The Workout Partner » Useful Fitness Information http://theworkoutpartner.com Guiding, motivating, and informing health conscious individuals. Providing people with the tools they need to achieve their health and fitness goals. Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:42:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 en hourly 1 Calculate Your Body Mass Index (BMI) http://theworkoutpartner.com/useful-fitness-information/calculate-your-body-mass-index-bmi/ http://theworkoutpartner.com/useful-fitness-information/calculate-your-body-mass-index-bmi/#comments Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:42:31 +0000 Josh http://theworkoutpartner.com/?p=254 BMI stands for Body Mass Index which is a measure of an individual’s weight relative to their height. The measurement is based on the formula :

  • BMI = (( Weight in Pounds) / ( Height in inches ) x ( Height in inches ) ) x 703

or

  • BMI = ((Weight in Kilograms)/(Height in Meters) x (Height in Meters))

Studies have found correlation between Body Mass Index and certain health risks. BMI is a general measure of an individual’s total body fat. However, it may overestimate an individual’s total fat and may also underestimate one’s total body fat. Certain BMI scores are associated with health categories:

  • Underweight: Below 18.5
  • Normal: 18.5-24.9
  • Overweight: 25.0-29.9
  • Obese: 30.0 +

Although BMI is a very popular measurement, too many variables are not taken into account that make the reading unreliable. For instance, an athlete may be 5 foot 10, 180 pounds, and possess very little body fat. According to the formula, this particular athlete’s BMI would read 26.5. This would classify the individual as overweight! This athlete has above average muscle mass which leads to the overestimation. Many trainers and doctors agree that simply performing a body fat test is far more effective than a BMI measurement in getting an idea of one’s health. However, many people still like to know their BMI so that’s why we provided the formula.

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Calculate One Rep Max

Calculate One Rep Max

A nice way of tracking progress with a weight lifting program is to calculate your one rep max. A one rep max is the amount of weight you can lift ONE time. We suggest performing an exercise with a weight that you think you can lift 3 to a maximum of 5 times. Trying to perform an exercise for 1 repetition can be dangerous and the exact weight to use is difficult to determine. That’s why a formula was created to calculate a one rep max. The chart to the left displays a weight (in pounds) and repetitions.  The numbers in the white spaces are the calculated one rep maximums. For example, if you perform an exercise with 135 pounds and are able to perform 4 reps, then your calculated one rep maximum is 147 pounds. The formula used to generate this chart is:

One Rep Max = Weight Used (in pounds)/((1.0278)-(.0278 * Repetitions Performed))

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