DAVID KIRSCH IN A NEW YORK MINUTE

In my last post, I gave you more than one good reason to stop wearing pants with an adjustable waist. Keeping your gut in check could save your life. It’s one of the reasons I created my new Abs & Arms book.

Whether your goal is to get back into your skinny jeans or to attain enviable washboard abs, one of the questions I’m often asked is: What is the ideal waist size?

It’s all about achieving symmetry. Regardless of your body type, there is a metric for you – be it the Waist-Hip Ratio or Chest-Waist Ratio – that will help you gauge your progress better than the traditional scale. After all, it’s not how much you weigh it’s where you carry your weight that matters most. Take a measurement once a week and work toward the established goal.

For women: A slim waist and a curvy physique

Attaining a slim waist and proportionately wider hips is one of the most attractive features you can possess!

Measurement: Waist-to-Hip-Ratio

(waist circumference in inches ÷ hip circumference in inches)

Goal: ratio under 0.8

For guys: A broad chest, tapering down to a trim waist

If you’re going for that Brad Pitt-esque torso, you should be aiming for upper body shaped like an upside-down triangle. The base of the triangle is the chest and shoulders, and the tip is the abdomen.

Measurement: Chest-to-Waist-Ratio

(chest circumference in inches – waist circumference in inches)

Goal: 10

I want you to look down, and be honest about whether or not you’ve got a clear view of all ten toes?  The size of your gut and specifically, your waist is the barometer for fitness and overall health. If you’ve got a large waist, then you’ve got a burgeoning health concern. Studies   show that even “normal” weight women and men are at risk of disease and even death when they’re carrying too much belly fat. 
 


Could that be you?

Don’t leave it up to your scale to make the call. Get out a tape measure and assess where you fall. Divide your height, measured in inches, in half.
 


If the circumference of your waist (measured in inches,) is less than half of your height, says the International Journal of Obesity, then you are safe. 
 


If it’s more than half, then you’ve got to trim your tummy asap. You’ve got to engage in effective waist trimming exercises and start eating flat-belly foods. My new Abs & Arms book is here to help.

Most of us assume that looking better will help us feel better. In some cases, that’s true, but not for the reasons that you may think.  If you have a killer body but feel miserable all the time, what good is it?

Looking good comes from the inside. By changing some of the circumstances in your life (being sedentary, feeling stressed, staying in a bad relationship), you can remove the encumbrances that are preventing you from looking and feeling your best.

The exercise and eating habits you adopt to help you carve the body you desire will do more than help you look your best. They will boost your mood, burn off stress, and improve your overall well-being.

Isn’t that really what’s at stake?