What really causes us to gain excess weight? Is it calories? Could it be the high fructose corn syrup that is in so many products? Maybe an allergy to gluten or dairy could be the culprit? Are we to blame because we cannot fit an hour of exercise in every day? Does our only hope rely in some processed diet regime that we see advertised? It works for the people that do it, or does it? Maybe it's just a part of getting older and we just have to accept it, or do we?

My personal belief is that we all carry the tools that we need to really make a change. It's called eating. Yes the very thing that got us in trouble in the first place is really what we need to think about and embrace. Give real food a chance and you just might see the change you have been looking for.

Processed foods wreck our metabolism. Yes, I said it and it is true. It sends an abundance of chemicals that our bodies do not recognize which bombard our livers and basically put us in a very toxic state. All the while lowering our immune system and putting us in harm's way. We may have congestion and headaches or worse yet be heading for prediabetes. It's true; we have been in a state of denial for decades about our health. We were told that low fat, no fat was a good thing. So we ate it and guess what our bodies did not know what to do with it. Is fat in the diet really the culprit? Good fats such as organic coconut oils and organic olive oils are really quite good for us. We need to stay clear of hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated anything. Soybean oil is not good for us. Yet it is cheap oil that is put in virtually everything that is processed.

Who knew? Remember when everyone was eating soy. Yes, I too jumped on that band wagon. Soy in and of itself is not bad, it is when it is processed that it becomes something we don't want to ingest. Fermented soy is okay as long as it is organic.

Dairy for some is an allergen. We might not even know that it is what is holding us back from losing weight. Gluten is another suspect when it comes to allergens. This could be another factor in our ability to lose weight. Wheat is over grown in this country and the way it is processed virtually is unrecognizable to our bodies.

We spend a lot of time educating ourselves in whatever career we aspire to. However, we spend no time in thinking about what goes in to our bodies. My challenge to you is give yourself two weeks to eat the whole foods way. This is not a diet; it is a change in how to view food. Learn to fall in love with the abundant fresh foods that we have available to us. For two weeks eliminate dairy, wheat, sugar, and artificial sweeteners from your life. Nothing processed for two weeks. Instead fill your plate with fresh fruit, vegetables, lean hormone and antibiotic free protein. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. A cup of coffee is fine. If you need to add milk, organic coconut milk or almond milk is great. Almond milk is nuttier than coconut milk, but both taste great. Tea is okay, green is a bonus. Steel cut oats are okay as well as quinoa. Eggs are a good complete source of protein too. Oh, no alcohol for two weeks. It is a great feeling to take charge and you my friend can do it. I have seen the effects that this lifestyle has on individuals. They have more energy, lose body fat and appear to be in better spirits.

Isn't that what we want? It's up to you, are you ready for the challenge? Let me know how it works for you. I believe each of us has the ability to move past what is holding us back from being who we were meant to be. For more information about health and fitness, please contact: Kay Colgan, at Middleburg Pilates and Personal Training at 14 S. Madison Street, Middleburg, Va. Or call 540-687-6995.