Your BMI is irrelevant; here’s what to focus on instead

Eid Mubarak,

I hope you are having a nice break, and no, this is not a clickbait subject line - I really mean it. BMI fundamentally ignores waist size, which is one of the main metrics of metabolic syndrome which is a warning sign of cardiovascular disease and cancer, among other fatal conditions.

Do you know one of the main problems with today’s society? Normal and average are far from optimal. There are also two misconceptions:

• People think they are “not obese” and their BMI is within range, so they are “fine” and “not at risk.” WRONG.

• Also, many people panic because their BMI is high and they feel they are “at risk.” This might be WRONG, too.

Now that you know BMI is close to irrelevant, what should we use instead?

Start with these 5 indicators:

1. High blood pressure (>130/85).

2. High triglycerides (>150 mg/dL).

3. Low HDL cholesterol (<40 mg/dL in men or <50 mg/dL in women).

4. Elevated fasting glucose (>100 mg/dL).

5. Waist circumference (>40 inches in men or >35 inches in women is ideal but most men develop a 40-inch waist before they hit 40)

Have 3 or more of these criteria? You most likely have metabolic syndrome

4 takeaways to take home with you

Takeaway #1 Avoiding the danger zone seems to be the most logical approach

Takeaway #2 Most conditions can often be reversed with lifestyle changes

Takeaway #3 Proactive action beats preventative action every time

Takeaway #4 Don’t wait until the point of diagnosis to intervene

A 5-step checklist to follow daily

1. Focus on losing fat first
   ↳ Leaner individuals are more anabolic, this means they can build muscle easier.
   

2. Walk after every meal
   ↳ Walking post-meal aids digestion, stabilizes blood sugar levels, and supports weight loss.
   

3. Take 5g of creatine daily (optional)
   ↳ Creatine enhances muscle strength (is the most researched supplement on the planet).
   

4. Weigh yourself every day
   ↳ Daily weigh-ins help identify trends, your body can fluctuate up to 2.5 kg from one day to another.
   

5. When eating, start with protein
   ↳ Protein increases satiety, a structured meal sequence ensures optimal nutrient absorption and stable blood sugar levels.

Client of the week - Houcine

Houcine works at one of the most luxurious restaurants in the UAE. Being surrounded by food was a challenge, but even more so were his late schedules.

• We developed the right training program for him, reducing his exercise days from 5 to 3, while significantly increasing the effectiveness of each session.

• The most important aspect was choosing the food groups that best suited his body type (I will share a quiz to help you learn your body type on Friday.)

Are you an executive who wants to increase energy, decrease pain and take back control of your health? Click this link to apply to work 1-1 with me

That’s it for today, until Friday!

Diego Carrete

Chief Executive Officer @ FIT LIFE FZCO

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