With so many diets and fads being offered on the market today, it is no wonder why people are not just confused about weight loss and health, but in many cases, actually doing their body more harm than good. Unfortunately, one of the aspects of dieting that you see most often is the reduction or elimination of fat. The problem is that the body needs a certain amount of fat to function but without going over a healthy level. As you will see in this article, knowing what the right level is and how to monitor it are crucial to overall health and wellness.
Studies have been able to link certain conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure with high levels of body fat. The key is to ensure your body has enough fat to function properly but not too much, whereby disease could become a problem. The best way for a person to determine the level of body fat is by measuring it on a consistent basis with a simple tool called a caliper. In a matter of minutes, you will know exactly how much body fat you are carrying around with you. With this information, you will then be able to adjust your diet, cardio exercises, and weight training to bring the fat-to-muscle ratio in line.
Keep in mind that there are several options, one being a body fat analyzer. Additionally, there is the skin fold test whereby waist to hip ratio measurements will be taken, circumference measurements, hydrostatic weight, near infrared analysis, bioelectrical impedance, total body potassium determination, and a test recently offered called the plethysmographic measurement, which is based on the principle of air displacement. All of these tests are good indicators of your current fat-to-muscle ratio.
Now, if you want to go through a professional to determine your true body fat level, you have two excellent options, both being accurate. The first is the Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) and the second, Hydrostatic Weighing. With DEXA, a full body scanner is used that reads and differentiates between bone mass and soft tissue mass. This type of scan can be completed in about 20 minutes and is painless, providing accuracy within a 2% error margin. Many insurance companies will cover the cost of DEXA but if not, you can have the scan performed for around $100.
With Hydrostatic Weighing, the body is weighed underwater. The test consists of sitting on a scale underneath water while blowing out as much air from your lungs as possible. Then when dunked below the water's surface, you would blow out even more air. Because fat does not weigh as much as water, the more fat a person's body has, the more they will float. Therefore, Hydrostatic Weighing works by measuring underwater weight so that body density can be determined.
On the other hand, if you want to have the option of determining your fat-to-muscle ratio on your own and every day if you like, you can simply purchase a caliper from drug stores, health equipment stores, and even on the internet. Just remember that if you are interested in losing weight, instead of depending on the bathroom scale, it is important that you worry more about the excess fat being carried. While a standard scale will tell you if you are losing weight from diet and exercise, a scale will not tell if you are losing the body's muscle or fat.
Understanding how to measure and monitor your body fat gives you a level of control to your future. The problem is that the majority of people know very little about their bodies. To become and stay healthy, you need to understand your body - how it works and what your body composition is so you can make choices that will be best for your overall health and wellness. Again, the best way to achieve this is to incorporate good diet, cardio exercise, and moderate weight training into your daily routine, along with measuring your fat-to-muscle ratio with a caliper.
While there are many different websites that provide you with valuable information and guidance, one of the best is Composition Tracker. With more than 25 different body fat formulas from which to choose, you will feel confident knowing you can and will succeed with losing unwanted fat. Composition Tracker offers tremendous benefit to all types of people, whether you are a man, woman, teenager, or elderly person. To gain more information and to get started today, simply visit http://www.comptracker.com
Fitness Consultant Anthony Ellis has helped thousands of individuals lose fat and build more muscle. To read more about his fat loss recommendations please check out his site at http://www.fatlosstips.com
recurring cleaning service Wilmette ..Losing Weight quickly and easily has become one of the... Read More
Getting enough of the good fats will help you lose... Read More
I am somebody who has had an ongoing battle with... Read More
We know that children are becoming obese at an alarming... Read More
For the person who wants to shed a few pounds... Read More
Fat Loss in GeneralThis morning I conducted a search engine... Read More
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE NUMBERS!The health clubs are always racking... Read More
Developed by Dr. Arthur Agatston, The South Beach Diet touts... Read More
I do not smoke, never have, and admit to being... Read More
It is a fact that about 70% Americans are overweight.... Read More
Chant the following each day, several times. They are mantras... Read More
Here are seven tips for getting the calories out of... Read More
We have all heard of those new diets, Atkins, low... Read More
Losing Weight is All About Counting Calories/Carbs and Exercising. Or... Read More
We all encounter those hosts and hostesses who feel it... Read More
1. Drink 8-10 glasses of water each dayOkay, for many... Read More
Have you ever wondered with all the weight loss programs... Read More
You've heard the popular advice on weight loss diets. Cut... Read More
We all know that losing weight and improving your overall... Read More
Have you ever stepped on the scale after a week... Read More
Some of my dieting tips are not conventional. You can... Read More
America's Obesity EpidemicAs the numbers of overweight Americans continue to... Read More
Almost everyone has attempted to follow diets and weight loss... Read More
Building a Perfect Body for Body Perfect Fitness and Health... Read More
Weight Loss is something that many Americans struggle with. In... Read More
reliable maid service Morton Grove ..Weight loss is a hot topic among people today, especially... Read More
"I eat like a bird, why do I gain weight?"... Read More
We know that children are becoming obese at an alarming... Read More
I had 14 weight/health-oriented newsletters in my inbox this morning.... Read More
It is common for new WLS patients to ask, "How... Read More
Abdominal liposuction refers to liposuction, or lipoplasty, that is performed... Read More
If you are trying to lose weight you may find... Read More
Are you dieting your way to bone loss?Are you aware... Read More
I made myself a sandwich today and thought I'd be... Read More
Have you ever wondered with all the weight loss programs... Read More
Many patients of gastric bypass report feeling fearful of succeeding... Read More
Fat does Not Make You Fat. One of the other... Read More
* Not walking on a treadmill everyday for 45 minutes... Read More
How to burn fat fast is a question that burns... Read More
According to a recent survey by the National Health Institute,... Read More
Losing fat in my opinion is not all that difficult.... Read More
The low carb diet craze has become extremely popular amongst... Read More
Gastric bypass surgery has many forms and can involve stapling... Read More
MYTH: Fad diets work for permanent weight loss.FACT: Fad diets... Read More
It's the American Dream: "If I could just lose a... Read More
There has been a recent surge in the experts weighing... Read More
Weighing more than is normal, necessary, or allowed, especially having... Read More
Thankfully, winter does not last forever! In the spring there... Read More
For many years, herbalists believe that Cayenne is the most... Read More
When the DSHEA (Dietary Supplement Health Education Act) was passed... Read More
Weight Loss |