What is your Body Mass Index (BMI)?

Hi,

I had planned to update this daily so sorry about yesterday! I was hoping that by now my video would be ready, but unfortunately having not done one before there are some teething problems! Hopefully it will be up soon.

One of the things I talk about in my video is BMI or Body Mass Index. Basically, this is a measure of overall body fat. It gives a good guide as to whether or not an individual is healthy as what is really important is not actually our weight but how much excess fat we are carrying. For most adults the calculators are reasonably accurate, although the calculations can be flawed.

They do not always work well for children, adolescents, older people and can be particularly inaccurate for those with high ratio's of muscle such as body builders and athletes. This is because they assume a certain percentage of body weight will be fat but this is a generalization based on the average adult. BMI can also vary with race. For most of us, however, they are more than accurate enough.

A healthy BMI is generally considered to be between 18.5 and 24.9 meaning individuals falling below this line have too little body fat and above that too much. A BMI of 30 or above indicates obesity and all of it's poor health implications (mine's a whopping 37!!)

If you wish to know your BMI I have found a good calculator on the National Health Service (NHS) website.

http://www.nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/Healthyweightcalculator.aspx?Tag=Calculators?WT.srch=1

Have a great day, and please look out for my next update.

Kim

Whenever I am on a diet I am an avid reader of diet and health magazines. I find I run out of articles way before I run out of month. This is one of the reasons I decided to write this blog, to be one more thing to read and distract the mouth from craving!

One of my favourite magazines is Rosemary Conley diet and fitness (May 2009 issue) which has great inspirational stories and good solid advice. It was therefore one of the first I picked up when i started this latest diet.

It didn't disappoint! One of the articles was entitled "Are Your Friends Keeping You Fat?" which sounded harsh. On reading it, however, it is actually advocating finding a partner who is also trying to make a positive change in their life. This could possibly, though not necessarily, be a fellow dieter.

I found this article very positive and it reaffirmed to me why I want to go public this time. Perhaps I can find that support and be there for somebody else.

New Diet Video

Hi, April Fool I've not updated my blog since the first of April and have only just started my diet. Having wasted a month i have finally done a video of my first weigh in which will be going on You Tube in the next few days.

As I have said I plan to follow health regimes and will report back my progress and how I like the recipes etc.and will comment on articles with related issues.

I plan to keep a diet diary so i can compare what I'm eating I'll spare you the exact details but pre-diet I tended to have toast or bagels for breakfast daubed with flora and although the lunches and dinners tended to be healthier I have a penchant for crisps,cakes and cappuccino!

Do look out for my video and my next update, which will be a lot sooner than this one, and have a good week.

Kim

Slim with Kim

Hi,

My name is Kim Wright and I have been a yo-yo dieter all of my adult life. I've tried all kinds of diets, various slimming clubs, heaps of books and could tell you the calories in most basic foods without having to think!

Well, this time I've decided to attempt the odyssey with an audience. Maybe I can find motivation in being watched and maybe I can offer some inspiration or a feeling of solidarity with fellow dieters.

My plan is to follow healthy regimes and try out the books etc, recipes and magazines. Maybe try new products and give reviews. I hope to post about how I am finding the diet, how I am feeling and what I have been doing. If it's good then it might be inspiring if it's going badly then perhaps a me too moment.

I intend to include some videos etc. so please feel free to join me on my quest to lose 5 stone.

Good Luck to you if you are a fellow slimmer. Kim xxx