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Your focus should be on choices about eating and physical
activity rather than being concerned about the numbers on a
scale. A good healthy body can come in many shapes and
sizes. Being fit is far more important than being thin.
Looking thin on the outside doesn’t mean you’re not storing
fat on the inside. All bodies store fat – under the skin and
around our organs. The fat we carry deep inside is a higher
risk to our health than the fat shown on the outside.
So whether you’re overweight or stick thin we all have to
make healthy lifestyle choices that will lower the risk of
packing on too many internal pounds. That being said,
storing some fat is necessary to be happy and healthy. In
fact, your brain, skin, (and curvy parts) all need fat. Fat
also gives our faces their youthful appearance – some women
even get fat artificially injected into their faces (and
other body parts…lol) to get what we’ve got naturally.
Being overweight doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not fit.
Being fit means having endurance and strength. It means
being flexible and graceful and having the energy to take on
everything the world has to offer. It means getting to enjoy
your favorite activities like dancing, swimming and biking,
and feeling awesome afterwards. Notice, I didn’t say
anything about being thin. Why? Because its just not the
same as being in shape.
On the other hand, being thin doesn’t give you the golden
ticket to eat whatever you want and not exercise. We all
have that pencil-thin friend who can eat whatever he or she
wants! No matter what size you are, eating junk and being a
couch potato is terrible for your body. Period. Thin people
can get heart disease and diabetes just like the rest of us
if they don’t treat their bodies’ right.
So, if you’re overweight and are working hard to make good
choices about what you eat and how much you move, don’t feel
like you’re being punished for your genes. You’re just doing
what EVERYONE should be doing!
Whenever my inner “skinny” thoughts pop up, I refer to
encouraging words from a popular song: “So your girlfriend
rolls a Honda, playin workout tapes by Fonda, but Fonda
ain’t got a motor in the back of her Honda”; “So Cosmo says
you’re fat, Well I’m not down with that, cause your waist is
small and your curves are kickin…;” and finally my all time
favorite: “To the beanpole dames in the magazine, You aint
it, Miss Thing! Give me a sister, I can’t resist her, Red
beans and rice didn’t miss her….Baby Got Back!”
Okay so what does this all mean to you and me? It means:
1. Focus on choices about eating and physical
activity rather than the numbers on the scale. Be more aware
of the shape of your body as opposed to the thinness of your
body.
2. Skinny does not equal being healthy. And being
overweight doesn’t equal being unhealthy. Our health is
determined by the decisions we make about taking care of
ourselves. Getting enough sleep, eating vegetables and whole
grains, exercising and keeping stress to a minimum (yeah, I
know, you’ve heard it all before), but I think its fabulous
news, because it means your health is 100 percent in your
control.
3.
Focus on eating healthier. Eat more fruits and vegetables,
smaller portions of carbohydrates and less fat. Don’t
deprive yourself, or you will not last; the occasional
dessert (in small portions) is OK. Drink 100 oz of water
every day.
4.
Get your body moving! Get in one hour of moderate physical
activity every day. Make it fun and something you enjoy!
5.
Exercise lengthens your life – even if you’re overweight!.
By exercising every day, you’ll automatically lose weight.
6.
If you’re a smoker, STOP!
7.
Don’t beat yourself up. Choose being healthy over being
skinny. By committing to improve your lifestyle, you improve
the lives of those around you.
8.
The scale has its place, but your fitness level really comes
down to how you feel; what’s your exercise tolerance; and
are you able to do the things you truly love to do without
difficulty?
It all comes down to seeking a healthier, happier, and
active lifestyle. After all you are in control of what you
eat and how active you are. PLEASE don’t let your beauty,
your spirit, your confidence and self-esteem be determined
by whether your jeans come from the front of the rack or the
back!
Stop focusing on skinny: eat healthy; exercise; and proudly
shout – Baby..I Got Back!!!!
Angela R. Steward
Creator of Fabulously Fittm
Certified Group Fitness Trainer & Healthy Living Motivator
Certified Weight Loss & Nutrition Consultant
Owner of FABULOUSLY FIT tm STUDIO
1855 S. Reynolds Rd., Suite C
(Diamond Plaza)
Toledo, OH 43614
Email: Fabfitu@yahoo.com
Cell: (419) 699-9399
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