Weight Loss 3

Ever wonder what is your ideal weight for running?

Well, Dr. Stillman might have just the right suggestion for you.


Firstly, he fixes the non-active man's average weight for height

with a simple formula.

He allocates 110lbs (56.2kg) for the first five feet (1.524m) in height,

and 5 1/2lbs (2.296kg) for every inch (0.025m) thereafter.

He is a bit harsher with women, though, giving them only 100lbs (45.3kg)

for the first five feet and 5lbs (2.268kg) for every inch thereafter.

Having established the average is not where he stops,

he then speculates on the ideal weight for athletic performance, as follows:

Sprinters (100-400m): 2.5% lighter than average

Middle-distance runners (800m - 10K): 12% lighter than average

Long-distance runners (10 miles onwards): 15% lighter than average


Now, for a person of with height of 5'6" like me, that translates into

143lbs(65Kg) for an average non-active man and if he happens to be a long

distant runner, his weight is best kept to be around 121Lbs(55.25Kg).


Wow, that's a lot deviations in my case,

but at least now I know what I should aim for.


BTW, if you happen to be overweight by a lot more than

an average non-active person(me included),


DON'T DESPAIR!

LOOK THINGS AT THE BRIGHT SIDE,

AT LEAST YOUR RUNNING PERFORMANCE HAS A LOT OF ROOMS TO IMPROVE.



It is always better if one is 15% heavier than an average person

and run a sub 50min 10K than having a long distant

runner's body frame and still run on the same par.

The former will just outdoes the later in no time

once one gets rid of those excess baggage .



It would be interesting to know how much performance gain

can be achieved from the weight drop,though.

If I happen to come across any research relating to this,

it would be nice to be posted in Weight Loss 4.



But until then, Crank on.