Lately, I have been exercising and painfully doing crunches in my attempt to shed off some excess fat in my tummy. Well, it looks disgusting already, at least for me. I'm a size XS or S, so my tummy and sides really show themselves so proudly under my shirts. Although, compared to other women, my problem isn't really that big yet. But I know, sooner or later, if I don't take control of it now, it will pose more risks to my health, now that I have discovered that I have an apple-shaped body. I've learned that though my BMI (body mass index) is within the Normal range, (calculate your bmi) the bmi isn't really a barometer of how healthy one person is or how much body fat does one have. In fact, this book (Big Fat Lies by Glenn Gaesser) I am currently reading on the web says that it's not the total body fat which you carry that is important rather, it's what area in your body are those body fats stored which will give you meaningful information about your health. Here are some things I've learned from my internet research:
Apple-shaped people means that they have more fat stored in their stomach, abdomen and chest whereas, Pear-shaped people have fat stored in their hips, thighs and bottoms. Studies show that being a pear is better than being an apple, that is, fewer health complications for the pears. It's in the kind of fat that is stored, whether it is good (subcutaneous fat) or bad (visceral fat or deep down fat). The pears have the good fat whereas the apples have the bad fat. Although the apples also have subcutaneous fat which is just beneath the skin, what pose health complications are those deep down fats that affect one's internal organs when they become coated with them, like the kidneys, liver, etc. Also, it is near the heart. That is why studies show that many apples are hypertensive, diabetic and afflicted with heart diseases. Good thing though, it is said that visceral fat is the easiest fat to burn, so consistent exercise is needed so your body won't lose the ability to burn fats.
So are you an apple or a pear? If you want to know, then take the waist-to-hip ratio test. Take your largest waist measurement divide it by your largest hip measurement. No cheating! Don't suck in that belly. If the ratio is 0.8 or below, then you are a pear. Otherwise, you are an apple. Well, I am an apple, so I really need a change of lifestyle.
The Big Fat Lies book is a good read. There are lots of information you can get there, so I do recommend it for the health conscious people like myself.
