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Overweight or not?
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Woolbe posted:
I am a 60 year old male retired Marine. As such, I continue my Marine Corps regimin by running 7 miles 5 times a week, work with weights, and am very active. I incurred numerous injuries in the Marines to include a broken back, both ankles and so on. I have a resting heart rate of 47, am 5' 10" tall and weigh 189. I'm not an Arnold S. but I do put a lot of effort into maintaining my body weight and condition. My Dr., who I like very much keeps saying I'm too much overweight but I am getting to the point of finding it difficult to locate much more fat. I do not consider myself overweight and with a waist of 36", I believe I'm doing faily good for an old man. Your opinion? Thanks, Charles
6 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Overweight or not?I am a 60 year old male retired Marine. As such, I continue my Marine Corps regimin by running 7 miles 5 times a week, work with weights, and am very active. I incurred numerous injuries in the Marines to include a broken back, both ankles and so on. I have a resting heart rate of 47, am 5' 10" tall and weigh 189. I'm not an Arnold S. but I do put a lot of effort into maintaining my body weight and condition. My Dr., who I like very much keeps saying I'm too much overweight but I am getting to the point of finding it difficult to locate much more fat. I do not consider myself overweight and with a waist of 36", I believe I'm doing faily good for an old man. Your opinion? Thanks, Charles
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Tomato05 responded:
You could get a body fat percentage reading - yours will probably be very good (low body fat), having been active over the years, and having built muscle through exercise.

You could then show your doctor this number triumphantly!
Report This| Share this:Overweight or not?You could get a body fat percentage reading - yours will probably be very good (low body fat), having been active over the years, and having built muscle through exercise. <br /><br />You could then show your doctor this number triumphantly!
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Rich Weil, MEd, CDE responded:
Hi Charles,

Your doctor may be looking at BMI (www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/index.htm ) By those standards, at 5'10", 189 lbs, you are considered overweight ("normal" weight = BMI less than 25, obese = BMI 30 or above). A problem with BMI is that it can overestimate body fat and poor health in individuals who are muscular. For example, a 5'10", 210- pound individual with 10% body fat is considered obese based on height and weight, but obviously is not obese with 10% body fat. The people who developed the BMI standards readily admit that there is the potential for this error, but for the majority of Americans who are not lean and muscular, BMI is a good estimator of body fat and increased health risk, just not for every person.

It sounds like you fall into one of the exceptions. Since you're physically fit, and it sounds like you're lean, then there's no reason to lose more weight; not for health nor for fitness. In fact, if you're already lean, then attempts at weight loss might lead to a decrease in muscle. If you want to measure anything, I suggest that you ignore body weight and focus on body composition instead (the amount of fat and muscle you have.) You can monitor your body fat by using a bioelectric impedance (BIA) scale. You can buy a BIA scale for around $45. Check www.omron.com and www.tanita.com/ for more information.

I hope that helps. Feel free to post back if you have more questions.

Take care,
Rich
Report This| Share this:Overweight or not?Hi Charles,<br /> <br />Your doctor may be looking at BMI (<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/index.htm)">www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/index.htm</a> ) By those standards, at 5'10", 189 lbs, you are considered overweight ("normal" weight = BMI less than 25, obese = BMI 30 or above). A problem with BMI is that it can overestimate body fat and poor health in individuals who are muscular. For example, a 5'10", 210- pound individual with 10% body fat is considered obese based on height and weight, but obviously is not obese with 10% body fat. The people who developed the BMI standards readily admit that there is the potential for this error, but for the majority of Americans who are not lean and muscular, BMI is a good estimator of body fat and increased health risk, just not for every person. <br /> <br />It sounds like you fall into one of the exceptions. Since you're physically fit, and it sounds like you're lean, then there's no reason to lose more weight; not for health nor for fitness. In fact, if you're already lean, then attempts at weight loss might lead to a decrease in muscle. If you want to measure anything, I suggest that you ignore body weight and focus on body composition instead (the amount of fat and muscle you have.) You can monitor your body fat by using a bioelectric impedance (BIA) scale. You can buy a BIA scale for around $45. Check <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.omron.com/"><u>www.omron.com</u></a> and <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.tanita.com/,"><u>www.tanita.com/</u></a> for more information. <br /> <br />I hope that helps. Feel free to post back if you have more questions.<br /> <br />Take care,<br />Rich
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Woolbe replied to Tomato05's response:
Thanks, I will do that Monday when I have my annual physical! Appreciate the response.

Charles
Report This| Share this:Overweight or not?Thanks, I will do that Monday when I have my annual physical! Appreciate the response.<br /> <br />Charles
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Woolbe replied to Rich Weil, MEd, CDE's response:
Thank you for the reply sir. It's great encouragement for me to continue my training knowing this information. I rewarded myself by kicking up my runs to 8 miles, 5 times a week. I love it when the endorphins kick in.

Thanks,
Charles
Report This| Share this:Overweight or not?Thank you for the reply sir. It's great encouragement for me to continue my training knowing this information. I rewarded myself by kicking up my runs to 8 miles, 5 times a week. I love it when the endorphins kick in. <br /> <br />Thanks,<br />Charles
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brunosbud responded:
Amazing workout regimen. Congratulations on staying in such good shape!
Report This| Share this:Overweight or not?Amazing workout regimen. Congratulations on staying in such good shape!
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Rich Weil, MEd, CDE replied to Woolbe's response:
You're very welcome Charles. I'm glad I can help.
Report This| Share this:Overweight or not?You're very welcome Charles. I'm glad I can help.
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