But not in the good way.

AUSTRALIA has overtaken the United States as the world's most obese nation,
a new report says. The report, Australia's Future Fat Bomb, says 26 per cent
of adult Australians - almost 4 million people - are now obese, 1 million
more than the last calculation in 1999. The findings mean Australia is the
world's most overweight nation, ahead of the notoriously super-sized
Americans, who have a 25 per cent obesity rate.

"That, unfortunately, makes us the heavyweight champions, a title we don't
really want," said Professor Simon Stewart, the author of the report and
head of preventive cardiology at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute
in Melbourne.

The report says that 9 million adults have a body mass index over 25, making
them overweight or obese, an increase from 7 million. Experts have called
for obese people to be given gym discounts and for surgical waiting lists to
be prioritised on the basis of weight loss.

The report presents the results of height and weight checks on 14,000 adult
Australians nationwide in 2005, giving the most thorough picture of obesity
since the AusDiab study in 1999.

The data suggests there will be an extra 700,000 heart-related hospital
admissions in the next 20 years due to obesity. Almost 125,000 people will
die as a result.

"I would regard this as the biggest threat to our future health," Professor
Stewart said. "As we send our athletes off to the Olympics, let's reflect on
the fact that we would win the gold medal now in the world fat Olympics if
there was such a thing. The health care system is going to be overwhelmed by
weight-related hospitalisations from knee replacements through to heart
attacks and strokes."

http://www.smh.com.au/news/health/australia-pips-us-as-worlds-fattest-nation
/2008/06/19/1213770827371.html



OK, so I don't actually think it's THAT bad, because they've based the
bloody thing on BMI, which to me is a ridiculous calculation. Height &
weight and nothing more? Several of the guys at my gym, despite being
incredibly fit and healthy, having very little body fat and being incredibly
strong are classified as morbidly obese.



Why, you ask? Well, muscle is denser than fat - 1kg of muscle and 1kg of fat
look vastly different. 1kg of fat looks about twice the size as 1kg of
muscle so if you put on muscle, you might weigh the same, but look totally
different. For instance, I do not look my current weight (despite my PT
Manager's protestations that the reason I'm not getting clients is cause
I've got a fatter arse than other trainers), but I don't look it because
it's a lot of muscle as opposed to all the fat it used to be. I used to be
this same weight, but it was all fat. Now there's quite a bit of muscle
kicked in there, I look markedly different.



Go by BMI, body fat and measurements THEN we'll see who's is the fattest
nation on earth. :-)

So, my PT Manager is a bit of a tool at times. And it appears JUST TO ME at
present. Everyone else who's heard how he's spoken to me has said "holy
sh*t, what the hell went wrong there??!!" Ended up in tears several times,
and I think cause he knows he can do it, he likes to try and intimidate me -
being 6'5", islander and an ex-army ranger, it often works.



Still trying to get some more clients in - thinking of going back to WW just
to try and see if I can get some people from there. Seeing as how last time
I went NONE of the women there exercised, they all just wanted to eat
better. But I've had some success with a few of my clients, they're looking
better, feeling better (especially my lovely lady with sciatica - realising
that session with me make her better).



Making other people feel better is my job really, that's why I love it. All
the politics and such just piss me off, that's why I though PT is for me -
I'm my own boss, and I don't have to worry about working with bitchy women
and idiot managers. Oops, missed that one! As I am STILL helping out with
floor hours (making gym look pretty and getting everyone out at night), I am
doing Sunday nights. I play basketball Sunday nights, and so had been coming
in, leaving early to play. Boss didn't mind. THEN new general manager comes
in, she who's won all these awards and sh*t - like anyone cares, and goes
"no, someone has to be there the ENTIRE time." So, I get reamed. All because
little miss receptionist whinged to her friend the new GM. Serves her right
that her botox went wrong and now she's all wonky.



And now, to top it off, they've introduced "Operation Shape Up!" Everyone at
FF will be fitness tested, including trainers. Based on guidelines that
(after looking at them) some Olympic athlete decided were OK. To get full
marks in the sit & reach test (flexibility) you have to get over 28CM past
your toes.



Let's do it together, shall we? Sit on the floor, legs out straight and feet
up against a step or chair. Now, keeping your legs straight (no raising
knees) reach as far forward as you can towards your toes and hold it out
there for 3 seconds. I can get 7cm past my toes, and I'm a trainer who works
on her flexibility every day with clients. Anyone care to share their
results? I've done this test on HUNDREDS of people, only one got anywhere
near it, and she does gymnastics.



But, I have a recommendation. DON'T do Body Combat (my favourite class)
followed by Pilates. You'll mess yourself up. I was screwed for 3 days. I
think it's cause I hit in Body Combat (it's an aerobic shadow boxing /
kicking class) like I'm in a boxing match, not little soft taps like a lot
of the ladies do. Then pilates just messed with me.



But, will try to post more - I've been a slack b*tch. But I have been
reading everyone's blogs - promise - just haven't got around to venting on
mine. Perhaps I should - then The Boyfriend wouldn't cop it!