Food For Thought Thursday:
Did you know that in the past decade obesity has become an epidemic? Americans are getting fatter and this fat is killing us. Obesity is a major cause of mortality in the United States, killing some 300,000 a year. The U.S. has the highest rate of obesity in any industrialized nation in the world even though we pay the most amount of money for health care and have the finest medical systems on earth.
The medical field defines obesity as being 20 pounds or more above one’s ideal body weight. Sixty percent of adults fall into this category and the numbers are even higher for our children. Research shows that even though weight loss products and services are a 33 billion dollar a year industry, Americans are still suffering and dying from obesity. Maybe this is because the law of attraction teaches us that the universe is full of abundance but which abundance are we focusing on?? The more we focus on WEIGHT LOSS the more WEIGHT we gain… common denominator WEIGHT if we want weight loss we have to focus on the abundance of Health and living a Healthy lifestyle. I heard a quote that was said by Mother Teresa during the times of Vietnam War and all the protesting that was going on that said “In order to achieve world peace stop focusing on stopping the war or not having the war but simply focus on peace.” Focus on attracting what you want not what you don’t want.
What are some underlying causes of Obesity?
As a country, why are we gaining so much weight? 1) we consume the most fast foods 2) eat the most sugar (which is poison to our body and is just as addictive than someone with a substance abuse condition) 3) drink the most soda 4) eat more junk food than any other country on earth even though we have record numbers of people joining health clubs and ordering home exercise equipment.
The growth of marketing fast foods, snack foods and the lack of movement/exercise are among the top reasons why Americans take in more calories than they burn. It’s sad but true (even for myself) over the years Americans have become lazy: we watch more television while snacking on junk food and using the remote to change the channel, the workplace has become more automated sitting at desks all day, household chores are being assisted with labor-saving devices, we use our cars to go everywhere even to the corner instead of walking or bicycling. Even for our children, neighborhood parks have become a thing of the past and kids would rather play video games and be on social media instead of playing outside. I think a major culprit of obesity that gets overlooked is stress. I believe a lot of weight gain in America is due to people stressing over their life and not having enough…living in lack trying to survive. That’s why it is so important to learn how to overcome our stress so we can release the weight and reach optimal health.
What is the emotional connection to obesity?
After researching, I found the emotional connection to being overweight is in one’s need to feel protection and their insecurities. “It depicts that you are putting distance between yourself and the world. This condition relates to the fear of feeling humiliated or ashamed. It points toward the fact that you find it difficult to say no to others and hence, take on more than you can bare. In an attempt to please others and make them happy, you tend to neglect your own needs.”~SpeedyRemedies.com
As a person currently healing myself from hypothyroidism and obesity, I can 100% agree with the emotional connection to this condition. When I review my life, I can see that as a child I was never comfortable in my skin and who I was as a person. So, I was always trying to fit in by becoming who I thought others wanted me to be. The older I got the more weight I gained despite my efforts of exercising and eating healthy. The more weight I gain the more ashamed I became and started to retreat within not wanting to deal with the world or be apart of it. I stopped going out and socializing with friends. After the birth of my daughter and then my divorce (which was now number 2), I felt unworthy of love, unattractive, undesirable and all the rest of the un’s. I am proud to say I was born to be a caregiver but as a caregiver I have found it hard to say “no” to friends and family. In the past, I would always put other’s needs before my own but now I am learning in order to walk in wholeness and optimal health I have to love and care for myself first! In doing this, I walk in the best version of myself and it allows me to be one of God’s caregivers that ushers others into their own personal healing journey.
In walking around with all of this emotional baggage, I never knew I was putting myself at risk for sickness to take over my body.
How does Obesity challenge our health?
So, lets look at the illnesses associated with obesity which will help us to focus on living healthy. Being overweight has been linked to such illnesses as heart disease, high cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, stroke , thyroid disorders, breathing problems, some cancers and even worst an early death. Studies have concluded that obese people run a significant risk of dying early, even if they do not smoke and are otherwise healthy.
How to live a healthy lifestyle?
What does is it truly mean to be healthy in every area of our life:
1.Effectively & easily being able to manage stress by accessing your innate levels of creativity to both solve the problems in your life and create further successes and prosperity
2.Fully enjoying daily interaction with others
3.Having a fuller, more intimate love life
4.Feeling connected to your family, friends, and community
In order to get to optimal health and walk in wholeness, we first have to make a decision that we deserve better… we deserve to have abundant health… we deserve to be the weight God ordain us to be… it is our birth right! The bible tells us that Jesus came that we may have life and to have that life more abundantly ~John 10:10
We deserve to eat better and have a healthy digestion: We are what we DIGEST! In order to have a proper digestion system our body must break down the foods we eat and properly disburse the vitamins, minerals, enzymes, fiber etc.. throughout the body via our bloodstream while waste products get easily eliminated. The problem is that most of the food we eat lack the proper nutrients and vitamins. We need to have a healthy digestion system. For true health to occur from the foods we eat 3 important factors must occur: digestion, assimilation and elimination must be present on a daily basis. In order to reach this level of health, we should eat at least 5 servings of fruits & vegetables each day.
To obtain a healthy eating habit and lifestyle we have to 1st start with “I deserve to be healthy & live healthy”:
You have to find a healthy meal plan that suits you, who you are and your body chemistry because we are all uniquely made. Visit a nutritional expert that together can help you create a meal plan conducive to your lifestyle (I personally like and have found success with eating according to my blood type). Try to eat more whole foods (unprocessed). When eating your fruits they are best eaten alone and I have read before 6 pm. Drink the proper amount of water which is best consumed between meals at room temperature. Drinking while eating dilutes the natural juices necessary to break your food down for proper digestion. In addition, make sure to chew your food thoroughly before swallowing to ensure proper digestion. Digestion starts in the mouth!
I deserve to exercise regularly:
Exercising at least 3 times a week:
improves energy levels
aids in digestion
increase circulation
makes for deep & restful sleep
stimulates the lymphatic system (the body’s filtration and purification system)
promotes enhanced levels of overall wellness & balanced mood
increase serotonin levels which are associated with feelings of calm & well-being
improves brain function, and enhances sleep.
I deserve to live in Peace & Harmony:
Because stress is a major contributor to obesity, it is important to create a stress free life style. These relaxation techniques can help overcome stress such as :
deep breathing
stretch breaks
eye breaks
music
naps
water therapy
massages
Overcoming obesity and releasing the weight first starts with us releasing those negative emotions in our mind. Healing the past traumas and disappointments of life is a must to not only releasing the weight but keeping it off. Last but not least, in your journey to reach optimal health be kind to yourself and love on yourself, if you fall down on the journey forgive yourself, get back up and try try again. You deserve Optimal health!!
~Tiffany Parker….Your Wholistic Health Coach!
email: worthithealthcoaching@gmail.com
website: http://www.todayiamworthit.webs.com