno-historical, cultural and professional factors, as well. So, if you are neither a fashion model nor a sumo-wrestler, you could use one of the following ways to calculate your ideal body weight: Body Mass Index, Waist-hip Ratio and Body Fat Percentage.
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure that relates your weight to your height. You can calculate it by dividing your weight in kilograms by the square of your height in meters. For example: if you are a woman who is 1.60 meters tall and weighs 60 kilograms, your BMI is 23.44 (1.60 x 1.60 = 2.56; next: 60 divided by 2.56 =23.44).
If you use imperial units instead of metric ones, you should time (703) your weight in pounds and divide it by the square of your height in inches. For example: if your weight is 150 pounds and your height is 65 inches, your BMI is 24.95 (65 x 65 = 4225; 150 x 703 divided by 4225 =24.95).
Your weight is ideal if your BMI ranges between 18.5 and 25. You are underweight if your BMI is less than 18.5, and overweight with a BMI between 25 and 30. People with a BMI over 30 are classified as obese. However, the biggest problem with the BMI is the fact that BMI ignores some factors of great importance, such as bone density, muscle-fat ratio, waist-hip ratio, etc. For instance, people suffering from severe osteoporosis have very low levels of bone density. So, they would have a lower BMI than others of the same height who are healthy. The trained athletes have more muscle tissue and less body fat than will have couch potatoes of the same height. For this reason, athletes have a higher BMI.
Waist-hip Ratio (WHR) is the ratio of your waist's circumference to that of your hips. To calculate your WHR, you need to measure the circumference of your waist (just above the belly button) and the circumference of your hips (at their widest part). Then, you have to divide the first result by the second one. For instance: if your waist is 60 centimeters and your hips are 90 centimeters, your WHR is 0.67.
The WHR determines the ideal weight of a person and the risk of cardiovascular health problems, as well:
For females:* WHR less than 0.8 - low risk
* WHR between 0.8 and 0.89 - moderate risk
* WHR over 0.89 - high risk
For males:* WHR less than 0.9 - low risk
* WHR between 0.9 and 0.99 - moderate risk
* WHR over 0.99 - high risk
The problem with the WHR is the lack of measurement on the muscle-fat ratio, but the WHR is a more effective predictor of the ideal body weight than the BMI.
The Body Fat Percentage (BFP) is the ratio of your body fat divided by your total weight. BFP also indicates the person's storage of fat. The most popular ways of calculating the BFP are: dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, near-infrared interactance, and bioelectrical impendance analysis.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Can You Really Lose Weight With Low Carb Diets?
Low carb diets are dietary programs that intend to lower the intake of carbohydrate-rich foods and enrich protein and fat-rich foods. This is usually for obesity treatment or weight control. Carbohydrate-rich foods are composed of sugars which when accumulated increase the weight of a person.
The reduction of carbohydrate intake is actually a means of caloric intake prevention. This is however can be compensated once there is an increase intake of protein and fat-rich foods. In this way, treatments from various conditions, aside from obesity, like chronic fatigue syndrome, poly-cystic ovarian syndrome, diabetes, and epilepsy are possible.
There are things needed to be considered first before going into these diets. Once of which is the fact that it may cause some dangerous conditions especially when the depletion of glycogen is severe.
Low-carbohydrate diets vary in the specific carbohydrate amounts allowed, whether there are certain types of foods recommended, and occasional exceptions considered. In general, processed sugar should be eliminated from the body, or at least reduced.
Until today, the program remains controversial. This is because different opinions are stated from different experts. The populace has a polarized opinion regarding this matter. The debate is centered on defining first what a normal diet is and how the body is supposed to do its work. No matter what, you have to know that the intestines in our body has the capability to digest and easily absorb the nutritive sugars and convert them into blood sugars. The amount of these blood sugar or glucose should be properly maintain in order to avoid massive complications.
The cells in our body uses blood sugar as source of energy needed to perform their fundamental jobs. The insulin is the one that carries the sugar to the cell. If there is less production of insulin compared to the production of sugar from carbohydrates, diabetes will most likely to occur.
The program is normally intended for weight loss but studies show that it could be considered as treatments to some diseases like epilepsy, diabetes, and even cancer.
When you have decided to undergo these programs, you need to make sure that you are fully equipped especially in terms of information. Be informed so that you will not end up having regrets. Plan ahead on how you could do the actual Low carb diets. The program is relative to your state of condition. It could bring forth both good and bad results. The choice is yours. Read some reviews and medical books before risking your system.
The reduction of carbohydrate intake is actually a means of caloric intake prevention. This is however can be compensated once there is an increase intake of protein and fat-rich foods. In this way, treatments from various conditions, aside from obesity, like chronic fatigue syndrome, poly-cystic ovarian syndrome, diabetes, and epilepsy are possible.
There are things needed to be considered first before going into these diets. Once of which is the fact that it may cause some dangerous conditions especially when the depletion of glycogen is severe.
Low-carbohydrate diets vary in the specific carbohydrate amounts allowed, whether there are certain types of foods recommended, and occasional exceptions considered. In general, processed sugar should be eliminated from the body, or at least reduced.
Until today, the program remains controversial. This is because different opinions are stated from different experts. The populace has a polarized opinion regarding this matter. The debate is centered on defining first what a normal diet is and how the body is supposed to do its work. No matter what, you have to know that the intestines in our body has the capability to digest and easily absorb the nutritive sugars and convert them into blood sugars. The amount of these blood sugar or glucose should be properly maintain in order to avoid massive complications.
The cells in our body uses blood sugar as source of energy needed to perform their fundamental jobs. The insulin is the one that carries the sugar to the cell. If there is less production of insulin compared to the production of sugar from carbohydrates, diabetes will most likely to occur.
The program is normally intended for weight loss but studies show that it could be considered as treatments to some diseases like epilepsy, diabetes, and even cancer.
When you have decided to undergo these programs, you need to make sure that you are fully equipped especially in terms of information. Be informed so that you will not end up having regrets. Plan ahead on how you could do the actual Low carb diets. The program is relative to your state of condition. It could bring forth both good and bad results. The choice is yours. Read some reviews and medical books before risking your system.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Carbohydrates and Weight Control
Many people struggle with weight loss and cannot seem to stick to diets because diets do not work. One of the best ways to get your body weight under control and keep it under control is to get your carbohydrates under control. A low carb diet is more of a healthy way of eating rather than a diet so it is a good way to control your body weight and to get all of the necessary nutrients that the body needs to be optimally functional.
It is a common misconception that the body needs carbohydrates in order to have energy. This concept not only false but in fact consuming carbohydrates may be a major contributor to erratic energy levels in the body. Consuming foods with carbohydrates sends the energy levels in the body sky high and then plummeting down. Eating a low carb diet will help to get body weight under control and will also regulate the metabolism and energy levels.
Replacing those high carb empty calories with low carb nutrient rich foods will help the body to function at its peak. When carbohydrates are cut out of the diet low carb foods replace them for energy. Instead of turning to the carbohydrates in the body to burn off for energy the body will turn to the stored fat in the body to burn off. Many people are suprised to find how much weight they lose when they are on a low carb diet. This low carb approach to eating can help anyone to drop pounds and keep their weight under control.
Low carb foods that are consumed on a low carb diet are foods like meats and seafood that are high in protein and healthy fats, dairy products like cheese and milk that are high in calcium, nutrient rich vegetables and savory nuts. Instead of eating 3 large meals, 5 smaller meals are eaten every couple of hours and that keeps the metabolism and energy in the body at a steady level.
It is important to start the day with a high protein and low carb breakfast within 30 minutes of waking up. This is an important component of low carb eating because eating very soon after waking will jump start the body's metabolism. If breakfast is put off the metabolism will remain at the pace that it was when sleeping and less fat will be burned off.
Disclaimer:
The information provided in this article does not constitute medical advice and should not be used for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. If you have a health problem you should consult a licensed physician.
It is a common misconception that the body needs carbohydrates in order to have energy. This concept not only false but in fact consuming carbohydrates may be a major contributor to erratic energy levels in the body. Consuming foods with carbohydrates sends the energy levels in the body sky high and then plummeting down. Eating a low carb diet will help to get body weight under control and will also regulate the metabolism and energy levels.
Replacing those high carb empty calories with low carb nutrient rich foods will help the body to function at its peak. When carbohydrates are cut out of the diet low carb foods replace them for energy. Instead of turning to the carbohydrates in the body to burn off for energy the body will turn to the stored fat in the body to burn off. Many people are suprised to find how much weight they lose when they are on a low carb diet. This low carb approach to eating can help anyone to drop pounds and keep their weight under control.
Low carb foods that are consumed on a low carb diet are foods like meats and seafood that are high in protein and healthy fats, dairy products like cheese and milk that are high in calcium, nutrient rich vegetables and savory nuts. Instead of eating 3 large meals, 5 smaller meals are eaten every couple of hours and that keeps the metabolism and energy in the body at a steady level.
It is important to start the day with a high protein and low carb breakfast within 30 minutes of waking up. This is an important component of low carb eating because eating very soon after waking will jump start the body's metabolism. If breakfast is put off the metabolism will remain at the pace that it was when sleeping and less fat will be burned off.
Disclaimer:
The information provided in this article does not constitute medical advice and should not be used for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. If you have a health problem you should consult a licensed physician.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
How to lose 10 pounds in 1 week?
If you want to learn how to lose 10 pounds in one week you came to the right plaece! It is simple! The key is carbohydrates, or carbs, for short. What are carbohydrates? They are simply sugars, and they are abundant in our eating habits. Many diets center on counting calories or cutting fat grams. By cutting your carbohydrate intake, the pounds just seem to melt away. Losing 10 pounds in one week is possible!
Where do you begin to cut your carbohydrates? If you are truly dedicated to a low carb diet, your main low carb foods will be vegetables and proteins. Forget the bread, rice, and even fruit. All these foods hold a multitude of sugars and starches that cause weight gain. The loss of 10 pounds in one week will be a combination of fat and water loss.
For breakfast, have some eggs with bacon. This may sound odd as a diet, but both are full of protein. Make sure to skip the toast, or get a low carb bread for the toast! For lunch, try a chicken salad or a stir fry, minus the rice. Dinner can be any meat item, such as fish, pork, or beef, and steamed vegetables of your choice. Again, the key to losing 10 pounds in one week is sticking to proteins and vegetables.
For those who are vegetarians, applying the protein portion of the diet can be difficult. Use tofu, a variety of beans, cheese, and eggs to fill your meals. Tofu is extremely versatile since it absorbs any flavor it is cooked with or in. Be creative!
The first couple of days will undoubtedly give you a good loss of weight in the form of water. As the week progresses, the fat will begin to melt away. If you find yourself craving snacks, stock up your kitchen with nuts and seeds. These fantastic foods are full of protein and fiber; a wonderful combination to keep you fuller longer, and stay true to your diet.
After the week is through, take a look at yourself. Those 10 pounds have disappeared! Congratulate yourself and enjoy the results. By applying the low carb diet, losing 10 pounds in a week is truly simple.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article does not constitute medical advice and should not be used for diagnosis or treatment of any
medical condition. If you have a health problem you should consult a licensed physician.
Where do you begin to cut your carbohydrates? If you are truly dedicated to a low carb diet, your main low carb foods will be vegetables and proteins. Forget the bread, rice, and even fruit. All these foods hold a multitude of sugars and starches that cause weight gain. The loss of 10 pounds in one week will be a combination of fat and water loss.
For breakfast, have some eggs with bacon. This may sound odd as a diet, but both are full of protein. Make sure to skip the toast, or get a low carb bread for the toast! For lunch, try a chicken salad or a stir fry, minus the rice. Dinner can be any meat item, such as fish, pork, or beef, and steamed vegetables of your choice. Again, the key to losing 10 pounds in one week is sticking to proteins and vegetables.
For those who are vegetarians, applying the protein portion of the diet can be difficult. Use tofu, a variety of beans, cheese, and eggs to fill your meals. Tofu is extremely versatile since it absorbs any flavor it is cooked with or in. Be creative!
The first couple of days will undoubtedly give you a good loss of weight in the form of water. As the week progresses, the fat will begin to melt away. If you find yourself craving snacks, stock up your kitchen with nuts and seeds. These fantastic foods are full of protein and fiber; a wonderful combination to keep you fuller longer, and stay true to your diet.
After the week is through, take a look at yourself. Those 10 pounds have disappeared! Congratulate yourself and enjoy the results. By applying the low carb diet, losing 10 pounds in a week is truly simple.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article does not constitute medical advice and should not be used for diagnosis or treatment of any
medical condition. If you have a health problem you should consult a licensed physician.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)