This is a great question. In our society today, “normal” has become something different than it was in the past. “Normal” is going out with co-workers for lunch and stopping by a fast food place for dinner on the way home. It is eating dessert multiple times a week – donuts and candy at the office, cookies at home, danish at church. Drinking lattes laden with sugar alongside a scone is a daily ritual for some. Girl’s night out with a few glasses of wine, watching the game with the guys and a 6 pack of beer. Having 10-20 extra pounds on a “normal” person’s frame does not stand out to us in our modern, American society.

The reality is that we are made to be active, lean ANIMALS. That’s right. How many horses or dogs or birds do you see that have extra pounds packed on? Let’s go back in time: our ancestors ate for survival. Today we eat for pleasure. Our ancestors had to physically work for their food. We can sit down during the entire process of receiving and consuming our food. Back in the day, humans ate REAL food. That means anything originating from the ground or produced by a living being-namely-animals. Today, the food industry has tricked us into consuming food-like substances that are directly leading to poor health and weight gain.

If you are reading this, you likely are wondering if you need to do something to reduce your weight or improve your health. Here are some suggestions for you that will help you answer the question, “do I need to lose weight?”

  • Look in the mirror. Are your clothes fitting well or have they become tight and unbecoming in the past few weeks.
  • Step on a scale. How far are you from your pre-college weight? (about age 18)
  • Have your body fat analyzed. Seek out a fitness professional that can measure the percentage of body fat vs. non-fat. A healthy body fat range for women is 20-25% and 10-15% for men.
  • Take a look back at the food you ate yesterday. Did you consume more than 3 servings of grains and have a dessert? If so, your body could be turning those sugars to fats for storage.

The hope is that you are a little more educated after reading this post. If you still have any questions, contact a fitness professional for personal guidance in your weight loss journey.