Healthy Is The New Skinny

A few weeks ago on our blog at PURE sports fitness and therapy, I wrote a blog post lecture to my clients on not being obsessed with being skinny. I was shocked at the feedback. “But these pictures motivate me” or “but I want to look like that and if I don’t strive for that I will stop working out completely.” This is the sad state of affairs of our society. That our bodies have become WHO we are rather than just the vehicle that holds in our person, soul, spirit, and intelligence.

Here is the reality. I am thin, I am not skinny. I eat mostly vegan, I eat about 1/2 the food that is ever put in front of me at a restaurant, I am active every day from 10 minutes of Pilates, hiking with my kids, running, yoga, or swimming. I actually do not personally workout with weights as hard as I push my clients. Why? Because to me, it is about the function of my body. Healthy pain-free, shoulders and back, the ability to pick up my kids and put them on my back. The ability to run a weekend 5 k at the drop of a hat. This is all very important to me. Now don’t get me wrong, I LOVE working out. If I had the time I would be in the gym 2 hours every day. But it is about balance and health.

1) We are overweight because of how out of control our eating has become. Our portion sizes are ludicrous. If you were to actually weigh that pasta, sauce, and bread before eating it you would see that a reasonable portion size is about 1/3 of what restaurants serve and about 1/2 of what we serve ourselves at home. If you simply changed your portion sizes you would notice a big difference. We also tend to eat until “stuffed,” you should be eating until you are “satisfied” and not a bite more.

2) The quality of our food is crap. The further you get from the source of your food, the worse it is for you. Stick with organic, locally grown produce. Limit your meat and dairy and packaged foods and you can’t go too wrong.

3) We move less now than we ever had. We burn fewer calories in the Activities of Daily Living now than we ever have. We have no other choice than to consciously get up and move every single day in some way shape or form.

Repeat the above 3 every single day, your health will improve, your weight will go down and stabilize.

Don’t get me wrong I still love an ice cream sandwich every once in a while, or french fries, but these are the occasional treats. I get so frustrated at the infomercials for 6 weeks to a bikini butt. There is nothing wrong with wanting a bikini butt, and in fact, I have workouts I give my clients to help them achieve that. But when that is presented and only that, in a nice package with lots of beautiful people your self-esteem takes a massive nose dive if 6 weeks go by and you have yet to achieve said promised bikini worthy butt. However, if you say to yourself – “You know what, I might not be at bikini butt status yet, but I feel amazing. My back feels really good, I’m starting to notice some slimming in my waist and hips, I am sleeping better, and feel really positive about these workouts and the changes they are making in my life.” Then YES!! You are getting it! It will stick with you and you will eventually work your way to that booty, but even if you never make it quite there you will have found the value in your workout for your health!

Have questions about your health and fitness? Comment below!