What BMI factors can you influence on your weight loss journey?
You may know that Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of health in regards to your weight and height, but do you know how to change it?
Our individual genetics play a significant role in our size, but they aren’t the whole picture. Discover which elements contribute to your BMI number, and which you can change to enjoy a healthy body and healthy life for years to come.
Unsure what your BMI number is? See our recent post, or get started on our online BMI calculator now.
What you can’t control for your BMI
Genetics
One of the determinants of your BMI is genetics, as it can have an impact on how your body stores weight and your tendency towards weight gain. This doesn’t mean you can’t get yourself within a healthy BMI range, it may just mean that you may need to work harder and consider your genetic factors when setting weight-loss and BMI targets. Our Consultants are experienced in creating tailor-made weight loss plans for men and women of all sizes – whatever your goal is, call us today to see what we can do for you.
Age
You’re no doubt familiar with the struggle to shift those extra kilos as you get older. Age affects your BMI in a similar way – as you age, your metabolic rate naturally begins to slow, which can affect your BMI.
To counteract this, sustained, regular physical activity is required as you age, and we encourage an emphasis on healthy eating throughout your life. Read on for tips about making these lifestyle changes and maintaining a healthy BMI even as you age.
What you can control for your BMI
Physical Activity
A lack of physical activity can contribute to weight gain as Physical Activity can assist with losing weight and maintaining a healthy BMI.
Although some people are put off by the concept of high-intensity training or pounding the pavement for hours on end to lose weight, not all physical activity has to be this demanding. Find an activity you enjoy, such as dancing, walking in a scenic reserve, cycling, or yoga and make it work for your lifestyle.
As your weight decreases, so will your BMI, until eventually you’ve moved your way into a healthy range!
Diet
More important than physical activity for weight loss is diet: a healthy, nutritious diet will help lead to a healthy BMI range. Remember that as you age, you may need to adapt your diet to maintain your size – for inspiration, see our recipes.
Your balanced diet should include lean meat or protein, vegetables, salad, whole grains, reduced-fat dairy products, and fresh fruit. But it’s not just about the ingredients, it’s also about how much you’re putting on your plate – if you’re eating too much, even of healthy ingredients, you’ll still face challenges in losing weight and keeping to a healthy BMI.
Jenny Craig’s personalised meal plans make this easy – we measure out your portions and make sure every meal is well balanced to contain enough nutrients and flavour to satisfy your stomach, without adding extra pounds.
Reach your healthy BMI
Sustainable, lasting change to your body and BMI won’t happen overnight, but with support from Jenny Craig’s Consultants, you can make sure that it does happen.
Losing weight and reaching a healthy BMI is a personal journey, one that can differ depending on your individual circumstances and goals. Your weight loss Consultant will guide, educate, and support you in shifting your BMI number back into the healthy range through the use of dietitian designed meal plans, setting physical activity goals, and an encouraging positive mindset.
The Jenny Craig weight loss program is designed to reduce your weight by 0.5 to 1kg per week as we help you to incorporate sustainable healthy practices into your lifestyle. We also provide maintenance programmes, to help keep you on track once you’ve hit your goals.
As your BMI lowers into a healthy range, you’ll feel your vitality rise and your energy levels increase.
A high BMI has been shown to contribute to heart disease, diabetes and stroke, along with an extra strain on the spine, ligaments and joints. Reducing your BMI is one of the easiest ways to reduce this risk, and gain extra energy in your day-to-day life.
Discover your BMI with our online BMI calculator now, or contact us to get started today.
