Better Your BOD by Utilizing the POD
By: Kelly Gonzalez
Annapolis Sunday Capital: Published December 20, 2009
In efforts for an improved physique through diet and exercise the scale is a daily test of progress or failure. Unfortunately, many throw in the sweat-drenched towel if the scale doesn’t budge within a few weeks.
Patience grasshopper! The scale is only one tool to track progress. The scale assesses weight. One pound of muscle is the same as one pound of fat. It’s a unit of measurement; so don’t believe that old myth that “muscle weighs more than fat.” The truth is that muscle is more dense than fat meaning it takes up less space aka your clothes fit better.
The more lean muscle mass you have the higher your resting metabolic rate is meaning that you can burn more calories at rest. If weight loss is your primary goal you could be losing more of that valuable lean muscle mass than risky excess body fat. So let’s turn that “weight-loss” goal into a more specific objective and aim to decrease body fat instead.
The problem with the average scale is that it doesn’t measure your lean body mass compared to your fat mass. Skin calipers and bioelectrical impedance are ways to measure this, but neither has proven to be as accurate as the BOD POD.
What is the BOD POD?
The BOD POD consists of a large chamber that one sits inside of for approximately 50 seconds. The BOD POD is rather large as it can comfortably accommodate a person measuring in at over 7ft tall and weighing up to 500 pounds. Through the process of air displacement plethysmography the BOD POD measures body composition.
Air displacement plethysmography determines body density, mass measurement, meaning weight, volume measurement by measuring the volume within the empty chamber versus when the subject is inside, thoracic volume to account for the air in the lungs, and surface area artifact to account for clothing and hair’s impact on body volume.
The administrator simply plugs in the gender, age, and height of the subject before the test. The system automatically considers these factors in determining the volume of the individual.
The subject must wear spandex shorts and sports bra for women or a bathing suit with a swim cap over their head. Typically two 50-second tests are done back to back to ensure accuracy of the reading. With a push of a button the system makes the necessary calculations and prints out a detailed analysis.
BOD POD in Business
Fascinated by the technology and assistance in tracking health and performance goals Maryland resident, Matt Bender, a former radar technician took a chance on purchasing the BOD POD in 2008 and developed a business called Be Fit-Test. Matt described his business outlook as “no question about it.” After reviewing the data and crunching the numbers, Matt knew the business couldn’t fail.
The BOD POD itself is at home in a trailer that is fully equipped with a dressing room, computer for plugging in a subject’s information, calculating the results, and printer. Matt travels to local gyms, universities, sport events, and even collaborates with physicians all with his mobile BOD POD in tow.
Personal trainers and nutritionists are loving this mobile device as it assists them in providing detailed and accurate training and nutrition programs for their clients to ensure results.
Angela Romano is the owner of beyond fit, a personal training studio in Fallston, Maryland. The BOD POD helps her tailor client’s nutrition and training programs, because it not only reports how much lean muscle mass vs. fat mass you have, but also provides critical metabolic information regarding how many calories your body burns at rest by providing one’s resting metabolic rate and total energy expenditure per day based on activity level.
“Usually people aren’t eating enough” says Angela.
“The information is from a scientific source. The numbers don’t lie.”
The BOD POD helps make the connection of why it’s important to eat more often as it helps support lean muscle mass and thus boosts metabolism
Angela suggests that her clients utilize the scientific data of the BOD POD, because it helps them stay on track, provides more concrete goals, and holds them accountable.
BOD POD and Athletic Performance
Athletes of all kinds are seeking out the BOD POD to improve their performance. The University of Maryland basketball team has been using the BOD POD frequently to provide critical information to aid players in increasing their performance.
Paul Ricci, the head strength and conditioning coach for the team states that the BOD POD has helped coaches “closely monitor each player’s body weight, lean body mass, and body fat percentage to demonstrate to players how the addition of lean body mass and subtraction of excess body fat through their training and nutritional habits directly correlated to their performance on the field.”
“The players were sold on the competitive advantage the BOD POD gave them and so was I!” says Ricci.
The Road Ahead
Our bodies are direct representations of what activities we participate in, and what type of nutrition we provide. The BOD POD lays these aspects out for a client. The BOD POD can help make sure you are on the right track through your training and nutrition.
Once you receive your results from the BOD POD you may realize that you need to implement lifestyle changes or alter your training routine. Unfortunately, the device doesn’t lay out a plan for progress. This is where you may seek assistance from a fitness professional. A personal trainer will be able to utilize the data and build a program tailored to your needs and goals. If you seek advice please contact me at kelly@kellygonzalez.com
In Conclusion:
Take your body in any direction you want by knowing where you are, where you’ve been, and where you’re headed.
“It’s choice not chance that determines the quality of life.” I say, choose fitness.
For more information about the BOD POD or to find a BOD POD near you go to
http://www.lifemeasurement.com/
Contact Matt Bender with Be-Fit-Test at Matt@BeFitTest.com
Website: http://www.befittest.com
Contact Angela Romano with beyond fit in Fallston, MD at AngelaRomano@gobeyondfit.com
Website: www.gobeyondfit.com
For training and lifestyle consultation contact Kelly Gonzalez at kellygonzalez.com
Website: www.kellygonzalez.com
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