Does having a High Frequent Flyer status make you fatter?

[Foreigner]

While people can argue that BMI doesn't always get it right, I would like to think those on here who measure up as 'obese' could tell if they were fit like a footballer/movie star or suffering from abdominal enlargement...

It works perfectly for self identification of obesity, and you'll find some people who only lift weights, weigh a lot and are obese on BMI also have very little cardiovascular fitness anyway, and are also at risk of being unhealthy too.

I agree. BMI is but one measure of fitness/fatness and health risks.

 

[whatmeworry]

But we do have to be careful to note that we're not trying to measure health, per se. The OP was interested in fat. Health is a much harder 'thing' to measure.

Generally your fat percentage or weight is intertwined with your fitness levels however there are many unfit skinny people and many fit fat people out there.


I guess what many people that fly often have noted in this discussion is the difficultly in resisting over indulging in good food and drink whilst also maintaining an exercise regiment.

 

[Per_Travels]

No, I don't feel sluggish, but I feel that missing lunch is better than missing breakfast

This is what I do - especially in the US, small plate of fruit for breakfast and then either lunch or dinner (but not both). Really this is just to counter the lack of exercise when I'm away

 

[Blinky]

On the road, depending on the type of work you do, I tend to eat more food; and exercise much less than if I'm at home. So now I attempt to make 2 adjustments. The first is to stay in Serviced Apartments rather than hotels. A quick trip to the supermarket on day 1 certainly pays dividends by weeks end. Secondly, (and it seems easier to do this if you are male) I remove breakfast or lunch from the work day.

Same here. The other point is that frequent fliers simply sit on their cough for a long time without the option of getting up and wandering around the office or around the block.

Speaking personally, my weight doesn't vary with my status, but certainly does with my alcohol consumption. I'm off the grog now, so the weight is getting under control.

 

[Foreigner]

Adelle Davis, famous nutritionist, wrote:

"Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper."

My tip: have dinner three hours before sleep.

 

[amaroo]

Body Mass Index (BMI) would be good measure to go by.

Would like to know the typical male they used to define this index. Seems to me - that the typical BMI adjusted male would have difficulty opening a can or bottle.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Yes however the status makes me far more attractive to the opposite sex....

:banghead:

 

[Princess Fiona]

Adelle Davis, famous nutritionist, wrote:

"Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper."

My tip: have dinner three hours before sleep.

Interesting but probably true, I do almost the exact opposite to this and eat dinner very late a few nights a week.
My own strategy is to eat very little during the week (what I do eat is low fat, low carb) and at weekends I cut loose.
Likewise if I'm going on a longhaul trip I will eat and drink sparingly leading up to the trip so that I can enjoy all the goodies during the trip without feeling guilty

 

[wingspan]

Generally your fat percentage or weight is intertwined with your fitness levels however there are many unfit skinny people and many fit fat people out there.

But we do have to be careful to note that we're not trying to measure fitness, per se. The OP was interested in fat. Fitness and health and fat may all be related but they're not the same thing.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

My body fat has decreased to 11% since being plat1... But I've also bulked up 13kg.

Being lazy makes you fat... Not status

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I guess my question is, do Frequent Flyers gain weight as a result of this frequent flying or is it because they can not resist the temptation that airlines provide or has their temptation thresholds been lowered because of the stress of commuting or because they can get something for free?

Maybe when some people first start out they get fatter on the freebies! But I'm sure at some stage everyone hits the 'just get on board and go to sleep' routine. I flew LH F a while ago and with a full cabin, 7 out of 8 went to sleep after take-off. I was amongst the first to wake up, about an hour before landing. No one had much for breakfast aside from coffee. No one was fat!

 

[SeatBackForward]

Yes however the status makes me far more attractive to the opposite sex....

:banghead:

Its also made me heavier, because of all the bling I need to wear on board now that I have status.

 

[whatmeworry]

Them platinum cards are really heavy!

 

[HKGNZL]

Waist to Hip ratio is the trendy parameter to use these days.

 

[11sjw]

WP achieved and retained mainly through many a Rio Tinto paid PER-Pilbara return day trips in the last two years. Currently down a few kgs from where I was prior to WP.

Packing a pair of budgie smugglers and goggles can be very handy as a spare hour can be turned into some laps of the local pool. Pity the eyes of the unfortunate locals though!

 

[Foreigner]

Waist to Hip ratio is the trendy parameter to use these days.

For girls as well as boys?

 

[Boris spatsky]

I think Mal has got it completely correct.
It's lifestyle which causes the biggest fluctuations in weight.
As a data point I'm within 2kg of my weight in 1st Year Uni (many moons and FF years ago )

I am 4 kgs under my uni weight - lets call it lifestyle choices! Oh and i took up marathon running in my late 20's

I run as much when i am away as i do at home, if not more. I love running around new cities.

 

[Foreigner]

I am 4 kgs under my uni weight - lets call it lifestyle choices! Oh and i took up marathon running in my late 20's

I run as much when i am away as i do at home, if not more. I love running around new cities.

Good on you...i started half-marathons in my early fifties. I'm not sure if I can sustain full ones.

A topical article in News.com.au may interest some posters:

Jessica Irvine reveals how to balance your body budget | News.com.au

And this is the link referred to in the article:

BMR calculator - body+soul

Go figure.

 

[samh004]

Some consider waist-to-height ratio a better simple measure of health. IIRC I read somewhere that Brad Pitt would classified as overweight and George Clooney obese according to the BMI.

BMI = 22
waist-to-height = 0.47 (OK)

Being lazy makes you fat... Not status

Yes, I need to get rid of some of my fat and become a bit more active

 

[Foreigner]

Slightly off-topic but...

this man easily could put many to shame:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wor...ner-crosses-finish-line-101-article-1.1272004