Well, it’s happened, that ball has dropped in New York City, the Champaign bottles have opened with a “Pop”! People all over have broken into song singing “Auld Lang Syne”. We say goodbye to 2018 and hello to 2019. Quite a few of us have made those New Year Resolutions, some will be kept, some will be shrugged off as just something they need to work towards and by the end of January, those resolutions are just a faded memory.

But for some of us, and we hope your part of that group, that have made the resolution to get in better shape this year. After all, with every passing December 31st, we are all getting a little older and we are beginning to realize that if we want to act and move as we currently are, and not be sidelined as we get older, then we need to do something about it NOW!

Beginning on January 2, 2019, without a doubt, the local gyms will be packed with people energetically working toward their New Year’s resolutions. But by week two or even three, those energetic people will be absent from those gyms and may be found having a latte or even sleeping in late and forgetting their pledge to be more active.

Big goals fail because everybody comes in gung-ho. They say I’m going to lose 30 pounds in a month. They go hard for the first 2-3 weeks, then they burn out. Why, because those gung-ho participants lose the zeal of continuously adopting an exercise routine that’s realistic because they've spent their enthusiasm on the short goals and have burned out because of it. Those who get into a fitness regimen as a new year's goal, realize that it’s for the long haul if they approach it from a realistic view. Research has found that you need to gradually get into a routine to be successful in your fitness goals. It's a given that it takes about 21 days, (3 weeks) to maintain a “new” habit. If you can make it through that duration, then you have a very good chance of making that new resolution, part of your daily lifestyle.

Sometimes one of the ways those whose goal is to lose weight end up failing, because losing the weight is their primary focus. Those who really pay attention to structured weight loss, and basically what the body’s weight is made up of using the “Tanita scale” One such scale that performs this function is the Fitbit Aria 2 Wi-Fi Smart Scale  By measuring the Bioelectrical impedance analysis, which is the method that Tanita scales utilize to measure body fat. These devices work by measuring the resistance of a small, water-conducted electrical signal that is sent through the body. The more muscle mass an individual has, the more water their body holds and the easier the signal is conducted. If a person has more fat, the signal will face greater resistance and the calculation of body fat percentage will be higher. By tracking the readings these scales provide you can determine body fat percentage, bone mass, muscle mass, and fluid retention to determine each person’s metabolic age.

For example, if you’re 35, you might have a metabolic age of 45. That might be a sticking factor for people and so can cause a problem in allowing them to lose significant amounts of weight. Working to get your body fat in line with your bone mass, muscle mass and your fluid retention will better enable you to have your body be consistent with your overall metabolic age, or at least as close as it can be. Remember, the real reward is taking that first step. You can do all the talking in the world. We can motivate you all day. But the first step is with each person, getting off the couch and beginning!
Knowing what your BMI is important, so you know what you need to work towards. Keep in mind that each person, (YOU) are unique, as such we all have “gray” areas that could skew the predetermined perfect BMI and you need to keep in mind any special body specific characteristics that could make your achieving that perfect BMI for your age difficult, if not impossible to achieve. So please consult with your physician, since he/she will know your case history and can provide you with the correct BMI you should be aiming at.

To calculate your BMI, multiply your height in inches times your height in inches. Then, divide your weight by that number. Finally, multiply that result by 705.

People with a BMI of 25 or above are considered at higher risk for many health issues. Note: There are many good BMI calculators available on the internet, simply do a search for them and you can easily find out what the recommended BMI should be for your weight and height. Again, we strongly recommend you consult with your physician prior to embarking on a well planned out work out regimen in order to reduce your weight, fluid retention and body fat.

There will be more posts on BMI and the best ways to help reduce those numbers in future blog posts from your companions in maintaining a fitter, healthier lifestyle, at HeartRateMonitorsUSA.com.

Nows the time to gear up for 2019 and for future years to come!