26/08/2025
For too long, we have been told that the number on a weighing scale is the single most important marker of health. Skinny meant “good,” bigger meant “bad,” and weight became the yardstick of worth, health, and beauty.
But here’s the truth: weight is not a destiny, it’s a symptom. It is one of many signals your body sends, influenced by hormones, muscle mass, stress, sleep, diet, and environment. Reducing a human being to a number on a scale is not only outdated—it’s dangerous.
The Obsession with Skinny is Outdated
Being “skinny” is not the same as being healthy.
Thin bodies can carry high levels of inflammation, poor muscle tone, or weak bones.
Obsession with weight alone fuels eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and yo-yo dieting—proven to damage both mental and physical health.
Health is not a clothing size. It’s resilience, strength, balance, and the ability to thrive in daily life and into old age.
Longevity: Build Muscle, Not Just Shrink Fat
Modern research on longevity and healthy ageing shows that:
Muscle is protective. After age 30, we naturally lose muscle mass unless we actively build and maintain it.
Strength training (weights, resistance bands, bodyweight work) reduces risk of falls, fractures, metabolic disorders, and even dementia.
Protein is essential. Most people—especially women—undereat protein. Prioritising protein supports muscle repair, immune health, hormone balance, and steady energy.
The goal is not to “shrink” but to build strength and capacity. A strong body equals freedom, resilience, and vitality.
Balance Beyond the Gym
Health is not just about lifting weights or counting macros. It’s about balance:
Movement – regular strength training, walking, mobility.
Nutrition – colourful seasonal foods, with protein at the centre.
Rest – deep, restorative sleep.
Mindset – reducing stress and obsessive thinking.
Community – sharing meals, laughter, and connection.
When these align, the body finds its natural set point—not through punishment, but through nourishment.
The Five Elements Perspective
From the lens of Oriental Medicine, health is a dynamic balance of the Five Elements:
Wood (Growth & Movement): Resilience, flexibility, vision. Supports the drive to exercise and plan.
Fire (Joy & Circulation): Connection, laughter, and passion. Reminds us health is not a solo journey.
Earth (Nourishment & Stability): Digestion, balance, and the ability to feel at home in our bodies.
Metal (Breath & Boundaries): Lungs, skin, immune strength. Helps us let go of toxic perfectionism.
Water (Reserves & Wisdom): Kidneys, bones, longevity. Protects our deep resources for the long haul.
When one element dominates or depletes, imbalance shows up—whether as fatigue, digestive upset, hormone swings, or yes, weight fluctuations. But the body is never broken; it’s signalling. Weight is only one voice among many.
Reclaiming Health
Let’s smash the myth: you are not your weight.
You are your strength, your resilience, your creativity, your capacity for joy.
You are the meals you share, the miles you walk, the laughter that strengthens your heart.
You are the balance of elements within, always shifting, always seeking harmony.
True health comes when we stop chasing a number and start building a body and life that feel sustainable, strong, and free.
A New Mantra for Health
✨ Weight is a symptom, not a destiny.
✨ Strong is the foundation for longevity.
✨ Balance, not obsession, is the path forward.
Supporting You on the Journey
At Element Acupuncture, I help women reconnect with their bodies through the wisdom of the Five Elements, practical lifestyle tools, and holistic care. If you are ready to shift away from old, damaging weight narratives and into strength, balance, and joy, book an appointment here.
