Americans Continue to Balloon

"Exercise each day as if your life depends on it" - Dr. Douglas Graham

It is well known that Americans are getting heavier each year.  Numerous studies have proven that the obesity rate in America continues to climb at an alarming rate.  According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1/3 of U.S. adults are obese.  However, a recent Gallup poll shows that it's not only our actual weight that continues to climb but also our perception of what the "ideal" body weight should be.  According to this poll, in 1990 men said their "ideal" weight was 171 lbs. while men today say their "ideal" weight is 181.  Even worse the average man now weighs 196 lbs.  This is up 16 pounds from 1990.  This trend in weight isn't just restricted to men.  Women now say their "ideal" weight is 138 lbs which is up 9 lbs from 129 lbs in 1990.  The average woman in 1990 weighed 142 lbs and women today say they weigh 160 lbs.  So what's caused this change in the perception of our "ideal" weight?

We've all heard the excuses people have given as to why they cannot workout. No matter what the excuse, bottom line is Americans are getting bigger each year and with this higher weight comes higher risks of health issues such as diabetes, heart disease and cancers.

The Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday always make it more challenging for people to eat healthy, balanced meals.  People load their plates full of turkey, mashed potatoes, pies and anything in between.  They pack on the pounds and just chalk it up to the holidays.  They say they will lose the weight when the new year comes; however, few people actually have success at shedding the pounds.  It is becoming socially acceptable to eat until you can no longer move - which is cause for concern.

Since I am in the beginning stages of my fruitarianism I tend to cheat during the holidays; however, I limit it to just one or two meals.  To ensure that I won't stray too far off from my diet, I visited my local fruit distributor in Nashville to load up on plenty of fresh fruits and veggies before making the trip to Virginia to celebrate the holidays. Instead of making excuses and pretending it's okay to eat unhealthy and gain unnecessary weight, I have chosen to set myself up for success by eliminating potential excuses. I have all the fruit and veggies I need get me through the week, and I will allow myself to have one or two small plates of "holiday" food.  I encourage you to set yourself up for success and eliminate excuses as to why you can't live a healthy lifestyle.

Back To The Basics

“Running is a very natural activity. If you get too caught up, you find yourself constantly seeking to make running something that it isn’t. You should let it be what it is - a very simple activity. Running has become too complicated for many people and they wind up turning sour on the sport, or losing the focus of their direction.” -Bill Rodgers

I put in a lot of miles of running while training for the Leadville Trail 100 and the North Face Endurance Challenge in 2012.  After my North Face race, I was exhausted and I lost my love for running. During the North Face Challenge, I remember thinking at different points on the trail that I hated running.  My body was beat up and telling me to stop.  So I decided to take some time off after the race.  I did not run for the next few weeks, and it wasn't until a month later that I decided to go out on my first run.  That was all it took.  It wasn't a long run but it did get me thinking about what's next and I started to get that itch to run again.  

I have an exciting 2013 race schedule planned, and I'm determined to take my running to the next level while keeping things simple.  Last Saturday I went to Murphy Produce (where I buy all of my fresh fruits and veggies), and I dusted off my running shoes. It was a great week of running in which I put in more than 43 miles.  Every single mile was ran without a watch and all five runs were ran without a planned route.  I love running like this because it's the purest form of running there is.  This week was exactly what I needed to get back into the ultra mindset. 

"My philosophy on running is, I don't dwell on it, I do it."-Joan Benoit Samuelson