The Balancing Act: Are You Chasing A Weight Loss Goal?

We live in a society where being ”thin” is commonly associated with being healthy while everything else is considered unhealthy. We are overly focused on the scale and the number it displays as we continuously chase a goal weight or a size with our bodies.

While there may be different health concerns associated with obesity and the physical and metabolic demands of carrying around a significant amount of excess weight, an extra 10lbs does not warrant the same concerns. There is nothing wrong with wanting to lose that 10lbs, or wanting to hit a goal weight... However, I do believe that it is really important to know why you are trying to lose that weight and then determine if you are really working towards a goal that aligns with your needs, wants and desires. 

The first step in my mind with any body composition change goals is to weigh the pros and cons of weight loss. What do you stand to gain by losing the weight, and what is it going to cost you? My favourite pros are feeling better in your skin, putting less pressure on your joints, less knee pain, increased mobility, ability to walk/run longer or faster etc. The cons I urge everyone to take into consideration are decreased ability to participate in social meals, constant thoughts about food, hunger, decreased ability to eat the foods you enjoy, need to increase protein intake significantly etc. It becomes a balancing act of these factors to determine if you really want or need to lose weight. 

I am here to tell you loud and clear that it’s okay to not be chasing a weight loss goal! It’s okay to be happy in the skin you are in and simply want to focus on being healthy and happy. It’s also perfectly okay to be working towards weight loss or fat loss. It’s also important to acknowledge that just because someone is focusing on weight loss or has lost weight does not mean they are healthier! The majority of weight loss comes with a loss of muscle as well as fat which can have a negative impact on not only bone density but also age related muscle loss. 

I want to challenge you to begin focusing on your health when it comes to your nutrition. The wonderful part of this is that focusing on how healthy your nutrition is, is independent of whether or not you are trying to lose weight. Having a healthy balanced diet is easier than you may think, here are a few tips to help you focus on the benefits of your food:

1. Consume vegetables at every meal.
2. Focus on your hydration - Consuming an extra 500ml of water per hour of working out each day!
3. Consume sustainable fish 2-3 times per week (or take an omega-3 supplement).
4. Fill your plate with 50% vegetables, 25% protein and 25% starch/carbohydrates.
5. Focus on healthy fats - foods such as avocados, olive oils and nuts are a great source.