My Blog

Do you weigh more than you should? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. According to World Obesity, “The epidemic of obesity is now recognized as one of the most important public health problems facing the world today. Adult obesity is more common globally than under-nutrition.” In 2016, according to World Health organization, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older, were overweight. Of these over 650 million were obese. 39% of adults aged 18 years and over were overweight in 2016, and 13% were obese.

This could explain why heart disease is still the leading cause of death worldwide. Numerous studies have found a link between obesity and death in both men and women. Your risk of dying rises as your body-mass index (BMI, a measure of obesity) rises.

People who have suffered from severe obesity may be at a higher risk of severe illness than those who are of normal or healthy weight. According to research, some serious illnesses include high blood pressure, dyslipidemia (high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high levels of triglycerides), Diabetes Mellitus (DM), Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), Stroke, gallbladder disease, and others chronic diseases to severe complications and death. Obese people have a lower quality of life and are more likely to suffer from mental illnesses such as depression, severe anxiety, and other mental disorders, according to studies.

Say, for example, when you have diabetes, being overweight brings added risks. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), 88 million American adults have prediabetes but nearly 85% of them don’t even know it. What is prediabetes? Prediabetes is a condition that can lead to type 2 diabetes and even heart disease. You are more likely to have prediabetes if you are 45 or older, have a family history of diabetes, are overweight and physically inactive, have high blood pressure and are taking blood pressure medication, and a variety of other factors.

Of course, fat will not kill you, but it will make other risk factors worse. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking, for example, all contribute to plaque buildup in the arteries. Obesity interacts with the other risk factors to accelerate plaque buildup. Extra weight causes insulin resistance, resulting in a dangerous cycle that can quickly spiral out of control. The more fat you have, the more insulin resistant you become, resulting in metabolic syndrome or diabetes, which nearly triples your risk of heart attack and stroke.

The good news is that you can control or prevent it. Losing weight may aid in the management of these chronic illnesses. All you have to do is make a decision. Make the decision to maintain a healthy weight. Make the decision to eat well. Make the decision to exercise and be active. Don’t put off taking action until you have symptoms of these chronic diseases. Take a deep breath—and then act immediately.

The safest way to start your health makeover is by visiting your family physician or talk to nutritionist.

So, how are you going to begin your fitness and health journey? 

Begin by conditioning your mind, and your body will naturally follow. Don’t be overwhelmed by a lot of information and what others have said, though it is also beneficial to read about other people’s fitness journeys because they not only provide encouragement, but also tips on how to do it or make it easier.

When I first mentioned that I was going on a ketogenic diet, everyone around me laughed. So I laugh and go about my business. But while others are still worried of their increasing weight that results to puffing and huffing on slight exertion, I had switched from Medium/Large to Small/XS. Another progressive effect is that my knee and low back pain are no longer troubling me. Skin asthma was reduced to almost nothing. Furthermore, I no longer have to tell the photographer to “make me thinner” whenever I ask someone to take my snapshot!

Many people have tried and succeeded with a low-carb ketogenic diet. Despite numerous negative articles and write-ups, the Keto diet continues to gain popularity among dieters. Why? Because doing this diet is the fastest way to lose those extra weight. The key is to remain open-minded and persistent in your pursuit of your goal. Who cares if everyone else is eating all the junk that the television commercial claims is “healthy”? It means healthy because they are eating it. The majority of it was high in sugar. I don’t mind being the only one in our large family who is concerned about too many carbs or too frequent workouts. I am also the most energetic, leaner, and have an excellent cardiovascular fitness according to my Vo2 max (a measure of the maximum amount of oxygen your body can utilize during exercise). 

Anyone can start anytime. You don’t have to be extreme, just persistent, and stay focused on your goal. Be determined and discipline. If you’re feeling unmotivated, put on those shoes and start walking. Walking will help you think more clearer. There is no perfect time than now to begin living healthy. We can only offer encouragement and information, but the final decision is yours. Decide right now.