Comments on: My health test results and how they are scaring me into action http://girlgetstrong.com/2009/08/16/my-health-test-results-and-how-they-are-scaring-me-into-action/ Fitness fuel for the fearless female Thu, 17 May 2012 09:16:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Andrea Owen http://girlgetstrong.com/2009/08/16/my-health-test-results-and-how-they-are-scaring-me-into-action/comment-page-1/#comment-6031 Andrea Owen Sat, 22 Aug 2009 06:04:28 +0000 http://girlgetstrong.com/?p=6043#comment-6031 Oh my, where to begin? First, good for you for taking a step to get your health checked out on so many different levels. That being said, here is my opinion coming from a person with a B.S. in Exercise Physiology, PT certification from the American Council on Exercise, and currently working as a research assistant on a 4 year study looking at bone health on pre-menopausal women. Excuse me while I climb onto my soapbox..... Don't even flinch at the body fat percentages of men. They don't make babies, or breast feed them, therefore biologically they don't need the fat. We haven't changed that much since the caveman days, so men needed more muscle and women needed more fat. It's our society that's put a label on it that any fat is "bad". According to the ACSM, 23.1% body fat is average. Above and well above average is reserved for athletes (and unfortunately anorexics). I am floored that the tech told you your body fat percentage "wasn't that bad". 23.1% for a woman with children in her 30's is excellent. Unless you plan on qualifying for the Olympics, keep your body fat the way it is! I'm also curious on how it was measured. Was it calipers? Or one of those bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) machines? There can be major error with both. As far as your bone density, like you said, take your calcium supplements! Keep running and definitely weight training your upper body will help avoid osteoporosis. Pilates is an excellent workout, but has no impact on your bones, which you clearly need. I am bothered by things like this because I feel that people miss the point of why they are there in the first place. Our health is so important, but for women, getting body fat tested can screw us up to no end. I can totally relate!! The notion that almost a quarter of our bodies is compiled of fat can be overwhelming, in fact during puberty body fat increases from around 12% to 20-25% in a matter of just a couple of years. IT'S SUPPOSED TO!!! But at 12 or 13 years old, many of us begin this terror of "being fat". Okay, off my soap box now. My apologies for the rant, but I almost broke out into a sweat when I read your article. Your words jumped off the page at me! And for what it's worth, you look amazing! And empowering women through this website is a wonderful, fantastic thing. Best, Andrea Here is a link to the ACSM guidelines for body fat: http://tpm.scgov.net/ssDocuments/1140/Wellness%20program/H%20&%20F%20Screening/All%20screening%20results.pdf Oh my, where to begin?
First, good for you for taking a step to get your health checked out on so many different levels. That being said, here is my opinion coming from a person with a B.S. in Exercise Physiology, PT certification from the American Council on Exercise, and currently working as a research assistant on a 4 year study looking at bone health on pre-menopausal women. Excuse me while I climb onto my soapbox…..

Don’t even flinch at the body fat percentages of men. They don’t make babies, or breast feed them, therefore biologically they don’t need the fat. We haven’t changed that much since the caveman days, so men needed more muscle and women needed more fat. It’s our society that’s put a label on it that any fat is “bad”.
According to the ACSM, 23.1% body fat is average. Above and well above average is reserved for athletes (and unfortunately anorexics). I am floored that the tech told you your body fat percentage “wasn’t that bad”. 23.1% for a woman with children in her 30′s is excellent. Unless you plan on qualifying for the Olympics, keep your body fat the way it is! I’m also curious on how it was measured. Was it calipers? Or one of those bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) machines? There can be major error with both.

As far as your bone density, like you said, take your calcium supplements! Keep running and definitely weight training your upper body will help avoid osteoporosis. Pilates is an excellent workout, but has no impact on your bones, which you clearly need.

I am bothered by things like this because I feel that people miss the point of why they are there in the first place. Our health is so important, but for women, getting body fat tested can screw us up to no end. I can totally relate!! The notion that almost a quarter of our bodies is compiled of fat can be overwhelming, in fact during puberty body fat increases from around 12% to 20-25% in a matter of just a couple of years. IT’S SUPPOSED TO!!! But at 12 or 13 years old, many of us begin this terror of “being fat”.

Okay, off my soap box now. My apologies for the rant, but I almost broke out into a sweat when I read your article. Your words jumped off the page at me!

And for what it’s worth, you look amazing! And empowering women through this website is a wonderful, fantastic thing.

Best,
Andrea

Here is a link to the ACSM guidelines for body fat: http://tpm.scgov.net/ssDocuments/1140/Wellness%20program/H%20&%20F%20Screening/All%20screening%20results.pdf

]]> By: Nikki http://girlgetstrong.com/2009/08/16/my-health-test-results-and-how-they-are-scaring-me-into-action/comment-page-1/#comment-5839 Nikki Mon, 17 Aug 2009 01:45:03 +0000 http://girlgetstrong.com/?p=6043#comment-5839 Many of my relatives (aunts, granny) have osteo. I take calcium every day and just pray that I'm helping stop or slow it. Many of my relatives (aunts, granny) have osteo. I take calcium every day and just pray that I’m helping stop or slow it.

]]> By: Gerardo http://girlgetstrong.com/2009/08/16/my-health-test-results-and-how-they-are-scaring-me-into-action/comment-page-1/#comment-5830 Gerardo Sun, 16 Aug 2009 22:59:59 +0000 http://girlgetstrong.com/?p=6043#comment-5830 I've been to the Nutrilite Center for Optimal Health twice and each time I go, it absolutely blows my mind. I'm extremely happy that you are taking the time to write about your experience there, and the results of your tests. My mother drank loads of dairy, got plenty of her greens in, and still managed to find herself at high risk for osteoporosis. Hopefully more women will read this post and start taking the necessary steps to increase their bone health. I’ve been to the Nutrilite Center for Optimal Health twice and each time I go, it absolutely blows my mind. I’m extremely happy that you are taking the time to write about your experience there, and the results of your tests. My mother drank loads of dairy, got plenty of her greens in, and still managed to find herself at high risk for osteoporosis. Hopefully more women will read this post and start taking the necessary steps to increase their bone health.

]]> By: Lisa http://girlgetstrong.com/2009/08/16/my-health-test-results-and-how-they-are-scaring-me-into-action/comment-page-1/#comment-5815 Lisa Sun, 16 Aug 2009 15:43:07 +0000 http://girlgetstrong.com/?p=6043#comment-5815 Don't be so hard on yourself! I personally don't think that 23% is a bad result. Don’t be so hard on yourself! I personally don’t think that 23% is a bad result.

]]> By: Cecile http://girlgetstrong.com/2009/08/16/my-health-test-results-and-how-they-are-scaring-me-into-action/comment-page-1/#comment-5812 Cecile Sun, 16 Aug 2009 15:20:13 +0000 http://girlgetstrong.com/?p=6043#comment-5812 Wow, you don't look fat! But I see what you mean, 34 pounds of fat. Wow. I wonder how much I have then? I've never had my bones tested either. I eat a lot of cheese, and drink milk but I don't take vitamins. Maybe I should start? Wow, you don’t look fat! But I see what you mean, 34 pounds of fat. Wow. I wonder how much I have then? I’ve never had my bones tested either. I eat a lot of cheese, and drink milk but I don’t take vitamins. Maybe I should start?

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