Well, I took the plunge today to do my BMI (via NHS Choices onsite app) – and I am officially sitting right in the middle of the over-weight section. Not that I needed proof of course, but it’s always good to see it in writing. A reality check if you like.
Knowing my actual BMI is good as it’s making me more determined to succeed. I’m sticking to my healthy eating and I have cut out bread. I can’t say I’m missing it as I do actually enjoy crisp breads, even though my husband says he thinks they taste like cardboard! But crisp breads have come a long way in recent years, and I’m actually looking forward to my cracked pepper crisp breads with low-fat soft cheese in about an hour.
I think making small adjustments, over time, is the way forward. My brain will eventually be re-trained and it will become the norm to eat crisp breads instead of bread, and to eat fruit instead of a biscuit.
Cutting out on all life’s pleasures is not the answer. Cutting down and substituting is. Change4Life is a Government backed programme to encourage people to make healthier choices. And this is the important bit because … the latest research shows that 60% of adults are over-weight or obese. 60%!!! Yes, I said 60% – you did read that correctly!
Professor Dame Sally Davies, the Government’s Chief Medical Officer, has urged adults in the UK to eat and drink less, in a bid to tackle obesity. In a recent Department of Health paper entitled ‘Healthy Lives: Healthy People – A Call to Action on Obesity in England’, the Government sets out it’s goals for “a sustained downward trend in the level of excess weight in children by 2020 and a downward trend in the level of excess weight averaged across all adults by 2020”. The paper goes on to say “Excess weight is a major risk factor for diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Alongside the serious ill-health it provokes, it can reduce people’s prospects in life, affecting individuals’ ability to get and hold down work, their self-esteem and their underlying mental health. Excess weight costs the NHS more than £5bn each year. More broadly, it has a serious impact on economic development.
Do I want to be one of those people who becomes a burden to society – NO! Thank goodness I’ve stared reality in the face again today – calculating my BMI has had a very positive effect and is spurring me on!
Until tomorrow …
Deborah
Deborah
It is great to read your progress. Eating healthy and exercising are the key to trying to lose weight. We also need to remember to just use the BMI as a guide, particularly where someone trains heavily and develops muscle. I know of a young girl who was ‘Obese’ according to the BMI when she was in high swimming training and therefore was extremely muscular. This can be dangerous if taken out of context.
Obviously it should be used as you say, just as an indictator and other factors taken into consideration too.
Small changes to our diet can over time make a huge impact.
Crash diets are not a solution, again, something I have been guilty of in the past.
Drinking lots of water, cutting out fizzy drinks and may be even changing to herbal teas:-)
I have to say ‘cardboard’ does become quite tasty:-)
Very best of luck.
I will watch your progress with interest.
on October 25, 2011 at 3:28 pm Cathy WhellerCathy
Thank you Cathy.
This is just the sort of encouragement I need to keep me on the straight and narrow.
Drinking cuppa soups and eating cardboard is an acquired taste, but it’s amazing how you can adjust.
Will keep you posted on progress. So far I’ve lost 3 pounds …..
Deborah
on October 25, 2011 at 9:23 pm Deborah Mason