That's Fit

Maybe the whole Body Mass Index (BMI) thing just isn't too accurate. I mean, how can a tool that takes into account only my height and weight really tell me if I'm overweight or not? What about muscle mass -- not that I have too much -- and bone density, and body fat? Don't all these factors play a role in what number appears on my bathroom scale? Surely, they do. Still, BMI measurements serve as a general guide, offering somewhat of a clue about weightiness.

Runner's World offers this cool BMI calculator you might want to check out. It's really easy to use. Just enter your weight (mine is 135) and your height (I'm 5'7") and presto! Your BMI number will present itself in an instant. Mine is 21.1, which means I am in a normal weight range. Here's how the numbers break down, according to the National Institutes of Health.

• Underweight: Less than 18.5

• Normal Weight: 18.5 to 24.9

• Overweight: 25 to 29.9

• Obese: 30 or greater
  
  

For more about Body Mass Index, check out this site. And for a different spin on BMI, use this AOL Body tool. It even includes waist measurement as an indicator.

FitSpirit explores the mind-body connection and the intangible benefits we gain from our efforts to stay physically fit.

I don't do well with sitting still. Truth be told, it makes me tired. If I keep moving, I stay awake. So in general, I keep moving. On occasion, I do give in to relaxation. I love pedicures, a good massage, vegging in front of the TV at night, and sometimes, I might even be caught sitting silently, soaking up the peace around me. If done properly, this practice is known as meditation.

Meditation means sitting quietly and focusing on one neutral thing, like your breathing or a single repeated word. The long-term goal of meditation is to become less dependent on the ego and its constant cravings for novelty, attention, power, sex, food, and so on. Proper meditation makes us more centered and less stressed out. It can make people happier, maybe even smarter. One study showed that meditators shift their brain activity to different areas of the cortex -- brain waves in the stress-prone right frontal cortex move to the calmer left frontal cortex. This shift decreases the negative effects of stress, mild depression, and anxiety. Meditators also enjoy less activity in the amygdala, where the brain processes fear.

Diabetes can be prevented. Do you know how? Surprise: Diet and exercise.

According to the website HealthyUpdates.com, about 54 million American adults have pre-diabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be considered diabetes. These people can prevent their conditions from evolving into type 2 diabetes by employing these three strategies.

1. Eating right. Studies show an increase in fiber, whole grains, and cereal can prevent the development of type 2 diabetes.

2. Moving. Exercise can reduce insulin resistance.

3. Losing Weight. Exercise plus weight loss cuts the risk of developing diabetes, says data from the National Institutes of Health's Diabetes Prevention Program. It only takes a loss of four to six percent of body weight to make a difference.