Just when the motivation is waning to the point of invisibility, we step over the threshold of our friends’ home and are greeted with a vision of two svelte men who, at our last meeting, were both on the chubby side.  They look great!

The husband and I were both, 1) jealous and 2) inspired to do something about our own chubby situations.

When I got home, I was doing a little wandering through the internet and came across some research on waist circumference and mortality.  It’s summarised in this CBC web article.

The words that grabbed me by the throat were:

Oddly, the strongest link — 25 per cent — was in women with normal BMI. People with bigger waists had a higher risk of death from causes including respiratory illnesses, heart disease and cancer.

I have fussed and fumed in previous posts about where exactly this measurement should be taken but this research seems to have encouraged a definitive answer.  This is the best description I’ve found yet – from that same CBC report.

Waist circumference is measured at a point halfway between the hip bone and lowest rib — about five centimetres above the belly button.

Many people think the hip bone they feel toward the front of the body is the top of their hips but it’s not. By following this spot upward and back toward the sides of your body you should be able to find the true top of the hip bones.

Wrap the tape measure around you in a circle, making sure it is level all the way around. The tape shouldn’t push in or indent the skin. Relax, take two normal breaths, exhale, and then take the measurement. It’s best to take the measurement on bare skin. If you wear clothes, measure it the same way each time.

A waist circumference of more than 102 centimetres (40 inches) for men and more than 88 centimetres (35 inches) for women is associated with increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease and hypertension.

A healthy waistline is 94 centimetres (37 inches) for most men and 80 centimetres (31.5 inches) for women. Health Canada recommends measuring waist circumferences for adults with a BMI between 18.5 and 34.9 to prevent and manage obesity.

So – at a “healthy” BMI of 24.6, I still have a 35.5 inch abdomen – 4 inches larger than ideal.  I’m not sure I’d be able to get that low but I’d settle for half way there – say around 33 inches.

The main point is that vanity size 8 Gap jeans with their Lycra forgiveability may still fit beautifully but I have blubber inside my body that is wrapping itself around my organs and increasing my risk of an early death.

Guess it’s not yet time to give up the fight.

I do.  I blame Lycra.

A pair of jeans with a bit of Lycra can accommodate five extra pounds without cutting or grabbing.  Some might think this is a good thing but it does no favours for those of us who are prone to five pound gains which turn into ten, fifiteen, twenty pound gains.

Aside: Does that remind anyone else of School House Rock? Not the weight gain obviously, but the counting by 5′s song?

Anyway – I guess this all takes me back to the fact that I don’t have an objective view of my body shape and size or I might notice a five pound weight gain even if my clothes are still comfortable.  Or is that wrong?  Surely a tightening waistband has always been the first sign of putting on a few pounds!  And now we’ve lost that small but important tool.  It takes at least 10 pounds before my clothes don’t fit.

So it’s back to the mirror, the tape measure and the scales to keep this weight in control.

Just writing that makes me feel exhausted.  I’m exhausted by my own inability to take care of myself.  I’ve had SO much stress these past six months that I have lost all enthusiasm for this process.  But I haven’t lost the determination to never be fat again.  I’m still a healthy BMI and I plan to stay that way.

So there’s no option unless someone somewhere cares to let me in on a previously undisclosed miracle for keeping off weight that doesn’t include balancing calories consumed with calories expended.

Anyone?

I didn’t think so.

Back to the journal I go.  Where I will honestly and consistently write down what I’m eating until someone comes up with something better.

Post Script Thought:  My belts are all a bit big now.  If the waistband isn’t going to tell me about five pounds, I guess I should buy a couple of belts that will keep me informed.  Hmmmmm – after next payday.

I don’t want to sound fanatical, but where the heck do you measure your waist?

People who make clothes say it’s the narrowest part.

Dr Oz the You On A Diet guy says at the navel.

Other’s say just above the navel.

Well……those three places range from 33 to 36 inches – almost healthy to quite risky.

Any thoughts?