Here's some things that are normally in balance when one is at healthy weight:

Blood pressure
Energy
Blood Sugar

High blood pressure, diabetes, and sluggishness are all often remedied with adjusting one's
weight...but the weight adjustment needs to be through nutrition, not starving, or its
inverse, binge eating.

If you eat nutritionally and naturally, especially limiting anything with refined sugar and/or
starch in it, your body will likely effortlessly adjust to your perfect weight and maintain it.
Now that may not look (on you) like being what is considered the perfect weight by modern standards
in the west, or even by modern standards in the doctors office.

Here's some interesting tid bits to think about.

When Twiggy became “THE” model in the late 1960's and early 70's it changed the west's concept
of beauty, especially in regards to weight. Not from a medical perspective, but a cosmetic one

In 1971, because of Twiggy, all manikins, including hosiery legs, were re-done. Legs no longer
had full thighs and calves. Manikin busts and hips became small and waists thicker, no stomachs
showed and pelvic bones were noticeable.

This has become “the look” that media, and then a large portion of the population, has decided
should be their ideal. Many men want their women to look like these “ideals” and women continue
to ruin their health by trying to match the “ideal.” Either by starving themselves
(bulimia being an extreme, often leading to anorexia) or by binge eating (without the purging)
and overeating in frustration (thus leading to obesity).

After three decades of this psychological assault on what people, especially women, should look
like, the medical profession even changed all their height/weight charts in the United States.
Not based on medical data, but by a subjective analysis of what a “healthy” weight should be
which, unfortunately was greatly influenced by the visual appearance and not the health
of the person.

People naturally gain 20-40 pounds as they get older. This is actually healthy. Women with 20-30
pounds of weight more than what they had when they were young and svelte in their twenties,
have an easier time with menopause. Elderly people, both men and women, who weigh twenty to
30 pounds more than they did in their lean twenties have more likelihood to survive the flu
and other diseases.

Marilyn Monroe, the sex symbol of the 50's and early 60's, wore a size sixteen!

Another issue, especially in the United States is obesity, especially in children.
I find, that life, as nature, always strives for a balance so the “skinny” craze is naturally
offset by obesity. Besides those who are binge and overeating due to frustration and
unhappiness with their appearance (usually adult women) large numbers of the United States
population is exceptionally overweight (by 50 pounds or more) because of a lack of exercise
and packaged/processed foods.

Packaged and processed foods, in the United States are loaded with refined sugar and insoluble fats.
The body has difficulty in processing both refined sugar and insoluble fats. The two cause not only
obesity but diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problems. Friends I have, from Europe,
staying in the United States for a mere three months and not really changing their diet,
but eating and cooking with what is found in our grocery stores, ALL gained twenty to forty
pounds! Think about that! The weight was lost when they moved back to Europe.

Also, part and parcel of much of the packaged and processed food we can readily buy in this
country is that it is also filled with ingredients that purposely make a person hungry so they
will eat more.

So, what to do? Buy as little processed and prepackaged food as you can. Organic and health food
stores or farmer's markets may cost more, but you will actually eat less. If you don't like to cook,
or feel you don't have the time, buy items from your organic store deli. They usually offer many
yummy and nutritious main dishes and side dishes for you to explore. Even for the carnivores among you!

Make a spelt cake instead of buying at the grocery store a traditional birthday cake. Make your ice
cream or buy one with real ingredients such as Ben and Jerry's (try to avoid the ones with the
candies in them).

Make bread, ideally with some organic flour such as King Arthur's, rather than purchasing the sugar
laden, enriched and non nutritional bread at the store. Bread makers make it fun and easy to do.

So change your eating habits and if you are overweight, a lot of it will come off, without starvation
or angst. If you are thin you will probably gain a few useful pounds. Whatever your weight ends up,
in six months or a year's time, be happy with it. You are unique, what your body needs to be in weight
will be what is right for you, not someone else. Learn to like the body you are in and be good to it
nutritionally. That's the easiest way to get to a healthy weight for you and maintain it.

   

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