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The Gray Iron Fitness Newsletter, Issue #225 The Cloth Tape-Measure April 15, 2018 |
Hi
April 15, 2018
In this newsletter . . . The cloth tape measureOf all the tools used for analyzing health and fitness, a simple cloth tape measure may be one of the best. Measuring the circumference of your waist will tell you more about your fitness than either scales or the Body Mass Index (BMI) formula. As Jack LaLanne used to say, “Your waistline is your lifeline.” Taking things one step further, an honest look in the mirror at one’s naked body is another low-tech but reliable indicator of how well you’ve been treating yourself . . . and, it seems, a predictor of your future health. Trainer and author Jon Benson (Fit Over 40) uses the following waistline-to-height formula as a predictor of heart disease. Mr. Benson tells us to measure right below the navel, and do not pull the tape measure tight. Write down that number in inches. Then measure your height (without shoes) in inches. Write that down too. Multiply your waistline measurement by two. If the number is greater than your height, you are four times more likely to get heart disease. It’s more predictive than cholesterol tests, he says. And the medical profession seems to agree.
With all the Mark Zuckerberg/Facebook stories in the news, like most of us I got to thinking about all the personal information traveling through cyberspace. What do I, personally, know, for example, about the people who visit my website or subscribe to The Gray Iron Fitness Newsletter? The only thing personal I know about anyone is what they might send to me voluntarily in a reply or in an email. And that’s all I should know, in my opinion. However, I do get from the people who host my website general information that is valuable to me. By general information I mean that I know which of my pages are most popular and from which nations most viewers live. Things like that. My most popular pages change from time to time. One that has been near the top of the list for some time now is about High Intensity Interval Training, and whether or not seniors should do it. If you haven’t visited the page yet, take a moment. The beginners’ pages, too, are almost always in the top five.
The Clean & Press is one of those great full body movements that everyone ought to practice (unless, of course, there is a physical reason you shoudn't). In the video, you’ll notice I’m using fairly hefty dumbbells (I was ten years younger then). But older seniors shouldn’t be scared off. Scale back the weight so that strain isn’t part of the lift. And always warm-up before lifting, and always, always use proper form.
Be well,
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 Newsletter Policy The Gray Iron Fitness Newsletter is a free publication sent twice monthly to subscribers. The purpose is to provide honest and realistic fitness information for people age 50 and above. I have never been paid or received compensation of any kind to write a positive review or endorse a product. If I say that I personally use a product or service, it is because I find value in it and have paid for it with my own money. Like newspapers, magazines and television, this newsletter and my web site contain advertising and marketing links. Naturally, I am compensated for these. The newsletter and web site provide information to help users establish and maintain a fitness lifestyle. But fitness information is not the same as fitness advice, which is the application of exercise and dietary practices to an individual's specific circumstances. Therefore, always consult with your physician for assurance that fitness information, and your interpretation of it, is appropriate for you. Your comments and questions are always appreciated. Simply click on the "Reply" bottom. |
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