my own personal inconvenient truth

[Mr. MacDougall]

BMI is a joke unless you meet the definition of average IMO, which is probably very few people.

Actually, it's a reasonable thumb-rule for a great many people. Like most thumb-rules, it's not suitable, nor intended for, everyone in every situation. You should see your healthcare provider, and get a more accurate assessment of your health, related to obesity.

However, having a waistline of over 40", regardless of your height or frame size has been shown to be a risk factor in heart disease, type two diabetes, and other chronic conditions. As a tall fellow, I have often thought it unjust that I should be held to the same standard as shorter gentlemen, but there you go....

[ozone]

Not to start an argument, but BMI is the BEST indicator of heart disease.

There are plenty of obese people who can run around, lift weights etc. But they are more likely to die early from heart disease than those who are not obese. Go to the site I listed and you can get more info that you would ever care to imagine.

[Kilted Mason]

OK, so maybe I over reacted to my measurements, but after a day or two to calm down, it’s not all bad. The good wife, as always is the voice or reason, and she reminded me that I’ve came a long way. As far as joining a gym, we have in our home a 440 sq ft gym filled with all commercial equipment that we all use every day. On the rare occasion I’m home at night, me and the boys put in a movie and spend hours lifting, running on the tread mill and just being stinky guys in the gym. MY BOYS WILL NOT GROW UP FAT KIDS AND LIVE THE HELL THAT IS FOR A YOUNG PERSON. Both my boys take great pride in telling anybody that will listen that McDonald’s makes you fat and stupid. Once again my wife has pointed out I need to change that mantra for something less offensive to the masses, but how many 9 year olds can turn down unhealthy food and say own their own” I’ve had enough bad food already today, how about some grapes or an apple” They are great kids and love being active, they are the reason I started dong what I do, I didn’t want to be one of those parents that watch their kids live their life from the sidelines, I am a part of their life every time I get the chance. This school year has been hard for me, not seeing them very much, but summer is where we make up for it. Every day before I leave for work we have 4 or 5 hours to do with as we please and we always make the most of it. Working in the yard, biking the trails at the park, or when the Texas heat makes it unbearable we spend the day at the science museum. This year however, they will get an introduction to art, via the Amon Carter museum, witch is just across the street from the science museum. This is getting long, so I’ll just say thanks for all the words of encouragement and the links for Masonic tartans.

[ChattanCat]

BMI - hogwash. I'm 6' 5", 230 lbs. The charts say I should be 190! The last time I was 190 was in college on the crew team and I was skinny!

WMC

[thescot]

BMI--isn't that Broadcast Music, Inc. or something. Has to do with collecting royalties for music writers or something.

Brother KM, order a kilt that fits and wear it proudly. As stated above, it really does depend on what your weight is made of, and if you're comfortable, your wife is happy, and the kilt fits, screw it.

I've been up and down--especially up since the last few years restricted my former ways, but I prefer down, and i am slowly regaining my once-beautiful body. (That's a lie. I'll never have a beautiful body again if I ever did.) I do prefer being more slender, but that's for another tale. the fact is that when I was slender, running several miles a week and smoking, I had a massive heart attack. Weight ain't everything. I'm still overweigth, in the 68th percentile for my age and wieght, but I'll be lighter next year.

Hope you enjoy your kilt. That GL of Scotland tartan is a killer.

One last note: you'll never be sorry you ordered a custom fit kilt. Nothing, and I mean nothing looks better.

[furrycelt]

i too have been put off by the whole BMI thing. it puts me at obese too. and like others here, i'm short and stocky with a gut (kilts look best on us i think ). i'm 5'7" 210 lbs. i wear 36" jeans, but my gut measures 41", and a 40" Utilikilt fits perfect. at boot camp i was 175 lbs. that still puts me at "overweight"!! oh well, whatever.

here's a BMI chart that i found.

when i was at NCSU i took a weight-lifting class. the instructor agreed that the BMI thing was a joke for many people. he said they should just add a simple to take measurement: the width of your elbow bone (bend your arm to 90 degrees. feel around for two opposing prominent boney points and measure with those). as it turns out i am truly "big boned", so i am supposed to be heavy for my size/height.

i still need to lose this gut though. my wedding kilt (from 8 years ago) is getting rather snug.

my advice would be to exercise and diet for health long term, and not just for clothing sizes. it can also be argued that you, Kilted Mason, are in a tough position of eating healthy given your odd schedule. i don't mind being alone alot personally, but to be disconnected from the rest of the world like would add a subtle stress that would cause me to probably want to eat and be more unhealthy; worse than that, being cut off from my boys for 5 days solid every week would really take a toll on me. my boys are only 1 and 5, i can't imagine being cut-off from them like that if they were older (but that is why i changed careers and got a "real" job).

i hope your situation gets better.