Is your waist less than 35 inches, men? Less than 32.5”, ladies? If not, you may be dangerously exposing yourself to increased risk of heart disease, according to Dr. Mehmet Oz, who appeared recently on Oprah.
My sweet husband lovingly taped this Oprah episode for me, knowing that I could stand to do a slightly better job of living FOR my heart, my physical heart that is. I could only watch a few minutes before feeling overwhelmed by conviction, although Mitch kept assuring me the later part of the show supposedly contains GOOD news.
Dr. Oz tells me I have an organ attached to my stomach – called the omentum - which stores fat. In this picture, Oprah is holding up a healthy omentum. Unfortunately, I think mine looks like the one on the left.
Although many people who know me may not realize this, I am just a couple pounds shy of being officially obese for my height and weight.
Here is one obesity calculator
In 2006 my health plan added an obesity wellness benefit, including extra tests and nutritional counseling for those who qualify. I came home and rather flippantly told Mitch I might be able to get these benefits. He promptly assured me this is not something to be excited about!
One of the positive things which has come out of the recent heartache at my church is that I (and probably you and millions of other Christians) have begun taking inventory of my own life. What weaknesses can I work on correcting? Is my accountability plan adequate to protect me from myself? And so forth.
Shortly after, I read Mark Driscoll’s blog
(thanks to Todd’s Nov 6 post) where Mark talks about women who let themselves go, thereby not helping their husbands any in the battle against sexual temptations. He’s talking about pastors and their wives, but I think it’s relevant for everyone. I promptly went home and related this to Mitch, and told him I want to change. Not only so he can find me more sexually attractive, but so I can live longer to be a blessing to my children and others.
Now Dr. Oz tells me that the number I should be looking at, first and foremost, is not my weight but my waistline. While 32.5 inches may sound do-able for most women, it’s an other-end-of-the-rainbow number for me. Mitch, on the other hand, has gorgeous flat abs that fit in size 31 pants – only slightly bigger than high school – and well within the 35 inches suggested by Dr. Oz for optimum heart health. I’m very proud of him, and wish I could add his waistline with mine and call it a healthy family average. But each of us is responsible for our own chocolate consumption.
Anyone else out there ready to make a change? I know some of us think about this every New Year’s, but this time, I think I need a jump start in November. It’s going to take some serious momentum to trim my omentum.
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1 comment:
I have been struggling with the same thoughts, and when I have talked to friends have been told I don't have such a bad problem. The thing is I know I do!
Maybe we could come up with a way to work together, to hold each other accountable, to encourage each other and figure out how to do this.
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