Tuesday, September 27, 2005
* Weight Loss is not a sickness.
A friend recently returned from spending the summer living and working in Washington D.C. He has been doing well at eating right, exercising and trying to make little lifestyle changes for a healthier existence - which will in turn make his work more productive on his Doctoral Dissertation. This is excellent, as carrying weight around the abdomen (in men or women) increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
A professor of his made the point to ask if he was healthy - as if the first response to someone getting in shape should be that they are "sick" in some way. Yes, there are those with conditions that affect someones diet or eating habits that we need to be aware of such that we can help them through a tough time - eating disorders, sickness, loss of a loved one, etc. But has our view of "healthy" been reprogrammed in our hearts and minds so completely now to the point that when someone is working to lose weight, have more energy and get in shape that our first response is "Uh oh, there must be something wrong. Lets get them some help."
When someone who is extremely overweight achieves their goals of losing weight and getting in shape its a victory to be celebrated! I'll be the first to give a hug for this accomplishment. When someone who is moderately out of shape does the same, they are unhealthy? Please, lets unlearn this new way of looking at people and their waistlines. I don't pre-judge any who seek my input - its hard enough to get yourself (or others) moving in a positive direction as it is anyway, so I wish to be counted as one of the sources of support and encouragement for that person. The only thing I need to see regardless of size or shape is the desire to make a positive lifestyle change for good. Everything else is just details or negative outside attitudes that detract from that person's success.
A professor of his made the point to ask if he was healthy - as if the first response to someone getting in shape should be that they are "sick" in some way. Yes, there are those with conditions that affect someones diet or eating habits that we need to be aware of such that we can help them through a tough time - eating disorders, sickness, loss of a loved one, etc. But has our view of "healthy" been reprogrammed in our hearts and minds so completely now to the point that when someone is working to lose weight, have more energy and get in shape that our first response is "Uh oh, there must be something wrong. Lets get them some help."
When someone who is extremely overweight achieves their goals of losing weight and getting in shape its a victory to be celebrated! I'll be the first to give a hug for this accomplishment. When someone who is moderately out of shape does the same, they are unhealthy? Please, lets unlearn this new way of looking at people and their waistlines. I don't pre-judge any who seek my input - its hard enough to get yourself (or others) moving in a positive direction as it is anyway, so I wish to be counted as one of the sources of support and encouragement for that person. The only thing I need to see regardless of size or shape is the desire to make a positive lifestyle change for good. Everything else is just details or negative outside attitudes that detract from that person's success.
