Weight Loss - Are Body Fat Scales Accurate? By Beverleigh H Piepers

If you have done any reading at all about health and fitness, you know one thing: body fat matters, body weight doesn't. While the two do typically go hand in hand, there are always people who have high body weight and appear overweight but have a high level of muscle mass and are in fact, exceptionally lean. If you are attempting to lose weight, it is best to measure whether you are losing fat or losing body weight. Body weight can be a mixture of fat and lean muscle mass tissue, which is less than ideal. As you strive to improve your health, you only want to be losing body fat. So this now begs the question, should you invest in a body fat scale? It would seem to be the best solution. This way you can monitor which way your body fat levels are going. Before you run out and buy the first body fat scale you see, however, you do need to keep one thing in mind: not all scales are accurate. Here is what to keep in mind. Methods Of Measuring Body Fat Levels. There are many methods of measuring your body fat levels... 1. One approach is to pinch various areas of your body and determine how thick those areas are. The thicker the pinch, the more body fat: this is referred to as a skin caliper reading. 2. Another method is to put yourself through an electronic scanner, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA previously referred to as DEXA), which will determine bone density, fat mass, and lean muscle mass tissue. This is the most accurate method. However, you cannot do it yourself, and it can be costly to have performed. 3. The third method is to use what is known as bio-electrical impedance, which is where an electrical current is sent through your body, and the speed of travel is determined. The current will not travel fast through fat mass, so the slower it is, the more fat you are said to have. The bio-electrical impedance method seems ideal in theory, but the problem is your hydration levels can throw it off. If you are dehydrated, you will appear much "fatter" than if you are hydrated. This method is the one most home scales go by. While it is beneficial to be able to check your reading conveniently, it is not an accurate one. You can follow the current trend and use one of these home scales but remember you need to be at the same level of hydration at all times. Measuring your levels first thing every morning can help out with your hydration levels being similar. Getting your body fat checked by a DXA scanner a few times a year and relying on how your clothes look and feel, could be a better approach. Although managing your disease can be very challenging, Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. You can make simple changes to your daily routine and lower both your weight and your blood sugar levels. Hang in there, the longer you do it, the easier it gets. For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets. The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself. Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Beverleigh_H_Piepers/123142 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10075558

Weight Loss - The Best And Worst Steps to Take to Kick Start Your Diet Plan By Beverleigh H Piepers

If you are on a healthy eating diet plan right now, there is one thing you can be sure of: there are some major do's and don'ts. Too many people get into the habit of looking at one aspect of the plan and focus on that exclusively. For instance, it might be calories, so they think about their calorie intake, and that becomes their primary focus. They look at eating low carbs, and carbohydrates become their primary focus 24 hours a day. It is crucial you do not miss the big picture here. Take a step back and look at the best and worst steps you could take on your diet plan... Best: Eat More Greens. There is no doubt about it; you need to eat more greens. Any fresh produce will do. Get it in - the more, the better. Worst: Drink Your Calories. One point to focus on avoiding is drinking your calories. When you drink your calories, you are not going to get the same satiety benefits you would if you ate them; therefore you may find yourself consuming more calories than you initially planned. Focus on food calories and drink water. The only exception to this is with protein powder shakes. Best: Add More Protein. Speaking of protein powder, do focus on including more protein in your diet. Most people are not eating enough, so more will do you well. Chicken, fish, turkey, lean steak, eggs, protein powder - all are excellent sources. Worst: Go To Extremes. Another step you can take is to ensure you do not go to extremes. Avoid eating an ultra-low calorie diet plan as this will only lead to a sluggish metabolism and stalled fat loss. Avoid cutting all carbs or fats out of your diet plan - you need those nutrients. Balance is critical. Best: Eat More Omega-3 Fats. It is essential to take in enough omega-3 fatty acids, and this is another area where many people fall short. Omega-3 fatty acids are one of the healthiest nutrients you can eat, so be mindful about including them. Salmon, flaxseed, and walnuts are all great choices. Worst: Forget About Nutritional Value. Finally, make sure you do not become so caught up in watching the calorie numbers you forget to consider the actual nutritional value of the food you choose. Does the food contain sufficient nutrients for example, or will the food be considered empty calories? A diet full of processed foods is never going to be a good option. If you keep these tips in mind, you should be on your way to eating healthier than ever. Although managing your disease can be very challenging, Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. You can make simple changes to your daily routine and lower both your weight and your blood sugar levels. Hang in there, the longer you do it, the easier it gets. For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets. The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself. Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Beverleigh_H_Piepers/123142 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10098576