Restricted ENG1 Medical

[SWonder]

Got accepted on to the Engineering Cadetship with Clyde Marine and was meant to be starting in a couple of weeks. Had my medical and passed but with a restriction for coastal waters only due to me being overweight and my BMI being over 35. Doctor told me if I can loose 12 Kilos he can give me an unrestricted medical certificate. Spoke to Clyde who have agreed to move my intake date to January because they don't accept people with restrictions.

Anybody else with any experience on this or thoughts? Everything else in my medical was perfect just the BMI, 38.1 and the Doc said if I get it to between 30-35 and pass a step test with an average result he can give me the certificate i need. Need to get out and exercise and change diet, I don't think a 12Kilo loss is too much over the next 16 weeks at an average rate of 2 pounds a week.

[CharlieDelta]

It's an achievable weight loss, though it will take a considerable amount of dedication. Haven't heard of anyone being restricted based on BMI - there's some rather big seafarers out there but I imagine it has a lot to do with the doctor and their interpretation of the guidelines. In any case, the majority of engine cadets I know have lost shedloads of weight on their first trip.

[SWonder]

Thanks CharlieDelta, I am totally dedicated to loosing the weight as it will help my overall health and also I want a career in the Merchant Navy. The doctor I had the medical with seemed to be looking at a flow chart and told me that he didn't have much room for manoeuvre due to the MCA guidelines. I was pretty gutted about it all as I had got myself ready to start college in August and the guy who interviewed me at Clyde said 'you have two legs and two arms,so don't worry about the medical!' I doubt if I had the medical with the Clyde Marine Doctor the result would have been any different. My doctor seemed to think if your BMI was 30-35 range to get an unrestricted medical certificate you would have to do a step test to check your overall fitness ! After looking on this website I went into the medical thinking I would't have to many problems as although I am overweight I am pretty fit and to a lot of sports. I will let you know how I am getting on with it all anyway and I am sure I will be starting college in January! Positive thinking!

[agibbs98]

I'm scared of my medical tomorrow (weds) because my BMI is under the normal by a lil bit :/ hopefully the doctor I use won't see this as a problem, but knowing my luck, they will restrict me too...

Best of luck losing the weight though, I'm sure a determined mind will do fine!

[CharlieDelta]

I'm in the 30-35 range, though on the low side, and didn't have any issues. BMI is a difficult one because higher-than-usual muscle mass will skew the results. There's a chance that a different doctor may have had a different opinion, but look on the bright side - you'll have more energy, be more confident and just generally be healthier.

agibbs98, I wouldn't worry about being slightly under, though you might want to spend some time during phase one building up your strength - it'll be a help when you go to sea and do short courses.

[Jonny]

Unless you are obese I can't take the BMI seriously, I've put on a bit too much weight but if I was to drop 20lbs I would still be classed as overweight. For me to drop more than 20lbs I'd probably have to look at removal of a limb or going down the Christian Bale in The Machinist route.

BMI doesn't take in to account frame or muscle mass, I'd say it should be more about your general fitness as I have seen very big guys who can run for much longer than someone who would be considered as regular weight.

[Lewis]

True but how would you asses general fitness. Have doctors time people on a run?

[CharlieDelta]

For the purposes of the ENG1, I think the doctor's judgement following a visual examination would suffice. BMI is simply a way of comparing height to weight - yes, a higher BMI is broadly indicative of possible future heart disease or diabetes, but having a high BMI doesn't automatically mean you're unfit.

[Chiefy]

Another thing to bear in mind...this is the first tie the Doctor has seen you and it is your first medical, if you have seen the same doctor a few times and you are still broadly the same shape/ size BMI / health (BP etc) then he may reccomend you loose a few kg's but still alow you through.

The one I got to runs up the stairs 2 at a time expects you to keep up and does BP straight after.......even with a BMI of 33 I get a perfect score on BP and catching my breath (recovery) he just tells me that as I am in the 40 year old range now I neeeeeed to drop a few kg's........which I did in one trip (lost 16kg) but on leave put 8kg back on (damn that Strongbow)

So goodluck it is do-able

[Jonny]

To go for 2lbs a week will be tough though so you'll need to be fully committed, for 1lb a week you need to do 500 calories worth of exercise a day. Which is between 30 minutes to an hour a day dependent on the intensity of the workout.

[CharlieDelta]

It does depend on your starting weight and your diet. Everyone will have a certain BMR - basal metabolic rate - which is effectively the number of calories your body uses to just stay alive. Add to this the calories you burn from activity and you've got your daily requirement. To lose weight, you're looking for a deficit and, yes, 3,500 calories is roughly equal to one pound of weight loss. So for 2lb a week you want a 1,000 calorie a day deficit, but this can come from diet, not neccesarily just from exercise.

It is going to be tough but drink lots of water, replace fizzy drinks with sugar-free squash and learn to love fruit!

I'm a bit annoyed that I lost a reasonable amount of weight at sea (even with the cruise ship food) and I seem to have put it all back on again on leave. The doctor who did my ENG1 mentioned weight so I feel like I should probably make the effort myself to get rid of a bit before my renewal date next March.

[stronglead]

I am not exactly skinny myself and he didn't say anything about my weight and at the time of my ENG I was playing rugby so even heavier (muscle heavier than fat and all that) but he didnt say anything about my weight during it so I didn't think weight was a big issue, My build doesn't help me haha but still didn't even mention it just weighed and measured me and noted the figures and moved on haha

As for weight loss, Do house work, walk to places that are close by or cycle and leave the car at home (if u have one that is) don't eat late at night, watch how much you eat, replace crisps and stuff with fruit but don't just cut out bad foods as you will not do it trust me I tried. If you like to drink alot of alcohol ano this is a bad thing to say but cut back for now, as lager beers and ciders are full of calories. I work in Burger King and eat to much of the stuff, but I aint that bad now as I work long shifts, and am walking about alot in the place and doing things like brushing and moping that helps I also drink diet cola if I didn't I would be twice my size as I drink lots of it (another bad habbit) small changes reduces how much extra is needed to be done. oh and before you go to get re weighed go to the toilet before you go in (thats extra weight that you can get rid of)

[SWonder]

Thanks for all the info everyone. I had a meeting with the Doctor again today and he said that my target weight was certainly achievable before the January start with some dedication and hard work which I am more than willing to put in. I found it a bit difficult to accept at first because in general although I am overweight I feel I am fairly fit and play sports with ease and on a regular basis. According to the MCA registered Doctor who conducted my ENG1 if your BMI is below 30 you pass with unrestricted medical. If your BMI is between 30-35 but mostly made up of muscle and not fat then you Pass with unrestricted medical. However if your BMI is between 30-35 but a lot of fat you pass with unrestricted provided you achieve average or better in a small physical test they conduct. If your BMI is over 35 which sadly mine is then you get a restricted medical certificate to Near coastal waters only(150miles). He told me that he couldn't bend the rules and that it was fairly clear cut but yet I hear from people on here and other sources that isn't always the case. It seems like some doctors are more reasonable than others. I am wondering if the result would have been the same if I had my Medical with Clyde Marine Doctor. Still Clyde have agreed to move my intake to January as long as i get my ENG1 unrestricted and I am going to make sure that happens no matter what! Other than my stupid BMI and weight issue I passed the rest of the medical with no problems but this may turn out to be better in the long run as it was all a bit sudden with being offered a place in August a week after applying. I will go to college fitter and feeling better!

[jcwilson91]

cut carbs, sugar and salt and 2lb a week is easily achievable. Eat Chicken salads, banana, and loads of veg. No Rice, pasta, bread or any form of take-away. Combine that with walking 2 miles a day and i guarantee you will be at the target weight.

[CharlieDelta]

Doesn't banana = sugar = carbs?