Happy Friday Ladies! I hope everyone is doing well and staying cool this week. Next week appears to be more temperate!Today I wanted to give my thoughts on the how the last two plus years have affected our collective health.It’s undeniable that the past few years have been tough on everyone. We’ve dealt with a major pandemic, social unrest, and a charged political climate. It’s fair to say that everyone has had to deal with challenges over the past few years. There’s a constant tension in the air. I’m certain that in the future, scholars will study and dissect this period in depth.With everything that’s happened in our lives recently, it’s no surprise that our health and well-being has suffered too. If you’ve struggled with physical an emotional health over the past few years, you’re not alone. In fact, many people around you have experienced the same. According to The Milken Institute, the economic and social impact of obesity rose from $976 billion in 2014 to 1.4 trillion in 2020. (Pre-Pandemic numbers!) Web MD states that annual medical costs for obese people are $1900 higher than people with a healthy weight. That’s a staggering amount since 41.1% of women in the United States are medically considered obese. Here's some quick facts about how our health has changed since the pandemic began-42% of adults experienced undesired weight gain.-Of those 42%, the average weight gain was 29 lbs and 10% gained more than 50lbs (median amount was 15lbs)-2 of 3 Americans report negative sleep changes-1 in 4 Americans reported increased alcohol consumption to cope with their stressSo why do I point out all these depressing facts? It’s to illustrate that you’re not alone. As a society we already had a massive health crisis with obesity. The past few years have only made things worse.Want some good news??? I sure can use some!The good news is that you’re not alone in your struggle. It’s ok and quite normal if you’ve struggled. It’s a great time to take a self-inventory and figure out what you want your life to be going forward. If that life includes making some healthy changes and practicing self-care, I applaud you. If that includes moving more and losing weight then get a plan and execute it. There’s plenty of resources out there to help you get started.The good news is that exercise and eating well not only help your waistline. Making some healthy changes will increase your quality of sleep, mood and overall well-being. In addition, you can save some real money on healthcare cost by gradually making healthy changes.If you’d like help putting a plan together, I’d be glad to assist. I can be contacted though my website atwww.fitgirlfit.com.