Should I focus on health or on weight?

I've had many clients, upon asking, tell me that the reason that they want to lose weight is so they can be healthier.

When I ask if they have any health conditions like a metabolic disorder, hypertension, etc...many (most often the majority) report having fairly good physical health - meaning, they aren't technically "unhealthy."

So what do people mean, then, when they say they want to lose weight to be healthier?

One of two things:

1.) They want to FEEL better and start making better choices (ex. They want to walk more, drink more water, and exercise more regularly)

2.) They want to lose weight

Losing weight is not synonymous with better health. Weight loss can definitely be a RESULT of taking good or better care of oneself, but better health does not necessarily result in weight loss.

You can eat more fresh, organic produce and less processed food and improve your health. You might have more energy or clearer skin. You might also lose weight.

However, if weight loss alone resulted in better health, it wouldn’t matter how a person lost the weight, (illness, crash dieting, over-exercise, etc) but simply that they lost it. It would also be assumed that this person who lost weight would automatically have more health, vitality, energy, self-acceptance, and peace.

Talk to any depleted dieter or food moralist/fundamentalist and see how untrue this actually is.

What's your job then?

Your real job is to focus on taking care of yourself. That is your practice. If you want to bring some love and care to your diet, focus on that. If you want to feel better, focus on lifestyle changes that help you feel better. If you want to change your body composition, focus on the content of your diet and make sure it's balanced and do some weight bearing exercise. If you want to focus on health, focus on health. Give yourself the grace of a step-wise process that challenges you but does not overwhelm or discourage you.

Deeper than that, decide what gifts a healthy body can afford you and what gifts committing to your well-being can bring.

With love & respect,

Laura

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