JL
Fitness
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JL
Fitness
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Body Composition The distribution of the body's fat and muscle has a major impact on performance. An athlete (week-end or professional) should be more concerned with the composition of their body than the weight of their body. Weight charts have been created for average sized people. A 6' 5" shot putter might be overweight and yet not be overfat. A 4' 11" jockey might be underweight and yet be overfat. What Does Body Composition Mean? "Body Composition" refers to the percentages of the parts of the body known and lean mass and fatty mass. The lean mass includes bone, muscle, skin, internal organs and body water. The fatty mass is body fat. Why is Excess Fat Bad? Excess fat has weight without purpose. A person might as well carry a backpack with rocks when performing their sport. A certain amount of fat is critical for body functioning. All the rest is excess. Excess fat interferes with balance and coordination. It also acts as a blanket and causes an athlete to overheat more rapidly. More blood and effort are expended cooling the body than for sports performance. How Does My Body Composition Effect My Health? Being overfat (not the same as overweight) has a greater risk of diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. An underfat person (super thin) also has associated health risks. How Do I Find Out My Body Composition? Body composition can be measured by a simple skinfold pinch test. A set of calipers is used to measure the thickness of fat under the skin at various places on the body. This information is used mathematically to estimate the amount for fat, the weight of the fat and weight of the lean mass. This can be done by your professional trainer. What is the Proper Body Composition? The average male athlete will want to maintain between 8% and 15% body fat. Of course, body builders just before a show will trim way down from that. Is there a health risk here? Yes, but that is another article. The average female athlete will want to maintain between 15% and 22% body fat. A female's body uses fat differently than a male's. Therefore, a slightly higher percentage is required to maintain good body function. Consult your professional trainer for the right balance for you. How Do I Gain Lean Mass Without Gaining Fat? Increase the amount of calories you eat (using a balanced diet) and increase the amount of exercise. This will result in the extra calories being used for muscle development rather than fat storage. |
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