The Number Reason People Workout: How to know if you are achieving it.
Hello, I’m Mario Hostios, fitness expert and holistic health practitioner. Today I want to talk to you about the #1 reason most people exercise; to look good nekkid! Hey, it’s not shallow! It’s a great reason, because being attractive (in clothes too people) opens doors to opportunities in all areas of life, and it also adds a confidence to everything you do. Other people infer (whether it’s true or not) that you have self respect and know how to take care of yourself . UNDERLINE THIS: The degree to which you compromise on looking your best is the degree to which you compromise on the opportunities that come your way.
Bottom-line: Are you satisfied with the way you look nekkid? If the answer is no, then you are leaving money on the table. Stop it! The solution, generally, to this problem boils down to “losing weight and toning up.” Specifically, this means burning off excessive fat and sculpting your muscles…but what is “excessive”? What is the best way to determine it?
I’m glad you asked! No, truly I am, because if you didn’t, well, I’d be wasting my time. The BEST way to measure your present condition is NOT the scale, or body mass index (height to weight ratio). Instead, it is bodyfat% with a caliper. It’s easy, idiot proof, inexpensive, and a sorry ass excuse if you don’t get one and check yourself once a month.
I mean it. You wanna get “lean and toned” and stay that way? Get a damn fat caliper. Buy 1 on ebay, the cheap plastic one is fine, from accu-measure for instance. You shouldn’t pay more than 5 dollars. They come with instructions, which I will summarize here.
On the 1st of the month, you “pinch you fat” at the instructed locations and record the numbers. Those numbers go into a graph that was created by weighing and measuring thousands of dead people. (i know, creepy yes?) The graph will spit out a body-fat %. You now have the pinch numbers and fat% to use a a guideline for the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of your fitness program (at least in regards to fat%)
Let’s assume that you are a guy and your % is 18%. What does that mean? It’s means you are leaving money on the table bro. In my opinion, men have an acceptable range of body-fat %, it’s between 6% and 12%. If you are in that range, you will look good, and can move up or down in that range based on personal preference. So you are 18%…too much. You need to drop at least 6%.
So you do your thing, and check again in 30 days. ( To do your thing well, ask me how.)
Now let’s say you are a lady (never a guarantee nowadays.) and your fat% comes in at 26%. Is that good? Is it bad? Well, my experience (lots of years and at this point hundreds of people), women need to be between 22% and 16%. If you are between those numbers, you are lean and toned, body-fat is not a health risk, and you will look good. Where in that range depends on your personal choice.
If your program is effective, you should see a 2% drop each month. If you are not, then troubleshoot your program (I should make a point here, that program means exercise, nutrition, and detoxification to effect hormone optimization). (You are missing something, and you need to identify it.)
Add one other litmus test to the body sculpting test: a bathing suit photo (not birthday suit you perverts.) When you love the way you look, record that body-fat% to memory. That is the one you want to keep.
Between these two assessment tools you now have the means to subjectively and objectively evaluate the fruits of your labor. Furthermore, the once a month test will keep it from getting away from you. Nobody succumbs to weight gain doing this because they can see it coming and adjust their habits accordingly.
In an industry where promotion, entertainment value, and fads and trends tend to dominate, I feel it’s important to refocus on the main reasons people invest their valuable time and effort into keeping fit, and make sure that the details that ensure compliance and progress are in place. Like measuring once a month for instance, with the indicators that really count! Get an inexpensive skinfold caliper, and use that cellphone camera on the 1st of each month. Pull out “that bathing suit” (y’know, the one you used to be able to wear) and put it to good use.
What you measure, improves. What you measure, improves. What you measure, improves. I guarantee you, if you do this, you will begin to make the changes you need to achieve the appearance you desire. (And I am here to help you with that, just ask.) Next time I’ll tell you exactly how to improve it. Now go buy a caliper, take a picture, and thank me later.