Oof, there’s a loaded question if there ever was one.
On the one hand, you have people arguing that “fat people just need to stop eating so much” (anybody who says that is an idiot).
On the other hand, you have people who will argue that “people can’t help it, so we have to just accept it as the new normal”.
It comes from a place of well-meaning “compassion”, yet the message is laden with a sense of helpless victimhood.
And like any argument, the truth lies somewhere in the middle.
What we know from a factual standpoint is that medically speaking, obesity is not healthy. It increases risk factors for nearly every illness.
Obesity also robs people of their quality of life and freedom, and it is terrible for mental health.
But, in our modern life, there are factors that contribute to obesity that we wouldn’t deliberately choose, but they’re here, regardless.
And yet there are choices that we can make that will directly influence whether or not we become obese or make obesity worse.
Which is to say “It’s complicated”. If it was as simple as “calories in/calories out”, we wouldn’t have the top intellectual/medical/scientific minds in the world grappling with and debating how to solve this massive crisis we’re facing.
We’d all just Google “calorie calculator” and voila … Problem solved.
The truth is, I don’t know if it can ever be “solved” on a population wide scale.
What I know is that it will NEVER be solved by garbage promises of “30lbs in 30 days”.
There is no “21-day fix” or “6-week miracle makeover”. This issue has been developing for DECADES. We cannot undo decades of human behaviour in a matter of days or weeks.
We’ve only compounded the issue by saturating the market with atrocious fad diets, and unscrupulous supplement companies selling “fat burners” and “skinny teas”.
Let me annihilate any trace of uncertainty here: there will NEVER be a fat burning pill that will solve obesity.
Ironically, even exercise isn’t that great for fat loss. It’s incredible for overall health and fitness, but specifically as a fat loss tool, it does not have great returns.
And, while I believe that solving obesity on a population-wide scale is highly unlikely in the next 10 years, I believe that we can have a significant impact by working with individuals.
And at the heart of any intervention MUST be compassion.
And, compassion has to be one of the most misunderstood concepts.
For the person who says “put the cheeseburger down, fatty” … There is no compassion in that.
And yet, for the person who offers platitudes (“you don’t need to change”), alcohol or junk food to soothe … That’s not compassion either. You’re actually compounding the problem.
Compassion is understanding that, as a human being, this is hard.
You will struggle. And you certainly won’t be perfect in your efforts to change.
Your path to bettering your health will be littered with mistakes. You will want to quit, because some days, it’s SO DAMN HARD.
Your feelings might not make logical sense, but they’re very real.
So, if it’s so hard … Why should we even try?
Because what the hell is life, if there is no hope?
What the hell is life, if you just decide to give up and settle for a guaranteed future of misery?
What the hell is life, if you sentence yourself to a life of unfulfilled potential, where you never discover what you could do?
There’s about 70lbs difference between the guy on the left and the guy on the right. There’s also about 3 years difference.
And my wife? She’s as gorgeous as ever in both photos. But, I don’t say this to brag. My wife has been the one constant by my side, every step of this journey.
People think that getting help is a sign of weakness. Misplaced ego makes us think that we *should* be able to do this alone.
Let me say this, as a highly educated nutrition professional that has worked with hundreds of people, as well as lost over 100lbs myself: if you try to do this alone, you make your journey 1000x harder.
What have we learned in these times of social isolation?
Human beings are SOCIAL. We CRAVE human connection. We become depressed and our mental health SUFFERS in isolation.
It is NOT a sign of weakness to ask for, and seek out help. It is a sign of our humanity.
We don’t need more books. We don’t need more information. We are not missing out on some hidden secret of the rich and famous.
Reaching out and saying “I need help” is possibly the most difficult, yet powerful step you can take to bettering your health and life.
My virtual “door” is open. I have dedicated my life to helping others who want to change their life. If you don’t want your present condition to dictate your future health? Send me a message.
Reaching out is scary. It feels vulnerable. I promise you this: Every one who reaches out, I treat with compassion and dignity. I don’t see failures, I see potential. I’d love to help you see yours.