![]() You totally want to ditch your scale, don't you? You may have this weird kind of relationship with your “weight”. I mean, it doesn't define you (obviously). What you weigh can matter but only to a certain extent. Let's look at your waist circumference (well...you look at yours and I'll look at mine). Waist Circumference (AKA “Belly Fat”): Do you remember the fruity body shape descriptions being like an “apple” or a “pear”? The apple is rounder around the middle (you know – belly fat-ish, kinda beer belly-ish) and the pear is rounder around the hips/thighs. THAT is what we're talking about here. Do you know which shape is associated with a higher risk of sleep apnea, blood sugar issues (e.g. insulin resistance and diabetes) and heart issues (high blood pressure, blood fat, and arterial diseases). Yup – that apple! And it's not because of the subcutaneous (under the skin) fat that you may refer to as a “muffin top”. The health risk is actually due to the fat inside the abdomen covering the liver, intestines and other organs there. This internal fat is called “visceral fat” and that's where a lot of the problem actually is. It's this “un-pinchable” fat. The reason the visceral fat can be a health issue is because it releases fatty acids, inflammatory compounds, and hormones that can negatively affect your blood fats, blood sugars, and blood pressure. And the apple-shaped people tend to have a lot more of this hidden visceral fat than the pear-shaped people do. So as you can see where your fat is stored is more important that how much you weigh. Am I an apple or a pear? It's pretty simple to find out if you're in the higher risk category or not. The easiest way is to just measure your waist circumference with a measuring tape. You can do it right now. here's how:
For men the number is 102cm. Of course this isn't a diagnostic tool. There are lots of risk factors for chronic diseases. Waist circumference is just one of them. If you have concerns definitely see your doctor. Tips for helping reduce some belly fat:
I am a Certified Precision Nutrition Coach. If you want to get rid of your muffin (or apple) then click here to see how I could help you achieve that. Here's this week's recipe :) (High fiber side dish): Garlic Lemon Roasted Brussels Sprouts Serves 4 500g Brussels sprouts (washed, ends removed, halved) 2-3 cloves of garlic (minced) 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice dash salt and pepper Preheat oven to 200C. In a bowl toss sprouts with garlic, oil, and lemon juice. Spread on a baking tray and season with salt and pepper. Bake for about 15 minutes. Toss. Bake for another 10 minutes. Serve and Enjoy! Tip: Brussel sprouts contain the fat-soluble bone-loving vitamin K. You may want to eat them more often. References: http://www.precisionnutrition.com/research-abdominal-fat-and-risk http://www.precisionnutrition.com/visceral-fat-location http://www.drsharma.ca/inspiring-my-interest-in-visceral-fat https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-definition/abdominal-obesity/ http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/weights-poids/guide-ld-adult/qa-qr-pub-eng.php#a4 https://authoritynutrition.com/6-proven-ways-to-lose-belly-fat/ https://authoritynutrition.com/20-tips-to-lose-belly-fat/ https://www.kiwicover.co.nz/your-health/bmi/waist-metrics
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