Power 90 Day 30!!!

So today is Day 30, which means it is Measurement Day AND Picture Day!!! So my physical stats were:

Weight - 215 lbs
Waist - 44.5 in
Hips -  47.5 in
Chest - 47.5 in
Right Arm - 14.5 in
Left Arm - 15 in
Right Thigh - 28 in
Left Thigh - 28 in
Body Fat - 52.37%
Wait...52.37%? I actually gained fat?! Obviously, the issue here is my hips since they are 1) the only measurement that went up, and 2) the only measurement (of the three that I'm disappointed in) that affects my body fat percentage calculation. Also, usually fat goes nowhere near my hips - most of my body fat is normally stored in my stomach and chests. (Also, I actually lost about a half-pound of fat. Probably would've lost more if it wasn't for all that cheating.)


I also found out that the body fat percentage calculations that I've been using are based on the US Navy's formula. Apparently, there's another accepted formula developed by the YMCA - that's right, none of this "Y" business, here - which puts me at 41.99%. (I think I like the YMCA's formula better. ^_^ ) But since I carry the majority of my extra fat around my middle, the number is higher than if I carried it in a different spot.

So what do these numbers mean, besides reiterating that I'm fat? Well, the average American woman is around 32% body fat, with an ideal of about 22%. Athletic women should strive for somewhere between 15 and 20%. These are only guidelines - not everyone is the same, so you should consult with your physician (even though I'm not) and have a water displacement test done if you can.

Speaking of everyone being different...BMI is slowly becoming outdated as the standard because of the old adage "muscle weighs more than fat." Note: that isn't true; it's still a pound any way you slice it. However, muscle is denser than fat - that is, a pound of lean muscle takes up less room than a pound of fat, even though it weighs the same amount. Since BMI calculators only take into account your height and weight, it poses a problem for athletes (and other muscular individuals) and elderly individuals (and others who have lost muscle). So what's starting to replace it? Waist-to-hip ratio. It not only identifies your body shape, but is being used as a measure of general health and fertility. By the way, the classic "hourglass" shape is a ratio of 0.7. Mine is...well, I gave you the stats; you can do the math yourself. Put it this way: it's closer to the preferred 0.9 ratio for men than it is to the 0.7 women's ratio. (And, yes, there are studies that claim that there is a direct correlation between a woman's waist-to-hip ratio and the IQ of their offspring, but we're going to ignore that stuff.)

Hope you enjoyed this informative post, because it's the last one like this for a LONG time.