Shane Warne Legacy Health Test

[trog]

For our American friends, Share Warne was an Australian cricketer, and one of the greatest cricketers of all time. The Shane Warne Legacy Heart Test campaign aimed to make 23,000 free four-minute heart tests available to Australians before the end of 2023. This was achieved during the 2023 MCG Boxing Day test. This is a self-service machine that measures your height, weight, body fat, BMI, blood pressure, heart rate and assesses you for the risk of diabetes. Free, so you can't grumble at the price! There is a machine in my local pharmacy, so I decided to give it a spin.

I'm 67, 173 cm, 75 kgs. In October of last year, I was 88 kgs. The weight loss isn't deliberate. The reason for the weight loss is a stressful six months; moving back to Australia and moving in with my mother who has dementia. I'm quite pleased with the loss, as AFAIK, I haven't lost any muscle mass. In October, I was doing 5 sets of 8 pull-ups, super-setted with 5 sets of 8 20 kg military press; maximum of 30 seconds rest between sets. Now I'm doing sets of 9 pull-ups; being lighter makes them a lot easier!

The results confused me. It said my weight is elevated - my target should be 70 kgs. Seems way too low. My BMI is 26, which is elevated - this is to be expected. Body fat is 10% - I don't know whether to believe that or not, seeing as it is measured using electrical resistance. Everything else is bang on the money. I guess I'll have to see the doctor at some point and see what they say about the weight recommendation. First, though I have to register with the doctor. I don't know if the doctor will measure body fat, but I can get it done using calipers for $150. Stuff that!

Anyway, I think the machines are a great idea. The results are logged and as part of the report, you get vague advice. You can take the test every few months, and see if you are making progress.

[pierinifitness]

Congratulations on the fitness, health and wellness gains you've achieved.

I'm a fitness and health metrics data geek and have been recording various data about me over the years.

The ones important to me are blood pressure, resting hear rate, heart rate recovery after an intense cardiovascular fitness activity, fasting glucose, hemoglobin a1c and cholesterol lab results.

Body fat measured the way you described can easily give false readings depending on your hydration levels. Caliper testing will give more accurate results with the best and more expensive method being a DEXA scan. It seems to me you're doing great so I'd focus on continuing with what you're doing; your pull-ups performance speaks volume because most men your age can't do one or even hang from a pull-up without hurting themselves.

Wishing you the best in your fitness, health and wellness journey. Thanks for being a good son to your mother.