We’ve all seen the charts. Measure your height and check out what you ought to weigh. BMI is easy to work with, but according to fitness expert Eliot Tasses, it’s nothing more than that.
If You’re Weight-Obsessed, Here's a New Perspective to Set You Free!
We’ve all seen the charts. Measure your height and check out what you ought to weigh. As basic guidelines go, it’s easy to work with, but according to fitness expert Eliot Tasses, it’s nothing more than that.
There’s also a bit of a gender gap in how we view weight. Men want to gain weight - muscle weight. Ladies usually want to lose weight, and they don’t want big muscles. A conversation with Eliot gives us a whole new perspective - and for those of us who are hovering over the scales, it comes as something of a relief.
BMI Has Limitations
BMI (Body Mass Index) has its limitations. Prof Nick Trefethen, a renowned mathematician, was among the first to ring warning bells. Because it’s just a mathematical construct, there’s variance on either end of the BMI scale.
Without going into the maths, it comes down to short people being led to believe they’re thinner than they really are while tall people could be led to believe they’re fatter than they ought to be when they’re actually just fine.
But there are other problems too. There really are some people who are “big-boned.” Meanwhile, some people have a very light, delicate frame. BMI doesn’t allow for that. Once again, you could end up thinking you’re overweight when you aren’t.
Eliot is passionate about the final insult you could get if you rely on BMI as the sole means of determining your ideal weight. “It doesn’t account for muscle mass,” he says. “If you’re losing weight because you’re dropping muscle mass, it’s obvious that you’re weakening your body. BMI says you’re doing great, but meanwhile, your body fat percentage could be saying otherwise.”
Muscle Weighs More Than Fat - And Ladies Should Want It Too
Muscle is way more compact than fat, and it weighs more per volume. But women often worry about muscle weight gain. When we think of women and muscles, images of pumped female bodybuilders spring to mind. It’s not a look that every girl wants.
Muscle development doesn’t necessarily mean looking like the she-hulk. “You need to realise that bodybuilding is a very demanding sport,” Eliot explains. Preparing for a competition is a big thing, and when the ladies appear in bodybuilding events, they’ve been through an extreme pre-competition programme and they’re doing weights just before appearing so that they’re totally pumped.”
“When you see them on a regular day, you wouldn’t even know they’re bodybuilders. You might notice that they have attractive body lines, but there are no bulging biceps or super-defined sinews in sight. They just look good.”
The irony of it all is that apart from the aesthetic side of things, good muscle development is especially important for women. We’re more prone to osteoporosis, and studies have found that low muscle mass increases osteoporosis risk.
In addition, exercise builds bone density. So, piling on a few kilos of muscle might not make the scale your friend, but you look great, and you’re more likely to remain healthy and active as you age.
Combat the Real Enemy: Too Much Fat
At the end of the day, there’s only one problem that both men and women should worry about: too much fat. And although body mass is an indicator, it isn’t the be-all-and-end-all. “You need the right balance of muscle and fat,” says Eliot. “And you do need some fat. There’s actually a danger-zone in which people have too little fat to be healthy.”
Eliot emphasises the importance of a healthy diet. “Don’t crash diet,” he warns. “You’ll lose muscle weight too. I’m an advocate of eating a sensible, healthy diet and getting lots of exercise. You can also overdo the cardio, so balance it with strength-training.”
Find Out More
If you have the money, a personal trainer can help you to track your physical health much better than you could if you just used BMI and your scale as indicators. But for many of us, the costs of gym membership plus a personal trainer are a bridge too far.
Eliot Tasses believes he’s overcome that barrier: “I’ve created online coaching site, with over 120 videos of content to get you great results and remain injury free!, and I do a bit of personal consulting to help people get their goal-setting right. We’ve got a really motivated community going here, so come Join Eliot Tasses Online.”
Written & Syndicated by Baxton Media.
