In the False Start thread we got off on a tangent about fat and thin swimmers. I'd like to start a thread about this topic.
Since having my three children (2000, 2002, 2004) I have struggled with losing that belly. My husband, Mr. Exercise Physiologist, guesses I have about 15 pounds in my stomach. The rest of me is back in shape, the extra weight is just in my tummy. And boy do I feel it in the water. I equate it to carrying a 15 pound weight. That's a lot to swim with!
That being said, I get a physical every year (cancer runs in my family, I found out a few years ago). My NP said that my BP (104/62) and HR (56 resting) were good. And to my surprise both my HDL and LDL were really good (I don't remember the numbers). My blood cell counts were good, yaddy, yaddy, yaddy.
My point is that even though I'm 15-20 pounds overweight I'm REALLY healthy. She's never suggested that I need to lose weight. However, as a swimmer, the benefits of losing it are obvious. I'd swim faster.
The fastest FEMALE Master's swimmers I've seen are super thin, but not anorexic (sp?). Laura Val, Alison Zamanian, Laureen Welting, Beth McGee, Karlyn Pipes-Neilson, etc. are all really trim and super fast. Now, I'm not saying that if you're skinny, you're automatically fast... I've just noticed that thin, talented swimmers seem to swim the fastest. I don't consider myself in either category, so these are just my observations.
Parents
Former Member
I was able to find a cool link that uses the U.S. Navy Circumference Method for both men and women.
The top part tells you exactly where you should measure, then just enter the data. After that it asks your weight and level of activity and then calculates your lean body mass and your "ideal" weight.
Try it and post if you think it is fairly accurate.
www.he.net/.../prothd2.html
Don't buy into "fad" diets - eat well balanced, eat both carbs/proteins (no Atkins Diet!!!!!) with at least 2 fruits, 3 veggies (more if you have a big appetite - load up here on the non-starch veggies, without sauces, dressings, etc), and 2 servings of milk or equivalent like yogurt, soy, etc.
If you weigh more than 185 pounds, you should eat around 1500 cals per day, under 185 you can drop to 1200 cals per day, but do NOT go under 1200 without being under a medical doctor's care.
No one likes to count cals, but bottom line, if you eat more calories then you burn, you gain weight.
I think the best way to approach a meal is to use a small to average size plate and divide it into quadrants. One half of the plate should be vegetables, one quarter should be protein and the other quarter should be a carb. Stay away from white carbs if possible, (white rice, white potatoes, white bread) Whole grains are best.
There are some people that can eat what they want and great for them - my husband falls into this category. For those of us that seem to put on weight easily, you just have to try and be "spot on" the majority of the time so when you have the extra slice of pizza, it will not matter so much. Life is not fair (I fall in the "gain 3 pounds over one weekend and take 3 weeks to lose it" category) but the facts are the facts.
I was able to find a cool link that uses the U.S. Navy Circumference Method for both men and women.
The top part tells you exactly where you should measure, then just enter the data. After that it asks your weight and level of activity and then calculates your lean body mass and your "ideal" weight.
Try it and post if you think it is fairly accurate.
www.he.net/.../prothd2.html
Don't buy into "fad" diets - eat well balanced, eat both carbs/proteins (no Atkins Diet!!!!!) with at least 2 fruits, 3 veggies (more if you have a big appetite - load up here on the non-starch veggies, without sauces, dressings, etc), and 2 servings of milk or equivalent like yogurt, soy, etc.
If you weigh more than 185 pounds, you should eat around 1500 cals per day, under 185 you can drop to 1200 cals per day, but do NOT go under 1200 without being under a medical doctor's care.
No one likes to count cals, but bottom line, if you eat more calories then you burn, you gain weight.
I think the best way to approach a meal is to use a small to average size plate and divide it into quadrants. One half of the plate should be vegetables, one quarter should be protein and the other quarter should be a carb. Stay away from white carbs if possible, (white rice, white potatoes, white bread) Whole grains are best.
There are some people that can eat what they want and great for them - my husband falls into this category. For those of us that seem to put on weight easily, you just have to try and be "spot on" the majority of the time so when you have the extra slice of pizza, it will not matter so much. Life is not fair (I fall in the "gain 3 pounds over one weekend and take 3 weeks to lose it" category) but the facts are the facts.
