Most people seem to think that being overweight means you eat a lot of “bad” foods. I firmly believe that no food is “bad,” but I’m referring to foods that are considered unhealthy – sweets, fried foods, etc. – food with little nutritional value, I guess. And, while that may be true in many cases, it’s not the only explanation for being overweight. Sure, there are medical conditions that cause weight gain, but that’s not what I’m talking about either.
Weight is calories in vs. calories out, regardless of what you’re eating. If you eat less calories than your body is burning, you lose weight. If you eat the amount of calories your body is burning, you maintain your weight. If you eat more calories than your body is burning, you gain weight. Period, that’s it, simple as that. Many people seem truly baffled that they’re overweight because they eat “healthy” foods – good fats, fruits and vegetables, lean protein, etc. The thing is, you can certainly become overweight by eating these healthy foods. Even if you never eat a single drive-thru cheeseburger or glazed donut, you are still eating more calories than your body is burning if you’re gaining weight.
I also think it’s important to make the distinction between health and fitness. They’re not the same thing, though they are related. Fitness isn’t about how well you eat, it’s about what your body can do – it’s your physical condition. Nutrition is about what goes in your mouth, but fitness is about your body and its abilities as well as things like body fat percentage, lean muscle mass, etc. Optimum health is achieved by having a balance of good nutrition and good fitness, but they don’t always go together.