If knowledge is power, then I just gained a personal nuclear power plant! (I would go green and say I gained a wind farm, but my big brother, Larry, would say that I already have enough hot air to power windmills.)
I just completed the Fitness Evaluation that is included with my Fitness Center membership. The evaluation included my Body Mass Index (BMI), cardiovascular health, strength, flexibility, and body composition. The Mean Girl voice said I was going to fail every evaluation. She was wrong.
The evaluator said that I scored the highest on one of the strength tests that she had ever measured. When she said that I had to do as many sit ups as I could in one minutes, I almost laughed. I doubted I could do one. My stomach hated me the next morning, but I did 20! She told me I scored better overall than most women my age and who weight much less than I do. When she looked at my Nautilus workout record, she was impressed and again commented on my strength.
The results that empowered me the most was my BMI. Although there is definitely plenty of fat to lose, I received electrifying news. My Lean Mass Body Index, which is how much my bones, muscles, organs, and connective tissues weigh, is 168 pounds. I was shocked! That’s right! I would weigh 168 pounds if I didn’t have one ounce of fat on my body. I am 5’10”. Based on my Lean BMI, my “Optimal” weight, where I will be the healthiest, is between 213 and 229 pounds. I did not type that wrong! Fuse blown! My whole adult life I have been chasing a number on a scale that will never be obtainable.
These fitness results have caused a nuclear reaction in my life. It has rewritten my perspective on past events and eradicate the validity of comments people have made. I am readjusting my long term goals and basing them on facts. I am strong. I am powerful. The voice of Total Truth has Mean Girl cowering in the corner and Power Women is taking charge. I will continue to grow stronger as I lift weights, do cardio, and water aerobics. I have lost seven pounds, but I have significantly less to lose than I ever dreamed. I am going to take ownership of all the results on my evaluation report and, when I do the reevaluation in five months, I am sure I will explode with joy at my progress. Bring on the sit ups!
Didn't baby sis say muscle mass and how you feel is most important!
ReplyDeleteI second that comment!
ReplyDelete-Meaghan
BMI stands for bunch of malarky index. By that standard, my maximum healthy weight is 183 (assuming I was still 6'0", which I no longer am). Last time I measured, I weighed 186 with only 10% body fat.
ReplyDeleteComing from inside the AT&T firewall to the Google space. Feels much roomier out here. Keep up the great work!
ReplyDelete-Nathan