Fit For Life: Size Matters…

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Matt Espeut, GoLocalWorcester Health +Lifestyle Contributor

If a little bit is good, why is too much better? News flash…. It’s not. But we, as Americans seem to think so. Look around and read the signs. Supersize, Big Gulp, Extreme, Huge, Extra, Insanity, Giant Size, 20% Larger Size - you see these descriptions on everything from food, drinks, and exercise products. So why are manufacturers using these descriptions to sell products? Because we, as Americans, have become spoiled and lazy. That’s not really just my opinion, it’s proven by fact. When you over indulge in something, you become a glutton, and tend to over do everything. We are spoiled because everything is easily accessible, and easy to get. This is why we are in the state we are in with all the disease, obesity, and overall inferiority among other countries. We feel entitled to have more.

Why we do what we do.

Why pay $10 dollars for a quality meal, when you can get twice as much cheap garbage-food for the same price? Is it value we are after, or do we feel we deserve bigger for the same money? Isn’t a regular size cup of soda - enough? Nah, lets get a Big Gulp. Because you get more. Eight ounces of meat is enough to eat at one sitting. Yet when you look at a menu, there is always the 22 ounce option for a few dollars more. And there are those who will order it. Why? Eight ounces carries over 50 grams of protein, more than enough for the biggest bodybuilder to metabolize at one time, but people still go for the “bigger”option. It’s not because we are all that hungry, because I guarantee if everyone cut back to normal portion sizes, and ate or consumed only what the body needed, you would still be satisfied. It’s the “more” attitude we have adapted. You could blame the food industry, but they are doing their job. Capitalizing on demand, and making huge money at any expense, even if it means having a negative effect on much of the nation, especially our kids. Drug dealers, and Big Pharma, it can be said, are on much of the same level. It takes having no soul, scruples, or caring about the damage left behind. Because the only thing that matters is the money. And Americans are falling victim to it all. On the other hand, nobody is tying people down and forcing us to consume these products. We do have choice. We can control our size portions, and the food and drink we consume. So, should we just consume and lay blame? Or, take accountability for yourself and your family. Be strong, and do the right thing. And don’t blame ignorance, because the information is out there.

Do just enough.

There are over 40 COUNTRIES, yes, countries, not states. that ban GMO foods, yet only 24 states in THIS country have eliminated the use of these products. Why is this? It is all about the money, and we are gobbling it up. Pun intended. But lets be fair about this whole overindulgence thing. Its not just the overweight and obese, the fitness people are guilty too. If a little exercise is good, then more must be better, so some people think. I look at exercise like food, if you don’t eat enough, your body will not respond to new muscle growth, or perform at its peak potential. If you eat too much, you gain too much body fat, but when you dial in your nutrition plan, the results will ALWAYS be favorable. The same goes for exercise. Not enough, and the results will not be there, but if you exercise too much, or at too high of an intensity, the results are disastrous. My philosophy is exercise just enough to achieve your goal. No more, no less. Examples of this mindset would be: If your training for an Ironman competition, you need to take it to the extremes, but if you are just trying to get in better shape, and lose a few pounds, you do not need to beat your body sore for days. I see it all the time: regular working people, just trying to get fit, abusing their bodies to the point of injury. I allow my members at Providence Fit Body Boot Camp unlimited access to the sessions on my schedule, yet when I see someone taking too many in a row, I try to explain the pitfalls of over training, such as muscle breakdown, hormonal imbalance, adrenal fatigue, and finally, injury. I also ask the question: how well can you perform in everyday life if you are injured ? Not well, or not at all. So let’s use some common sense when choosing an exercising program, and pick one that pushes you out of your comfort zone, but not beyond your ability. Make sure you are mildly sore in the right places, and are able to perform your everyday life tasks. Train hard, but train smart. If the program you choose has the words extreme, insanity, or killer in the title, make sure you are capable of handling the outcome.

Matt Espeut, GoLocal's Health & Lifestyle Contributor has been a personal trainer and health & fitnesss consultant for over 25 years. He is the owner of Fitness Profiles, a one on one, and small group personal training company, as well as Providence Fit Body Boot Camp, located at 1284 North Main St., on the Providence/Pawtucket line. You can reach Matt at (401) 453-3200; on Facebook at "Matt Espeut", and on Twitter at @MattEspeut. "We’re all in this life together – let’s make it a healthy one!"

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Fit For Life: Size Matters…

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