9/14/07

I want to start this blog off by thanking the Texas A&M Wives Club of San Antonio for having me out to speak at their luncheon yesterday.  It was a great time and I enjoyed meeting every one of you.  If ya'll ever have any questions about fitness or nutrition please don't hesitate to call, stop in or send an e-mail my way. 

While I was at the luncheon yesterday, one lady asked a question that I thought many of you might silently wonder.  Her question was, "For a middle aged woman, what is a reasonable goal/timeline for weightloss after starting on a diet and exercise plan?"  This is a great question that I think many people think about.  Should I lose 10lbs in a week, should I lose 1lb in a week, what is a reasonable expectation?  My answer to this question is simple, it depends!  (Not what you wanted to hear huh?)  Your ability to lose weight depends on several factors.  The first factor is your lifestyle.  If you are able to be active throughout most of the day, you are able to workout frequently, and you stick to a healthy diet, then weight can be lost.  The second factor is your current size.  Someone who is 350lbs and 50% Body Fat will have an easier time dropping 10lbs, than someone who is 140lbs and 20% body fat, because the 350lb person has more fat to lose.  Other factors can also determine how quickly you can lose weight.  For example, if your family eats a healthy diet then you will have a better chance of succeeding at losing weight because you will most likely be able to adjust to eating a healthier diet.  If you family eats fatty/unhealthy foods, then you will have a harder time losing weight because you will have a higher likely hood of cheating on your diet and not adapting to a healthier lifestyle.  Additionally, genetics can play a role in how easily you lose weight (Though I feel like this is given as an excuse far to often).  People of German ancestory tend to be built stockier than those of us from Irish decent.  All of these factors and more must be considered when you are setting a weight loss goal for yourself.  A standard rule of thumb is that 2-3lbs of body fat can be lost per week, but again these numbers can be deceiving as it may be easier for some and harder for others to drop weight.  Finally, I wanted the Aggie Wives Club to understand that their weight loss goals shouldn't focus completely on what happens on the scale, but that more emphasis should be put on the percentage of body fat lost and the change of size in problem fat areas.  Muscle is more dense than fat, so as you add muscle onto your frame your weight may actually increase temporarily or stay steady even though you pants are fitting better and noticable differences are taking place in the mirror.  Over time your weight will most likely decrease as you lose body fat and add muscle, but be sure to pay more attention to your body fat percentage than you do to your weight if you want to see the real results of what is occuring inside your body.

MPT will be running our traditional boot camp from 6am-7am on M,W, F ($120) in October and we will additionally be running a 6pm-7pm boot camp on M,W for only $90.  If you are interested I will begin taking sign-ups next Monday the 17th.

I hope everyone has had a great week and that you are all looking forward to the wonderful weekend of football ahead of us.  My Aggies are hosting Louisiana Monroe and the Cowboys are traveling to Miami to take on the Dolphins.

Make it a great day San Antonio!

Nicholas Wood

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

(210)415-5934