WHY IS FAT IMPORTANT FOR THE BODY?
We have been conditioned into thinking fat on us is bad. That fat is ugly, unsexy, unattractive, gross, unappealing, and even unhealthy, when in reality fat is actually a necessary component to maintain at a varied percentage for women- all depending on the season of life they are in as well as their health.
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1️⃣ Necessary for insulation, aka keeping us WARM
2️⃣ Protecting our vital organs-especially around the belly area. This is one of the many reasons why many women struggle to maintain abs all year round, if at all. It’s because as a protective mechanism where if a pregnancy may occur, we need that fat to not just protect the organs but also the child.
3️⃣Much of our fat soluble vitamins are absorbed in our body fat’s tissue, such as vitamins A, D, E and K.
4️⃣Acts as a reservoir for storing energy when we need it for emergencies.
5️⃣Hormone production (fat cells can produce a decent amount of hormones, even though we don’t want it to always be coming from there, it serves a purpose)
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Most women, particularly in their child-bearing years, sit comfortably at a body fat percentage of 25-30%. However there are always exceptions as some may be able to get away with a little less, and some may need a bit more, but it all comes down to how their body is functioning and sitting comfortably without much intervention needing to be applied.
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Things to look out for in trying to figure out if you are at a healthy body fat percentage is:
-Do you have a temperature of 36.6 upon waking?
-Do your pulses range from 75-85 beats per minute?
-Are you able to eat until satiety without restriction and maintain your weight?
-Are you ovulating every month?
-Are your periods consistent and ranging from 3-5 days with a cranberry colour red bleed?
-Do you have a robust libido?
-Are you able to maintain strong hair and nails?
– How is your sleep?
-Do you bruise easily?
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During any body acceptance journey, whether it be weight loss, weight restoration, or weight maintenance, understand that fat is NOT bad, but rather VITAL and you deserve to live in a healthy body that serves a purpose, function and receive love, particularly from you.