It’s been more than a year since I started writing about my attempt to lose weight and become more fit.
I have since learned that fitness and weight loss are two different things.
Which one is more important? Fitness is more important than fatness.
Steven Blair, Ed.D., of the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research in Dallas, agrees. “Fitness, not fatness, is the more important issue.” He bases his conclusions on years of research, conducted at the Cooper Institute, studying the relationship of cardiorespiratory fitness to mortality in men grouped by Body Mass Index (BMI).
That work has shown similar death rates among men of all BMI levels who were moderately or very fit. But the death rates were significantly higher among men with low fitness levels, regardless of their BMI. (Women were not included in this study due to a limited sample size, Blair says, but “we would expect to see similar results.”)
The most important thing I have learned: Don’t get discouraged if you do not achieve your weight loss goals. Just keep on working on your fitness goals. Then revisit your weight loss goals.
I have used resting heart rate as an indicator of my fitness status. I know from past experience that my resting heart rate is around 75 beats per minute when I am out of shape, in the mid-60s when I’m in moderate physical shape, and in the high- to mid-50s when I’m in very good shape.
My goal is to maintain my resting heart rate in the 50s. With imaginative exercise I can achieve this regardless of my body weight. It does take exercising at a high heart rate for short periods of time. Long slow walking does very little to achieve a low resting heart rate.
My resting heart rate this morning was 61. This is not bad considering my doctor has instructed me to take it easy for six weeks following a GreenLight Laser Procedure.
I’m slowly beginning to exercise again. So far, so good.
I have to agree with the idea that fitness is the most important. The way I have always looked at this is that if you are fit cardio and muscle wise then you may still have fat on you but that is still OK. If on the other hand you have a slim build but smoke three packs a day then there is nothing healthy about you.
Bill:
My theory is; when one is young, he or she, burns off most of the energy consumed and everything works as it should. The weird things that happen to sedentary people is because of non use. Anyway, that works for me. Thanks for your comments. I agree with you. Aloha. Richard
agree with Bill, i try to go gym atleast 4 days a week. Actually am not fat but trying to get muscular but still have some fats.
I think that much is OK and can say that i am Fit n Fine with my health n fitness