I just want to update you all on my weight training progress since my recent post about my "skinny obesity" issue.
Here's what I posted three weeks ago:
I was at the Y and they were offering a free Body Mass Index (BMI) and Body Fat Percentage test. I did it for fun, but was I in for a surprise!!
I'm 5' 8.5" tall and weigh 137. Thus, my BMI is great because I'm on the "skinny" side. HOWEVER, the percentage of body fat that I have is nearly 30%. That means that 40 pounds of my 137 pounds is FAT. This kind of freaked me out because according to the American Council on Exercise, anyone with 31% or greater body fat is considered obese. So I'm considered "borderline" obese because of my body fat ratio.
Well, after three weeks of lifting weights 3 days a week and cutting back a lot on my cardio workouts, I took the test again to see if I was making any progress. Here are
the results: my body fat percentage has gone down from nearly 30% fat to 28%. So 38 pounds of my 137 pounds is fat (compared to 40 pounds three weeks ago).
This isn't a hugely dramatic change by any means, but it makes me feel good that just three weeks of weight lifting has impacted my body in a positive way.
I've got a ways to go, and I've realized that this is a lifestyle change for me that's not going to change overnight. But I'm headed in the right direction and hopefully will avoid the heart disease and osteoporosis that runs in my family.
As much as I don't particularly enjoy it, I'm going to keep lifting those weights....