Skinny Genes

What makes a person healthy? Is it the standards set forth by ideal weight calculators? If that were the case, my 4’11” 112 lb frame would be overweight, since I am supposed to be 97.5 lbs. Hmmm? A nearly 28 year old woman with a child at 98 lbs is healthy? Questionable. One thing is true for me, when I was 130+ lbs, I really felt unhealthy. It wasn’t just about the numbers on the scale. It was about the deep breaths necessary to climb one flight of stairs and the wind I struggled to catch while chasing my 2 year old around the backyard.

I sought an answer in the BMI (Body Mass Index). This calculation indicated that I am at or below maximum healthy weight and that my maximum healthy weight is 123.33. After reading this, I became even more confused. How am I overweight but still healthy?

Upon further investigation, I found this statistic:
One variable BMI fails to consider is lean body mass. It is possible for a healthy, muscular individual with very low body fat to be classified obese using the BMI formula. If you are a trained athlete, your weight based on your measured percent body fat would be a better indicator of what you should weigh.

At this point, I decided to seek God’s opinion on the matter. Psalm 139 tells me clearly, (v 13-16) “you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. “ This should serve as assurance that “I am ok just the way that I am,” but am I? Isn’t that what I hear the sisters preaching? Haven’t I been told enough by people who are amazed that I am even exercising?

What about my 5’8” sister who weighs 195 lbs and complains about the muffin top she can’t get rid of with all her efforts, and the mother who is 5’7” and 175 lbs but has legs to die for and hardly any fat in that region? Are sisters who are “big-boned” free from having to work out? What about the sisters who are tall and thin? Do they need to workout at all? Is physical activity only for the “obviously” obese and overweight?

No. Physical fitness is a lifestyle. It is not predicated on a scale reading or an index that could in no way give an accurate depiction of all the different types of bodies that make up God’s kingdom. Do I believe in health? Yes. I think physical health goes hand in hand with spiritual health. I Timothy 4:7-8 , “train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” In essence, God says that physical training has value. What does that mean? For my life, I want to be in the best physical shape to work for Him, but I should not neglect the spiritual things He is trying to convey through my WHOLE life. Does that mean that I will have the perfect dimensions or fit within some parameters for healthiness? That is up for discussion.

Come on out to discuss weight, service, diet, and, of course, relationships! I know a few women who would love to talk about being “skinny fat,” the stigma of being “big-boned,” and those who believe that their health is just in their “genes.” If we are true believers, we know that we are over-comers by default. God wants our best!

Let’s Talk! Starting August 9, 2009 at 5:30 PM
Join my Facebook Group Designer Genes, LLC to RSVP or email me for info.
Tiffaney K. Draper, Founder
Designergenesllc@gmail.com
404-200-7911


Healthy lifestyle tips:

Physical activity is good for your heart and blood vessels and it helps you control your weight. It makes you feel like a totally different person. You don’t have to run marathons or be an Olympic athlete to benefit from physical activity. However, it is important to take the first step and make that commitment to better physical health.

Many people often start exercising without seeing a doctor…not good! Always consult with a physician before beginning any new exercise regime. This is especially true, if you have a history of heart disease or have had a heart attack, are taking high blood pressure medication or have had a stroke.

Once you have committed to make this lifestyle change, don’t worry about getting off track. If this happens, try to identify the particular trigger or stumbling block that temporary derailed your efforts. By doing this, you can develop a plan of action as to how to avoid these pit falls next time. Listen, everyone slips and falls at one time or another. Remember you are making lifestyle changes! It’s a long-term process. You must celebrate your successes and treat yourself with a non-food treat to acknowledge your accomplishments.

In 1995, the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the American Health Foundation issued new guidelines that defines healthy weight as a Body Mass Index (BMI) below 25. In a recent study, 59% of Americans exceeded this weight.

There are many adverse health effects that accompany obesity, the most common being high blood pressure, but including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and an increased risk of death from all causes.

http://www.healthdiscovery.net
http://blackwomenshealth.com