Ideal Body Weight

Who does not want to look good? I have been dealing with a little puppy fat all my life. No matter what I do or what I eat, the fat seems to be in love with me. Fortunately, I have passed the phases of a crash diets and all other similar diets which promised miraculous results but left me hungry for days and at the end of which, giving in to food cravings, I would eat and eat and ultimately gain more weight. But, I still have not given up. I have gained a lot of experience and now eat healthy and exercise regularly. And, I also occasionally feed my cravings for sweet before it reaches to a frustratingly level. Although, I would not say that I have been completely able to get rid of the baby fat, I am glad to say that I am on my way and this time as the weight loss has been gradual and I am not starving myself, the chances of me gaining back the weight is minimal.

Through the entire ordeal, I have understood that using the weighing scale to measure your fitness is not entirely the right way as there is no way to pin point the exact weight that is ideal for you. The ideal body weight depends on many factors like genetics and your body structure in general. Using the body mass index (BMI) to determine is comparatively a better way to determine your fitness when compared only to measuring your weight.

Being healthy and staying in the normal weight limit for your height and age helps reduce the risk of a number of diseases like the heart disease, gallbladder diseases, gout, diabetes and depression. A healthy body is known to improve the overall quality of life and also helps you keep your self-confidence at normal levels.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Adolphe Quelet, a Belgium statistician developed the formula for the Body Mass Index (BMI). It is also referred to as the Body Mass Indicator and is an internationally used measurement for obesity. Calculation of the BMI is a simple procedure and the only two inputs required as the height and weight.

Imperial BMI Formula: To calculate the BMI by using the Imperial measurements, weight has to be calculated in pounds and the height in inches. Multiply the weight in pound with the factor 703. Divide the result with the height in inches squared. The result is the BMI value in Kilogram /square meter.

Metric BMI Formula: To calculate the BMI by using the Metric measurements, weight has to be calculated in kilograms and the height in meters. Divide the weight in kilograms with the height in meters squared. The result is the BMI value in Kilogram /square meter.

Status: Below is the status of your BMI calculation as per the standards used by the United States of Health and Human Services:

• Below 18.5 – Underweight
• 18.5 – 24.9 – Normal
• 25 – 29.9 – Overweight
• Above 30 – Obese

I would again like to stress that these values are not absolute. They are only an indication of the fitness and may vary for you depending on your genes and body frame.

Weight Loss Diets

The lists of diets that you can follow are endless. I have followed so many diets and used as many diet programs, I will not be able to remember even half of them. Each kind of diet program has their disadvantages. You have to remember here that your body requires every kind of food, but in moderation. The best diet would be a healthy diet wherein you avoid excess of fats and oily foods. Also, junk food has to be totally avoided. I sometimes get the feeling that I put on weight just by looking at French fries. Well, jokes apart, eat everything. You do not need a diet program to tell you what is healthy and what is not. You know it and it is about time you take charge of what you want to eat. And, occasionally, do satisfy your sweet tooth before it drives you up the wall and forces you to eat an entire can of ice-cream. A piece of advice here is that do not store anything at home that you may be tempted to eat just because you are getting bored. Keep healthy food and they will tempt you only when you are actually hungry.

To lose weight and look good, the only thing that you require is determination and the will to achieve it for the most important person in your life - you.