Size Matters!

I’m talking about Waist size! We need to put away the scale and get out the tape measure. According to Dr. Oz, here’s why ……

Love handles hurt, even if the rest of you is perfectly healthy. Why?
As your weight creeps up, so does your blood pressure (BP). That's no surprise. But now it turns out that waist size matters, too. Love handles will nudge BP higher, even if you're young (under 44), have a healthy overall weight, and currently have a blood pressure reading under 130/85 mm Hg. There's never been a better reason to watch your waist instead of your scale.

Excess weight sets you up for a host of health woes. But more and more, waist size is linked to poor health, too. Whatever you call it -- muffin top, spare tire, love handles, or beer gut -- that extra padding pushes BP higher, even in young, normal-weight people who do not have high blood pressure.

The reason? When belly fat presses on your kidneys, the bean-shaped organs feel smothered and they panic. In response, they flood your bloodstream with hormones that raise your BP. Think of abdominal obesity as your early warning system for high BP. A thick middle and pants that feel too tight signal that this health risk may not be too far behind.

Here's the trouble zone for unhealthy waist sizes:

Women
Optimal waist size: under 33 inches
Danger zone: 37 inches or more

Men
Optimal waist size: 35 inches or less
Danger zone: 40 inches or more

Dr. Oz has provided a Waistline Tracking tool … click on the link below if you’re interested:
http://www.realage.com/the-you-docs/you-on-a-diet/waistline-tracker?memberid=31506471&email=caruso5402@yahoo.com

Dr. Oz has also provided some “simple steps” to assist in getting your waist back … click on the link below if you’re interested:


http://www.realage.com/the-you-docs/you-on-a-diet/

If you don’t believe Dr. Oz, there are MANY other websites that support this topic. Just Goolge “waist circumference” or “waist health” and you can obtain additional information.

For me, last year was about losing weight, and I weighed myself twice a month. This year, however, I’m focusing on strength training and toning up. So far, I’ve weighed myself twice - - once in January and yesterday.
I’m a little shocked because all my clothes are fitting looser and I just went to Kales the other day; I’m down another size in pants and shirt. BUT …. I’m up 4 pounds?? I’m not used to seeing a weight increase, but I have to remember that muscle weighs more than fat and waist size is more important than what the scale says.

Battling a number on a piece of metal on a daily/weekly basis can be discouraging, especially when you’ve made positive changes in your diet and exercise program. If you feel good and your clothes are fitting better (and you are seeing a decrease in your waist circumference), take a break from the weigh-ins.

Keep the faith!