We at Omaha Barbell have noticed a common trend that deserves some attention: that an increasing number of people are what’s come to be called “Skinny Fat,” or MONW (Metabolically Obese, Normal Weight) in medical terms. A lot of people think that being skinny and being healthy are the same thing, and will go to absurd lengths (sometimes even starving themselves and smoking to keep their weight down!) to keep what they think is a “healthy” figure.
This way of thinking is simply wrong if you’re interested in getting healthier, so we’re going to set the record straight and give you some useful information to avoid that Skinny Fat mentality.
Your Health in Body Composition
Instead of thinking about your health in terms of how “fat” or “skinny” you are overall, our Omaha Barbell team recommends thinking of health in terms of body composition—that is, the percentages of muscle and fat in your body. For example, it’s possible in some cases for thin people to actually have higher body fat percentages than those who are visibly overweight, and this can lead to those thin people being blindsided by health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease, that they never thought would affect them. So if we can’t reliably judge our health by what we look like, how can we tell if we’re healthy? The answer is in our behavior.
Diet, Exercise, and Health in Fitness
Being healthy starts with thinking healthy. If you think you might have fallen into the Skinny Fat mentality, you can break out of it by realizing that healthy behaviors matter more to your health than looks do. At Omaha Barbell our gym members believe that making a habit of eating a clean and balanced diet and starting to really care about the fuel you put in your body is a great start, and pairing it with the right methods of exercise is even better. Remember, diet and exercise go hand-in-hand—for you to reach your peak physical condition it’s not enough to go in for one or the other.
Strength-Training at the #1 Gym in Omaha
So what kind of exercise is important? Well, all of it, but at Omaha Barbell we suggest that you pay special attention to strength-training. Why? For one, strength-training burns more calories. While your body recovers very quickly from cardio, lifting weights will ramp up your metabolism for up to 40 hours after your workout! Strength-training also helps to keep your body running smoothly, strengthening not only your muscles, but also your joints and tendons, which makes the things you do every day a lot easier.
Come on Down to Omaha Barbell
If you’re looking for a gym in Omaha where you can focus on building a healthy strength-training regimen, then come to Omaha Barbell and check out what we have to offer! We have state-of-the-art equipment that you won’t see at any other commercial gym, and our team’s expertise can help you achieve all your health and fitness goals. Call us any time at (402) 594-4485 to set up an appointment, or just swing by our location at 8935 J Street, Omaha, NE.
