The National Institute of Health (NIH) and almost every medical entity in the world categorize people by their Body Mass Index (BMI); do you know what yours is? Click here to calculate your BMI. A Healthy BMI is between 18.5-24.9, Overweight is 25-29.9 and Obese is anything greater than or equal to a BMI of 30. So why should your goal be to have a HEALTHY BMI score? A BMI of 25 or greater will increase your risks dramatically for the following:

1. Hypertension- a blood pressure reading on three consecutive visits of 140/90 or greater. The closer your blood pressure is to 115/75 the healthier that you are. What is your blood pressure?

2. Type 2 Diabetes.

3. Heart Attacks and Strokes.

4. Sleep Apnea.

5. Certain sexual dysfunctions.

6. Certain types of cancer. 

Overall not such great things for your health, happiness, longevity, sex life, life goals or your pain management.

So what can you do to shed those extra pounds? Here are some simple things to do:

1. Acupuncture has been shown to optimize the metabolic functions of the body to help your body be more efficient.  Some practitioners have helped people to loose weight as well, personally I have found that if the patient isn't ready to do the extra work, then sadly it doesn't work, so the question is are you ready? Then schedule an appointment and let's get those numbers down.

2. Positive mental attitude.  This could be the most important part.  If you love yourself and like your life it is so much easier to accomplish your goals, and do your body right.

3. Set goals.  I can't tell you how important this part is for every aspect of your life.

4. Drink plenty of water.  A recent study has shown that people who ingested an adequate amount of water daily were able to loose weight faster and maintain healthier eating habits.  How much water should you drink and why would that help? Glad that you asked.  In Colorado you should drink about 1/2 your body weight in fluid ounces of water daily at the least, for example if you weigh 200 pounds you should drink 100 ounces of water daily.  To much you say?  Actually that only works out to be 8 12-ounce glasses of water daily.  Why does it help?  Your body is and needs water to function, and we are wired a little wierd, the same center in our brains that tells us that we are thirsty is the same center in our brains that tells us that we are hungry, and what do most of us do?  We eat instead of drinking water.  So drink your water daily no excuses.

5. Exercise.  You should be getting 3 days a week of good cardiovascular exercise, which means that your heart rate should be up to your specific range for 30 minutes a week.  What is your range? Click here for the recommendations from the American Heart Association.

6. Exercise at your desk. Tapping your feet and flexing your stomach muscles every hour for 10-15 minutes is a great way to use those monotonous hours at your desk to shed some weight and tone up those tummies.  Also whenever you drive anywhere park as far away from the entrance as you can and walk, this will help you get some exercise and probably keep your car safer as well.

So this is a great start, again like anything that you want in this life you have to work for it.  I would love to help you but you have to make the effort.

Thank you for your time,

Marcus A Rhoden, L.Ac., DNBAO