Dr. Dennis Sandler
Haven’t stepped on a scale in years? That’s actually a good thing.
With any weight management program, you really don’t need a scale; all you need is a tape measure. Yes, if you “stick to the plan” you will lose weight, but you should shift your focus from a number that measures your weight to one that measures your waist. Because of its proximity to your organs, belly fat is the most dangerous fat you can carry. So replace hopping on the scale every morning with slipping a tape measure around your middle.
How to Measure Your Waist
To measure the circumference of your waist, simply wrap a tape measure around your waist, halfway between your bottom rib and your hipbone — it will be about 2 inches (5 centimeters) above your belly button. Be sure to keep it level. Do this at the same time every day for at least 2 weeks, and record your measurements.
Pick a Range
Although most diets should emphasize waist over weight, I know you might not be able to resist stepping on the scale. That’s fine, but you need to stop thinking about one specific number: “I want to get down to 130 pounds.” All of us have an ideal playing weight, but rather than a single number, it should be a range in which you live lean and healthy, and one in which you significantly reduce the risks of the aging diseases associated with being overweight.
Reference: Portions of this blog came from information found in YOU: On a Diet. Roizen, M. F., Oz, M. C., New York: Simon & Schuster, 2006.
Be well,
Dr. S
My family and I use Phytovite BioLean II
