The 3 Biggest Fitness Lies

With a special nod to the USA Women’s Soccer team, this week’s newsletter is dedicated to overcoming the impossible. On Sunday, I watched an amazing comeback that represented all that is right with fitness. Team USA’s victory against Brazil was inspiring and motivating, and not just because of the dramatic fashion of the victory. The women dug deep to overcome and seemingly impossible situation: Down a goal and a player, they never quit fighting and they were rewarded with a victory.

That same night, I found myself wondering if an entire country could channel the same relentless will to succeed. As I searched through some journals, I found an article that highlighted a disturbing trend. According to recent research, the obesity trend in the United States won’t plateau until the year 2050. At that point, it’s predicted that more than 40 percent of the nation will be obese.

As I re-read the shocking stat I wondered how this could happen. 

As it currently stands, more than 30 percent of the nation is obese or overweight. In fact, only one state (Colorado) has an obesity rate under 20 percent. But the outlook indicates that the trend is going to become worse—in a big way—before it starts becoming better. And the resulting weight-related health problems will shake the foundation of our entire society. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity was linked to medical costs of approximately $147 billion in 2008 and a $70 billion loss in work productivity. Even more disturbing, some experts predict that this generation of children will live significantly shorter than their parents, mostly as a result of health problems associated with being overweight. 

So how has this happened? Unfortunately, there isn’t one answer. Some people blame dieting, but that’s misguided considering that many people who consistently “diet” (you might call it lifestyle change) are healthier and don’t struggle with weight problems. Others will blame the government, but they aren’t forcing you to eat bad food. The reality: Blame gets you nowhere. Action is the only way to reverse the trend, and that starts with facing the truth about three common fallacies that contribute to the country’s weight battle:

1) We exercise enough

If you step into any gym in the US, you get the feeling that we’re an active country. After all, 45 million Americans belong to some sort of health club, compared to only 23 million in 1993. But according to the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 82 percent of American’s don’t meet the government’s exercise recommendations. That doesn’t mean you need to lift weights or run a marathon, but we do need to get up and move. Find a workout partner, run around with your kids, or join a group and log your fitness. Whatever you do, just be active and find something that you consider fun. Anything that keeps you active is a good thing.

2) We know how to eat

When I was younger, I thought I knew everything about food. I avoided fat when I was told it was bad, avoided all carbs when I learned they were evil, and watched my protein so it wouldn’t hurt my kidneys. After all, I was well-read, educated, and could take care of myself. As you can imagine, these drastic changes led to years of struggles. That is, until I really started learning about nutrition  

But you know what? All of the scientific information wasn’t as helpful as learning how to eat. We’ve been trained to eat until we’re full, to eat fast, and enjoy. We need to slow down, learn how much we need to eat, and consumer fewer liquid calories. If you follow these three simple steps, regardless of your eating philosophy, you should lose weight and feel better. And then you can focus on learning on what foods are better for you. Which reminds me… 

3) We know what to eat

Our country is notorious for eating high calorie, low nutrient foods. Some of the blame is on food manufacturers who produce these foods, and then sell them cheap. A little less marketing and a little more transparency would go a long way to improving the health of the country. But it’s still your responsibility to eat the right foods and maintain a healthy weight.  And that starts with consuming more fruits and vegetables—something that our nation neglects. Seven of the states with the lowest consumption of fruits and vegetables are also in the 10 top most obese locations in the country. Coincidence? Probably not. That means it’s on you to eat more fruits and vegetables. (I’d recommend veggies at every meal) And while you’re at it, limit processed foods and unnecessary sugars.

While a hard look in the mirror is a step in the right direction, there’s no simple fix. The ability to make a massive significant change lives within each of us: Me, you, your neighbor, and every person in this country. We have to work harder to acknowledge our problem and take action. Not only on the individual level, but also on the community level to help others fight the battle of the bulge.

The truth is, most people exercise and eat healthy for themselves. They want to live longer, look better, or impress the opposite sex. And there’s nothing wrong with any of those goals, but you can do more with the gift of health. You can instill it in others. And if we are going to win the battle against obesity, our only chance might be banding together as a team, digging deep, and inspiring each other to achieve the impossible.