What is BMI?
BMI stands for body mass index. To determine your BMI, you follow a simple formula. First, measure your height in meters and square it, then divide your weight in kilograms. If you’re using imperial measurements, measure your height in inches and square it. Your BMI is used as a guide to determine if you are at a healthy weight for optimal health and wellness and may be used to determine screenings for specific illnesses.
BMI is divided into four categories:
- 18.5 and under is underweight
- 18.5 – 24.9 is a healthy weight range
- 25 -29.9 is overweight
- 30+ is obese
Your body mass index is indicative of your overall health and lifestyle, something that you have the power to change if needed. You can measure a person’s body fat percentage by multiplying your height by weight. A high BMI has been shown to correlate with the onset of disease, illness, and certain conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, heart disease, sleep apnea, and certain cancers. Keep in mind that BMI is not perfect since it does not consider gender, ethnicity, or hormonal status.
How to maintain a healthy BMI?
Did you know that the higher your BMI, the more joint pain and muscle aches you’ll experience? It will also be difficult to do physical activities such as walking or climbing stairs without huffing and puffing for oxygen. Medical professionals agree that a mere 5% drop in body weight may significantly impact your BMI positively and has proven to lower your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. All things that, when in check, allow you to live a healthy, active lifestyle.
The best way to lower your BMI is by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Try these strategies to reduce your BMI, and you’ll be on the road to better health:
- Eat the rainbow: the first step in gaining control of your weight is to eat a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, omega threes, and high-quality proteins. The added benefits of a healthy diet are you’ll feel better physically and mentally and look better to boot! Monitoring the foods we eat is the easiest way to gain control of your health.
- Exercise: Physical activity is a great way to lower your body weight and therefore lower your BMI. You don’t need to spend hours at the gym or become a weekend warrior. Put on some music, dance around your apartment, or lace up your running shoes and hit the trails. It’s recommended to hit a goal of 10,000 steps per day to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This is your excuse to take a break from your work day and get outdoors into the sunshine.
- Weekly weigh-ins: Once a week, step on the scale and record the number. This will show you that weight loss is not linear, and you shouldn’t toss your new lifestyle out the window. You may not always like the number you see, but as long as it’s trending downward, you’re moving in the right direction.
- Set goals: you need to make your new healthy lifestyle part of your daily routine. Pencil in your workouts as though they were meetings with important CEOs, and learn to keep the commitments you make to yourself. They will be the best commitments of your life.
- Stay consistent: progress, not perfection, is the name of the game when it comes to losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You need to do what works best for you. Try to follow the 80/20 rule, eat a balanced diet 80% of the time, and allow yourself a treat 20% of the time. This ratio will look different for everyone. And remember, if you fall off track, just get back to your new routine with your next meal and workout.
When you’re ready to take control of your health and want to achieve a healthy BMI choose a diet plan that works for you. At Longevity Care Clinic, we have nutritionists on staff that can help you achieve a healthy BMI through sustainable methods so you can enjoy your newfound health for years to come. We offer a variety of different programs so you can reach a healthy weight and feel fantastic with our ultimate 6 weight loss plan. In this program, we guide you to be the healthiest version of you!
