Friday night I was part of a panel, and speaker on the subject of Weight loss in Santa Clara, which had 300 people in attendance. What a reception for the topic of Fit vs Fat, so many of our extended family is affected by obesity its astonishing. The Perfect Storm is the shocking mix of a high fat diet, too much screen time and sedentary living, and not enough vegetables and fruits leading to high rates of obesity worldwide today. So much of our life is unbalanced, yet the cure is unabashedly elegant and simplistic. Putting certain practices into place requires more than will power, in most cases it propels us to have a back up plan. We are compelled to care for our bodies, mind and spirits to live an abundant life.
With a high BMI (25 plus) we are looking at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease which leads to heart attack and stroke, musco-skeletal disorders, cancer, premature death and substantial disability. The likelihood of co-morbidities increases indicating that our lives are out of balance. When one goes to the doctor with problem knees we are blown away when he tells us, " The body is just not designed to carry 50 extra pounds." Hello! It is time to make a break from our current lifestyles and get fit fast.
Shifting fat consumption from saturated to unsaturated is a step in the right direction. Increasing consumption of vegetables, fruit, legumes, whole grains and nuts moves us toward more healthful outcomes. In the shadow of growing diabetes rates throughout the world it is also necessary to limit consumption of dietary sugars, including honey and high fructose corn syrup.
It becomes imperative to address adapting certain principals that will better sustain life. Changing directions to customary eating is the on your dashboard, whether you want to or not. In order to solve or change directions, it is necessary to take stock of how you take in food. One has to be willing to
re-envision how meals could be prepared, which means getting back into the kitchen. Be willing to show up and participate, you will love how much better you feel. Eating breakfast and eating often will help you feel full; displace high fat foods with lots of vegetables and be judicious with fruit.
The role of stress is mighty, and stress management is a huge area to be addressed. Success in any weight management program must have exercise at the center of our practice. One has to be willing to develop fresh ideas around exercise and make it part of our daily method of operation. This includes making time for all family members to incorporate exercise. Mix it up: have a routine that includes walking or some other form of cardiovascular work, weight training which helps us be more metabolically active, and include some form of restorative work like yoga. I need a balance otherwise I get bored. I believe the body wants variety.
The benefits of a good night sleep are not to be ignored, because not enough leads to stress induced eating. We also need fellowship, accountability, active role modeling and a bit of friendly competition. Groups support us to enjoy the benefits conferred by community. I love the idea of having a work out buddy, since eating buddies generally abound; a balance is required. What we are all seeking is wellness after all. We can all be grateful this Thanksgiving for being a part of the community that is working towards greater wellness. I am grateful for all of you!
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