New Me

Are you ready for a new you? It is important to consider if you are ready to make lifestyle changes before beginning a weight loss program. It is also important to record your starting point for weight and other important measures.

Where Am I Now?

Body Mass Index (BMI):
BMI is a number calculated from a person's weight and height. BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.

Enter your weight and height below to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI):

Note: This calculator is for adults 20 years and older.

Download a chart to see what your BMI means

Waist Circumference
Women with waist circumferences more than 35 inches and men with waist circumferences more than 40 inches tend to have more fat surrounding their internal organs putting them at greater risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and certain cancers. Use a non-stretch measuring tape, place the tape around your waist, half way between the bottom of your rib cage and the top of your hip bones. Keep the tape level. It may be helpful to enlist a friend to help you take your measurement.

Blood Pressure
Elevated blood pressure (hypertension) increases your risk of heart disease, stroke and other conditions such as kidney disease, heart failure and blindness. Being overweight or obese is one factor that contributes to elevated blood pressure- achieving and maintaining a healthy weight has a great impact on lowering blood pressure.

A health professional can measure for you. Or you can measure yourself by using a home blood pressure monitor, also known as a blood pressure cuff.

• Normal blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg or lower
• Prehypertension is blood pressure measuring between 120/80 and 139/89 mmHg
• Hypertension is blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or higher

Weight Loss Readiness Self Quiz
Weight loss/weight maintenance demands focus plus mental and physical energy. If you want to succeed, you need to prepare yourself. Part of that preparation is to determine whether now is the right time to start your weight loss program. The following questions will help you judge whether you're ready to lose weight.

• Are you motivated to make long-term lifestyle changes that require eating appropriate portion sizes of healthy foods and being physically active?
• Are you free from distractions in your life that may prevent you from committing to your weight loss/weight maintenance program?
• Do you truly believe that slower is better?
• Are you realistic about your weight loss goal?
• Do you have family and friends to support your weight loss efforts?
• Do you believe that you can change your eating habits?
• Are you willing to become more physically active?
• Will you take the time to keep records of your food intake and physical activity?
• Are you willing to look at past successes and failures in weight loss and other areas of your life?
• Do you view a healthy weight program as a positive experience?
• Have you resolved any eating disorders or other emotional issues that make it difficult for you to achieve a healthy weight?
• Do you believe that a healthy weight is a lifelong commitment?
• Are you ready for a permanent change?

If you answered yes to all of these questions, you're ready to make the lifestyle changes necessary for permanent weight loss. If you answered no to one or more questions, you may not be ready. Explore what's holding you back and face those obstacles. In some cases it may be a simple matter of timing. In other cases, you may need to work on related issues - such as your feeling toward weight loss or your willingness to commit to permanent changes. If you're ready for weight loss but fear you'll become discouraged quickly, think toward the future. As you become more physically active and make dietary changes, you'll feel better and have more energy.

Where do I go from here?
Now that you've calculated your BMI, you have a better understanding of your current weight status. If your readiness self quiz shows that you are truly prepared to begin to work towards a new you, then you are ready to begin. Explore the other website pages for helpful tips to become a new you. Find an Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less class near you and get started!