Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Putting the Rat in "Gym Rats"

The National Institute of Health lays out the Body Mass Index (analysis of height & weight) into the following catagories:
  • Underweight = <18.5
  • Normal weight = 18.5-24.9
  • Overweight = 25-29.9
  • Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater
That definition is pretty standard. You google Body Mass Index Calculator, you'll find a over two hundred thousand different resources to tell you the same thing. Although there is certainly reason to take one's BMI with a grain of salt, so to speak, it is common knowledge that anything under 18.5% is considered "Underweight" for women.

Which brings me to the point of my post. I train at a well known Fitness Center named after a major city in California. Walking out of my gym today, after what really felt like a break-though in my swim training, I was feeling great....until I saw a message on a dry erase board. I think the author might have fancied it to be inspirational, but I think otherwise.

2008 Summer Goals:
  • New Swimsuit
  • New Towel
  • 16 % Body Fat
Sign up today for your consultation with a trainer.
Bravo, Gym Trainer for trying to gut my self-esteem, rather than aim to inspire. Bravo.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is just wrong. Isn't there a law against pushing anorexia? I read somewhere that BMI fails to take muscle into account. According to the charts, for example, football and basketball players would be obese. As a matter of fact, I might be obese...

Anonymous said...

seriously.

what is wrong with people.

so.

will you call em on it?

C.

Caitlin Adams said...

Being the non-confrontational type... I still think they need to be called on the unhealthy advetisement. (Maybe they are talking about men? In which case that may be an okay % -- don't know those numbers.)

And even with my decent running and workout routine, I think my BMI is in the upper end of that "healthy range" -- glad to hear it may not take muscle into account.