Ideal Body Fat Percentage- Quick Overview

How do you know whether you are overweight or not? Apart from looks, there have been some techniques, which have been extremely good in figuring out whether you are overweight or not. The Body Mass Index or BMI, as it is popularly known as, has been one of the most common modes of calculating whether you are overweight or not. The body mass index is based on the ideal ratio between height and weight. It was quite popular for a very long time. However, it had some basic flaws, which soon become evident.

A major drawback of the BMI was that, it could hardly differentiate between weight gain and fat gain. So a body builder and an obese guy would have the same BMI. This gave way for a new mode of calculating obesity, the Body Fat Percentage.

The body fat percentage is so far the best method of calculating the fitness level of the body. However, even body fat percentage can not be said to be the ideal way of calculating the fitness level of a body. This is because; the ideal body fat percentage is different for different people; which means that your ideal body fat percentage may not be ideal for everybody else.

In calculating the ideal body fat percentage, a lot of factors play a very big role. The main factors are, age as well as gender. It is a generally accepted concept, that the ideal body fat percentage is very high in case of women, than in case of men.

However, when it comes to calculating the body fat percentage is concerned, different people have different opinion. However, the following are a few ideal body fat percentage ranges for men and women of different age groups.

The ideal body fat percentage for a male in the age group of 18 to 39 years would range between 8 to 19%, whereas it ranges in between 11 to 22% for an age group of 40 to 59 years. Any male in the age group of 60 years and above, would have an ideal body fat percentage, hovering between 13 to 25%.

As discussed before; the ideal body fat percentage is pretty higher for women in the same age group. A possible reason for this may be that women need higher quantity of energy during pregnancy. As it is, the ideal body fat percentage for a woman in the age group of 18 to 39 would be between 21 to 32%, whereas, for a woman in the age group of 40 to 59, it would change to 23%-35%. For a lady in the age group of 60 years and above, the ideal body fat percentage would be between 24 to 36%.

Although accurate, the body fat percentage is a complex phenomenon, particularly the method of judging the body fat percentage. However, it is perhaps the best mode of calculating the fitness level of the body till date.

Weight Loss with Auricular Therapy

You must be aware of the fact, that; the obesity problem has grown into epidemic proportions. Now, the biggest challenge, which I faced as an enthusiastic weight watcher, was to control my cravings for food. I would get up in the morning, with a new level of enthusiasm; and a resolution to stay away from bad food. However, by the end of the day, I had strayed away from my diet chart, a number of times.

However, you can not afford to miss out on your diet schedule, if you wish to lead a long and healthy life. Auricular therapy can be of extreme help for you, if you too face a similar challenge.

Auricular therapy is a virtually painless way of controlling your cravings for bad food. As it is, the auricular therapy is a modified acupuncture therapy, where, instead of piercing needles into specific pressure points, a mild electrical stimulation is passed through specific points in the ear region.

This helps a lot in your efforts for weight loss. Auricular therapy can help you in your efforts of weight loss in some of the following ways:

The first and foremost way, by which auricular therapy can help you lose weight, is by way of curbing your hunger pangs. As you feel full for a longer period of time, you are able to drastically cut down your overeating habit. This way, you are able to lower your calorie intake and as a result, lower the fat content of your body.

Auricular therapy is a major way of improving your will power. As you know, the most important component, in any weight loss program,
is motivation. Therefore, it is important for you to hold on to your motivation, in order to stick to your weight loss schedule. As it is, auricular therapy is an important way of improving your motivational level. As a result of your improved motivation, you are able to stick to your diet regime for a very long period of time.

Another important way, by which auricular therapy can help you lose weight, is by way of improving the metabolism rate of the body.
Auricular therapy is often used to improve the overall metabolism rate of the body. So, in case of an improved metabolism rate, you are ready to burn more calories, even at a restive state.

Auricular therapy is also an important way of controlling the blood sugar level of your body. As it is, with a controlled blood sugar level, your insulin production too is under control. A controlled insulin production would mean further weight loss.

It would be interesting to know, that, auricular therapy was primarily introduced for the treatment of people, who were addicted to cocaine or opium. Gradually, its uses began unfolding themselves; and today, it is used for treating a number of addiction related medical problems.

Best Way To Lose Weight Fast

Weight loss is a very complex issue. As we see the obesity level among the people rise to alarming levels, a number of weight loss treatments have gained ground. With new researches in this direction, we come across little known facts in this regard on a regular basis.

When it comes to deciding that what the best way to lose weight is different people would have different opinions. And, it is indeed true, that different bodies react in different manner. Therefore, what might seem to your best kept weight loss secret for you, may not actually work wonders for someone else.

However the basic techniques for weight loss remain more or less the same; increase your work outs and lower your calorie intake. The following are the basic techniques of weight loss:

Rigorous work out
Rigorous work out should be an important part of your everyday schedule. This is because rigorous work-outs would not only save you from a bulky body but would also save you from low motivational levels and humiliation at personal as well as professional front. Apart from that, obesity is the cause of many major diseases. Rigorous work out can be quite effective in saving you from them, as well.

You can indulge in a number of workout plans, along with a number of sports, which can be quite effective in your weight loss program. Swimming, lawn tennis, squash, football, badminton, jogging etc. are some of the innumerable exercising options that you have.

Balanced diet
Along with a rigorous workout schedule, you also need to keep a tab on your calorie intake. Although it is next to impossible to go for a zero calorie diet, it is always in your capability to lower the calorie content of your diet.

Avoiding carbonated drinks as well as junk foods are important steps in this direction. Along with that, you are recommended to have more of protein and less of carbohydrate, along with lots of water.

Alternative methods
Apart from these traditional methods of weight loss, there are also a number of other techniques, which can also be quite helpful for you in losing weight. Acupuncture, yoga, deep breathing, as well as water therapy, along with zone diet therapy, cabbage soup dieting and negative calorie dieting are some of the alternatives, which you can also opt for.

As discussed earlier, that what may be the best weight loss technique for you, may not be so in case of someone else. Therefore, what is actually the best for you, has to be actually decided by you.

What to Expect After Weight Loss Surgery

Obesity is a major problem which has been affecting a number of people all across the globe. Along with this, a number of weight loss techniques have also come forth. However, in many cases, by the time, people actually realize the need for weight loss; they are left with few options. In most such cases, the situation becomes life threatening, when the people finally realize, that they need to do some thing about their weight problem.

The most common solution, which the patient is left with, in such situation, is weight loss surgery. As it is, weight loss surgery is perhaps the best solution for those, who are suffering from life threatening obesity; as a result of which, they need to lose weight quickly and are not in a position to go for the traditional methods of fat loss.

Weight loss surgeries can go a long way in helping you lead a healthy and normal life. As it is, a person who has undergone weight loss surgery can expect a weight loss of up to 60% of his excess weight.

Apart from this, studies have shown that weight loss surgery had significantly reduced the risk of obesity related risks such as diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, gastro esophageal reflux disease, high blood pressure, hypertension, arthritis, stroke asthma, a wide range of heart diseases and some forms of cancer.

However, since weight loss surgery is after all a surgery; therefore, like any other surgical option, weight loss surgery too involves a great deal of risk.

As it is, a person who has undergone weight loss surgery, is more likely to expect some common symptoms, such as body aches, fatigue, feeling cold, dry skin, constipation, hair thinning and hair loss and mood changes. Apart from that, a person who has undergone weight loss surgery is also at risk to a number of complications.

The most common risk associated with weight loss surgery is infection in the area of surgical wound, which may occur, within the first three weeks of surgery. Blood clot to the lungs is another significant risk involved with weight loss surgery. You may also develop gall stones, along with dumping syndrome and excessive skin. Bleeding in stools and dehydration are some of the other significant risks, which are involved with a weight loss surgery.

It is therefore advisable, to go for regular checkups, in the first few months of surgery. This would significantly cut down the risk of the above mentioned complications. As it is, in the first few months, you would be required to undergo a number of restrictions and quite a few precautionary steps.

As it is weight loss surgeries have a number of advantages. Apart from that, people with life threatening obesity are left with few choices, other than a weight loss surgery.

Why Men Lose More Weight than Women

Weight gain is a common problem cutting across the boundaries of gender as well as race. So, both men as well as women suffer equally when it comes to obesity; although women seem to be more obsessed with a slim figure.

However, it is widely believed, that, men lose weight faster than women. Although, there are no scientific conclusions to justify this theory; the general perception continues to be in favor of men losing weight faster than women. Now, before the feminist brigade, gets up with their “you chauvinist pig” thing, it would be better to discuss the possible reasons for such an interesting phenomenon.

As it is, the following are some of the arguments, which are usually put in favor of such a phenomenon:

More lean mass
Although we may be able to see an Arnold Schwarzenegger replica, or a Hulk Hogan lookalike, we usually do not see a female Arnold or a Female Hulk. This is primarily, due to the reason that, our genetics has shaped us this way. So, men have been genetically programmed to put up more lean mass, such a thing does not usually happen to a woman, barring a few exceptions.

Now, as you might be aware, that, more of the lean mass would mean more consumption of calories, in order to support the lean mass.

Faster metabolism
Another reason in support of the theory that men tend to lose moreweight than women; is the fact that men have faster metabolism rate than women. This can be attributed to the fact that men tend to have more of lean mass than their female counterpart. This leads to a higher metabolism rate.

With a higher metabolism rate, you tend to lose, more weight. This is because, when the metabolism rate of your body rises, then in that case, your body tends to burn more calories, even at a restive state, i.e. you burn more calories even while you are doing nothing.

Men are physically more active
Men tend to be physically more active, and tend to have more stamina than their female counterpart. A glaring example of this theory is the fact that, in the weight lifting category at the Olympics, men tend to lift up far more weight than what women actually do.

Due to the above reasons, many people actually believe that men tend to lose more weight than women. However, women too have some edge, as in terms of motivational levels. As it is women have found to be having higher levels of motivation, when it comes to losing weight is concerned; and that is, by far the most important aspect in any weight loss program.