Fitness By Numbers

Know Which Numbers Make For Better Health

Walk into a gym and hop on a machine, step into the doctor’s office or read the newspaper. When it comes to our health, there are dozens of numbers that swirl around us from weight to blood pressure to heart rate. But what do all these numbers really mean, and which ones truly matter when it comes to setting exercise goals?

Here’s an overview of some key fitness figures that can be used to measure the success of your exercise and nutrition program:

BMI (Body Mass Index): BMI is a tool that measures weight relative to height and creates a standard formula for determining whether an adult is of a healthy weight (typically 18 – 24.9) or overweight (25 and above). To find out where you rank, ask your doctor, check out a Web site like weightwatchers.com with a BMI calculator or purchase a BMI scale at locations such as www.cvs.com

Blood Pressure:  So 120/80 and below is considered normal blood pressure, but what does that mean?  The top number represents systolic pressure or the active part of the heartbeat while the bottom represents diastolic pressure or the moment the heart rests between beats.  The higher the numbers, the harder the heart is working to pump blood, which isn’t healthy for the long term. Studies show that exercise provides a drug-free way to lower blood pressure.

Heart Rate:  A healthy, resting heart rate for an adult should measure in around 60-80 beats per minute, but can fall much lower with regular exercise (Lance Armstrong’s is 32!). Life Fitness recommends that exercisers reach 50 – 85% of their max heart rate for an optimal workout.

Healthy Inches:  Keeping tabs on the inches you’ve lost can be better than simply watching for pounds.  Exercising means building muscle and losing fat and that may not show on the scale. Commit to measuring the circumference of your chest, waist, hips and thighs every four weeks to see if you’re truly slimming down.

 

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