Healthy Body Weight

I went to the doctor today for a routine check up and he told me I was healthy for the most part. The only thing is that I’m overweight.  When he said this I was thinking, “really?!?!?” because I have lost some weight here recently and I think I’m looking rather small. But I just say, “oh ok” because I know according to those charts people are supposed to be really skinny.  But he doesn’t leave it at that. He then says, “You can’t gain anymore weight. You should try to lose a couple of pounds”. Then he asks me if I work out and all these other things. So I tell him yes. At the end he reminds as well as writes it in my chart that I should try to lose a couple of pounds and that I cannot gain anymore weight.

So time to process the information.

I was not offended because he is just doing his job. And if according to his papers I’m supposed to be at a certain weight he is supposed to tell me. Plus weight has never been important to me; I’ve never owned a scale. I just care that I look good in my clothes. When I don’t we have a problem. So me and the doctor are cool.

I did however leave the doctor’s office thinking this is why so many people have eating disorders. In my opinion the “healthy” body weight impossible for most people to obtain. But obtaining it is nothing compared to maintaining it. That’s the real test. But then I started thinking maybe the doctor isn’t wrong. Maybe the problem is our culture. I mean it is the healthy body weight for a reason! So why is it so hard to accomplish? Maybe it’s the foods we eat. Maybe it’s because our jobs are mainly sedentary in nature so we don’t do much physical activity. Or maybe we work so hard and get off so late that there’s no time to exercise.

I don’t have the answers to these questions. I do know however, that I haven’t been “trying” to lose weight since October but I’ve lost three pounds since my doctor’s visit in November. I’m not on a diet or anything but I do eat pretty healthy. I still eat regularly I just make sure I’m consuming my fruits and veggies. I do refrain from too many sweets, mainly ice cream (my weakness). I exercise four to five days a week for no longer than 30 minutes in the comfort of my own home. And that’s all. I’m not doing anything strenuous. So, maybe if everyone actually followed the food guide pyramid and got the recommended amount of physical activity per day weight wouldn’t be an issue. Just a thought…