Are you blowing things out of proportion?

Body-(over) builder Greg Mark Kovacs was 6-feet, 4-inches and weighed between 330 and 420 pounds. He easily bench-pressed 700 pounds, but he died at age 45 from heart failure. It’s risky business to be such extreme proportions!

It’s just as risky to opt for extreme portions -- especially of unhealthy foods. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, “The New Abnormal,” says the average serving of a hamburger and French fries at a restaurant today is three times beefier than in the 1950s. Sodas have gone from an average of 7 ounces to 42! On top of that, since the mid-1980s, calorie counts and portion sizes of the most popular fast-food entrees have bulked up by 12% and 25% respectively -- and dessert portions have increased in size by almost 40%.

No wonder the U.S. obesity rate has gone from around 15% in 1980 to 42% today. So let’s get portions of animal protein and carbs back in proportion.

-- One serving of animal protein (we’re talking skinless poultry or fish) equals 3 to 4 ounces (21 to 28 grams protein) per meal. Depending on age and activity level, you need three to six servings daily.

-- One serving of 100% whole grains (notice, no processed carbs here) equals 1/2 cup cooked brown rice, 100% whole grain pasta, oatmeal or other cooked grain; one slice 100% whole grain bread; or 1 ounce of 100% whole grain cereal. You should aim for 3 to 6 servings daily.

-- Check out www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/dricalcu-lator/ to find your more precise nutritional needs/ portion sizes; then, if appropriate, discuss weight management with your doc.