The New BMI

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Have you ever wondered how your BMI, or Body Mass index, accounts for changes in height? Well, according to Oxford mathematician, Nick Trefethen, it does not. Trefethen does not believe our current BMI calculator takes into account that we live in a 3D world, saying that our current BMI calculator does not alternate for changes in height. Meaning the calculator does not show that tall people call take up more space without being fat. 

Unfortunately, the BMI calculator is still flawed since it does not take fat percentage into account either. This means that a person who is naturally thin but never works out could be seen as healthy and a performance athlete can still be seen as overweight or obese. 

Current BMI standards say that a healthy range is between 18.5-24.4, overweight is 25-29.9, and 30+ is obese. The main change that Trefethen's new calculator does is make alterations according to height. With the new BMI calculator he created, height is not measured on a linear scale alone. This change is good news for those who are taller since their BMI just might go down; but, shorter people will likely have an increased BMI. 

My BMI went up about 0.5 from it's usually old BMI standard to the new Trefethen alternative. Did yours change? 

Simple Systems: Measuring Success

Say what you will about scales, love them, hate them, cannot live without them... Everyone has a view on them. For me, a scale is a great way to see if what I am doing is successful or leading me down the wrong path. Thank goodness the olden days of scales only showing a weight have long since passed. Now, the weight a scale shows is one of the least important components and, for me, is commonly overlooked for the more important.

For a bit over a year now we have had the  Withings Wifi scale. It is great. It connects to your computer through wifi so you always have up-to-date info in a few different graph models. The scale measure weight, BMI, and fat mass. It is easy to use and can be programmed for up to 8 users with programmable passwords. And, if you are "that guy" you can update your stats to twitter. Yea, a perk I will not be using... This scale is an investment at $150 but well worth the price if your are serious about fitness. Even better, it is on Prime. Whoohoo, free shipping!