Self Evaluate Your Health With A Waist Measurement

There is an easy way to evaluate the state of our health and our own health risks. It is your waist circumference which is a good indicator of the amount of abdominal fat you have. Women should measure less than 35 inches and men less than 40 inches.

Although you likely have fat stored in places all over your body it is relatively harmless. But abdominal fat is not so harmless and can threaten your health. This fat is stored beneath the muscles and inside the abdominal cavity wrapping itself around major organs hindering their functioning.

It is metabolically active which means it causes inflammation that triggers health issues. This is the main reason why 'apple-shaped' people who carry excess body fat in their mid-section have a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes and other health problems.

The fat around your abdomen does not just sit there idly doing nothing. It is hard at work releasing hormones that trigger your appetite making you want to eat more even if you do not feel hungry.

The reason for this increase in abdominal fat is likely a metabolism meltdown caused by muscle loss. Your metabolism is your body's engine and it determines the rate your body burns fuel (calories). The main driver of your metabolic rate is the health and condition of your muscular system.

As we get older unless we work to keep it we lose muscle tissue and it has little to do with the aging process and has everything to do with the amount of 'work' your muscles get throughout your adult life. In our modern day world it is unlikely that we get to use our muscles as they have been designed to be used.

It is quite possible to recover much of that muscle tissue that has been lost which would get your metabolic motor running faster so it can burn off that belly fat. A proper exercise program is the only solution with strength training exercise as the main and key component.

Do not be fooled into thinking that 'cardio' type activity will burn off this dangerous fat as it will not. Spend your time doing something that will really work and is a proven and tried and true remedy. The more toned muscle tissue you have the more calories you will use round the clock and the more efficient your metabolism becomes.

It is only with this increase in muscular health that you can change your body from a fat storing one that will threaten your health (and maybe your life) to a fat burning one. Not only will you lose the fat, your healthier body will keep that fat off.

And to boot you will have a more youthful appearance as firm muscle tissue looks better, being firmer smoother, tighter and shapelier than saggy flabby fat.

Just 2-3 sessions each week of your strength training with some effort put into it will slowly but surely reduce that abdominal fat that can cause you much harm. Well worth a couple of hours total each week wouldn't you agree?

Discover how to create a leaner, firmer, younger looking body when you speed up your metabolism in 30 days or less. Carolyn Hansen is a certified fitness expert and fitness center owner whose goal is to show you how to burn fat - without starving yourself. By combining strength training exercise with the right foods that will increase your metabolic rate, decrease food cravings and get and keep you trim. Visit http://HotMetabolism.com

Carolyn has just released her latest healthy eating system designed to assist people with achieving their fat loss goals and restoring true health one meal at a time. This program will make you feel a million bucks so, come visit http://21DaysToHealthyEating.com to find out how it is done.