When we moved to Colorado about 4 1/2 years ago, we had been working as a family to try and be more healthy.  My wife and I have always struggled with our weight for all of our lives, and we had slowly been working towards trying to eat better, exercise etc.

Over the last year, we really made a concerted effort to truly understand how food impacts us, and to strive to eliminate processed foods, inflammatory foods, and to concentrate on whole organic foods whenever possible. During this time we both started exercising more, and I developed my Incline addiction, and a passion for trail running.

During the time we've been in Colorado, I began to notice something about the community here that I didn't catch right away.  What dawned on me was that whenever we were out and about shopping etc, the number of overweight people was really low.  Having always struggled with my weight, I know that I would often see other people and think "well, I'm not as heavy as that guy" etc.  I know that's not the right way to think, but it's human nature nonetheless.  Everywhere else I have lived, that was fairly easy to do, but not here.

So, that led me to wonder how much of this has had an impact on the changes we've made.  I know that the steps we took last year were just part of a longer progression that we had started before, but how much of that feeling of being the odd one out contributed to a push to accelerate our pursuit of improving our health?

Doing a little research, I discovered that Colorado is considered the fittest state, and the only state with an obesity rates being under 20%.  Of course, the state also offers great outdoor activities that support an active lifestyle, but so do a lot of other states.  Regardless, I guess I'm happy we live in such a healthy community!

Peer pressure or coincidence, either way I'll take any help I can get to continue the journey to better health and fitness.  And more importantly, transfer that healthy lifestyle on to our boys so that to them it's not a lifestyle change, but just "life".

Anyway.... food for thought I guess... (pun intended).   Interested to hear your thoughts on this, so please share!  Thanks.. and have a great week and weekend!

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Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.  ~World Health Organization, 1948