Dynamic Stretching

Wow. It’s been a looooong winter and my muscles are still cold.  Like most of us, I need to do some serious stretching as I ease into my summer fitness regime.

Stretching isn’t something I do much of. I know I should but somehow I’m been more focused on getting out and getting moving than on being properly prepared to move. Fortunately, my preferred form of exercise is walking so the lack of preparation hasn’t caused any problems. I am, however, feeling my increased activity, especially after walking 20,000 steps. That’s why I’m really glad I came across this video on dynamic stretching.

Stretching on the move

Seems like a lot has changed since my last visit to a gym. The stretching I remember is clunky and not much fun. This looks much easier. Better yet, it doesn’t look nearly as boring. Maybe I should give it a try, before I get my bike out for the first time in May.

Benefits of Knowing your BMI

Benefits of Knowing your BMI

I know my BMI. I don’t particularly agree with it, but I know it. That doesn’t make me real unique among folks who know their BMI although just knowing your BMI isn’t the norm among the general population.

Let’s be honest, I know my BMI because I work in wellness. Before that, even though I didn’t know it, I had a pretty good idea what ballpark it fell in. I had no idea that that knowledge was unusual.

BMI, it turns out, is a bit controversial and not just among professional athletes for whom it is obviously misleading because they have no body fat. For the average person, I thought and still think BMI is a decent measure of what kind of shape and health you are in. Decent, not perfect. Not everyone agrees with me.

My guess is that most people don’t want to admit how much fat they are (or aren’t) carrying around. They want to believe they are in better shape and healthier than they are. Who doesn’t?

The problem is, by refusing to accept that their BMI is a relatively accurate reflection of both of those, they are creating hurdles for themselves. Extremes are rarely good things and that is true for BMI as well. Too high and, as this article points out, individuals are prone to a variety of health complications related to being overweight or obese. There are health issues associated with low BMI too and not just because it may indicate a person has an eating disorder. 

Here’s the thing: people don’t need to get hung up on BMI. They need to look at is as just another facet of their overall health picture. To really understand their health they have to look at the whole picture.

Take me, for instance. I think my BMI is too low. I’m not in great shape and carry more fat around than I should. Because I am tall and slender, however, my BMI is in an ideal range. The problem with that is it potentially lulls me into a false sense of security when, in fact, I still face some significant health risks because of my inactivity. 

I think everyone should know their BMI, not because it is a good indicator of your overall health but because it is a good place to start the discussion, with your doctor, your family, your friends and, most of all, yourself.

The Starting Line

Getting started is always a challenge for me. I spend a great deal of time getting all my ducks in a row to begin a new project that by the time I actually feel ready to start it my enthusiasm is already starting to wane. Fortunately, health and wellness aren’t exactly projects you can prepare for. You start where you are.

This is where I am: I’m a 40-something female with chronic asthma. My BMI is 21, so my weight and height are proportional but I still think I have fat thighs/hips and my arms need some serious toning. I don’t think I exercise much nor am I particularly healthy. My diet isn’t horrible (both my cholesterol and blood pressure are on the lower sides of normal) but it’s not uber-healthy either (I struggle to eat enough fruits, veggies and dairy).

In other words, I’m pretty average for women my age and I’m ok with that.

So why start a blog about wellness and technology?

The easy answer is I work for a wellness company. Not only am I encountering some really cool tech and information in the course of my job but the people I work with are among the thinnest and healthiest folks I’ve ever seen.  Wellness Wizardry gives me a place to record, share and discuss the gadgets, tools and strategies I encounter from my personal POV.

A more complete answer would be that I’ve always had an interest in health and technology. And. let’s face it, I need to take some action if I want to remain average let alone become healthier or more fit (you’ll notice I didn’t say lose weight because that really isn’t one of my goals though of course, I won’t be terribly upset if it happens). There’s also the fact that the “traditional” advice doesn’t always work for me. I naturally have a small appetite, drink a lot of coffee but not much water and my asthma means many forms of strenuous exercise are out. You won’t catch me running or in a zumba class though swimming, yoga and weight training are probably fair game.  This blog will give me an opportunity to chronicle my progress for myself as well as for others who struggle with similar issues.

The Mission of Wellness Wizardry isn’t to promote any gadget, program or philosophy. It is simply to explore how those things fit into the life of an average woman whose goal is to remain healthy, active and attractive as long as possible.

Let’s get started!