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[Apparelyzed]

Today I had a body fat test, quite interesting it was as well.

I am 6ft tall, 11st 10lb, and my Body Mass Index is 22.2, which is in the middle of normal.

I then had a Body Fat test, which showed my body fat as being 22.6%. The high rate is 21% - 26%

To look at me, you would think my body fat would be normal, but there is a difference between abled bodied normal, and disabled normal.

Having a spinal cord injury means the weight portion of my body taken up by muscle has slowly been replaced over the years of muscle atrophy by body fat. This results in a different body composition than that of an abled bodied person.

Now here's the double whammy, losing weight, losing body fat, means there's less padding on the bones to protect from pressure sores. So I can either have a higher body fat, which isn't good long term for the heart etc, and be less susceptible to pressure sores, or, I can have a normal body fat, a healthy heart, but be more susceptible to pressure sores!

Just as a matter of interest, I think I'll get my Cholesterol checked, as I think that is the determining factor overall.

Ahh, just one of the many joys of SCI we have to put up with!

Simon.

[Bob Clark]

Didja really think that maybe, just maybe, even for a fleeting second that there might be one little redeeming piece of value in being paralyzed? It's all negative... ya just can't win. Lose weight for the health of your heart but die from septicemia brought on by an infected pressure sore!

I have no idea what my ideal weight should be. I've lost so much muscle in my abdomen, butt and legs that it would only be a guess.

Not to sound too morose about it but I could really care less about the health of my heart. Dying from a heart attack would be a blessing to me. It's the emphysema and/or lung cancer or some lingering SCI related goodie that I worry about most. Like liver failure or cancer brought on by taking too many antibiotics for bladder and kidney infections or something along those lines.

You have a little girl who depends on you so you need to hang around for awhile. I don't want to die just yet but in the scheme of things and the big picture what's a decade or two? It ain't like I'm living The Life of Riley or anything. It's gonna happen some day.... and we probably won't be ready for it then. It's just comforting to know that everyone dies so it really can't be all that very difficult to do. At the time it may be frightening... then the long peaceful sleep. But with my luck Dante's Inferno is probably awaiting me.