Weighing up weight loss

Now this style of ‘before’ picture is nothing new or out of the ordinary (except this guy is my boss – who I may never look at the same way again!), but what this picture didn’t show is the weight loss journey this guy has already been on.

From 150- odd kg down 51+ kg, with a few residual centimetres around the middle. This guy is no spring chicken, let’s call him middle aged-ish, and his weight loss efforts are no small feat, in fact they are nothing short of inspirational in terms of the commitment, dedication and focus this guy has given to turning his life around. He has transformed his diet, his lifestyle and consequently his body and his health.

He is fit, strong, energetic and importantly functional and enjoying life… which brings me back to the picture that confronted me so bright and early in the morning (my boss in his jocks, just what I want to wake up to), and leaves me wondering – why?

Why is it important for him to lose his ‘muffin’ top? Why did he feel the need to broadcast himself so vulnerable, seek approval publically, and subject himself to this scrutiny? – He has achieved so much and regained his quality of life – why does he feel the need to put his body through this rigour to shed what is simply considered an ‘imperfection?’

What is this preoccupation we all seem to have with our weight, our body image and these imperfections?

For god sakes man, commend your achievements, embrace your journey and rejoice in the vitality you have gained along the way – don’t be consumed by the idealistic misconceptions of the ‘perfect’ body, a mass media produced, consumer driven, vision of ‘health!’

But of course ‘health’ is the reason we all striving to walk around like stick figures isn’t it?

The idea that being ‘overweight’ is unhealthy is long standing and of course has much merit. We know the risk of many diseases, like cancer, diabetes, and CVD increases with increasing weight, but has the emphasis on our figure as the holy grail of health indicators been overstated and misrepresented? – Is this just another ‘health’ message taken to the extreme by the media, another good intention exploited by mass marketing and global corporations because there was a big buck to be made?

My confession is: I am a nutritionist and a personal trainer and I am NOT obsessed with my body, I am NOT obsessed with my weight or the weight of my clients. I have flabby bits and bits that jiggle, but I am healthy. I am healthy not because of the size pants I wear, I am healthy because I exercise regularly for the vitality and strength to function efficiently, to run and play with my children, and to age gracefully and with dignity. I am healthy because I eat a nutritious diet that nurtures my body physically, socially and emotionally, because I am not guilty of enjoying chocolate but privileged to, because I appreciate my food, where it comes from and the resources it took to produce it.

The un-diet, health at every size movement is upon us, lets embrace mindful eating, a diet designed to enhance our self-worth not judge it, a diet designed to care for our planet, not our egos or corporate profits.

129 Comments

- - mrsdew17 said
  - 17 Sep 2013
    11:35 pm
I was overweight yet very fit…and could take on ‘skinny’ people and outdo them! Thanks for the tips..

- - maureen3 said
  - 17 Sep 2013
    9:13 pm
Interesting read Thanks for sharing

- - brodie said
  - 17 Sep 2013
    6:33 pm
Great read, I think us as mothers are our own worst critics I’m constantly trying to lose my baby weight and be happy with my body again

- - mel1 said
  - 17 Sep 2013
    4:50 pm
I think trying to eat healthily most of the time, walking most days and staying positive are key. A little chocolate never hurt anyone, a lot of chocolate does. We all know what we have to do, its being able to resist that’s the hard part. I know with me its portion control – I LOVE pasta and carbs and one cup of pasta just doesn’t do it for me.

- - maxine1983 said
  - 17 Sep 2013
    4:03 pm
I agree with this… I’m not what most would say was overly large, but I am so disgustingly unfit. I would love to join a gym or something and its not the way I look holding me back, its that I would struggle to jog 100 metres.I look healthy, but I don’t feel it.

- - freeone1 said
  - 17 Sep 2013
    3:37 pm
thanks for sharing this interesting read

- - tammykilby said
  - 17 Sep 2013
    3:19 pm
such a great read in which i really agree with what u are saying.. good job for sharing this blog

- - suzzanne said
  - 17 Sep 2013
    3:12 pm
Weight loss is hard. I judge myself worse than others judge me. I dont like being
Big. Im trying to do something about it, but mind over matter is the biggest battle I face.
I would love to fit in nice clother for myself not anyone else..

- - jodiem17 said
  - 17 Sep 2013
    2:55 pm
I think it is inground into us in our society that fat means unhealthy- I am fat- but I am healthy- I have other unseen medical issues so look extremely obese, when in reality I eat healthily, do exercise love yoga, but people onlysee the fat. When did life become about what we look like instead of who we are

- - ella12 said
  - 17 Sep 2013
    2:33 pm
It is important to be healthy but also love the skin you’re in.

- - susiev said
  - 17 Sep 2013
    1:52 pm
I’m studying nutrition in order to communicate this sort of message to my family.

- - happygal said
  - 17 Sep 2013
    1:32 pm
Interesting article………my facebook feeds are full of these dramatic weightloss stories and honestly I am over them!!!!!…………Aslong as you eat healthy and do asmuch exercise as you are able to then you are doing well.All these quick weightloss fads annoy me and I have watched many ppl lose the weight then put it back on then youhave magazines photoshopping images of women…………Every woman is unique just like your metabalism but to me you are all beautiful as beauty begins from the inside 🙂

- - bananagirlsmum said
  - 17 Sep 2013
    1:28 pm
Great read that is a point that I am trying to communicate to my 12 year old that because in her eyes she is skinny then she is healthy. That to be healthy she needs to eat right and be active.

- - micko10 said
  - 17 Sep 2013
    1:14 pm
great read. its true. u can be overweight and fit and skinny and have high cholesterol diabetes and be very unfit

- - daidjou said
  - 17 Sep 2013
    1:06 pm
This is a really great read. I have the same feelings. I’ve lost a lot of weight, partially de to illness. But I kept at it, and have since gained a lot of muscle. But I am still heavier and wider than I know many girls like to be. But that doesn’t make me unattractive. What’s unattractive is self-loathing. Love yourself, embrace your wobbly bits, but always strive for good health, not just good image. Confidence is what’s attractive, and good health is too. You don’t have to look like Beyonce or starve yourself to be sexy. Eat good food, get good exercise, and enjoy life. You are beautiful!

- - making food fun said
  - 17 Sep 2013
    1:05 pm
Nicely put! Focus on fit not fat (and happiness). Sadly fad diets are more alluring (and unsustainable). The power (both good and evil) of Facebook. Is there a way to take these advertised images off our Facebook feed?

- - diane_smith said
  - 17 Sep 2013
    12:54 pm
What a refreshing article. It has come to me at just the right time. I have been in a job I came to hate and over ate all the wrong things. The result is I am desperately overweight and for health reasons need to get back on track. I have had a look at some of the links in this article and they are really helpful. More than that, it has allowed me to make peace with myself. This sits perfectly with my personal philosophies, I just didn’t know it. Thank you for giving me another chance at being happy and healthy.

- - noelene said
  - 17 Sep 2013
    12:43 pm
I’ve been practicing Mindful eating where you take the time to smell, tantilize the senses, listen to the sound, feel the texture and slow down the whole practice of eating. It is very surreal when you start – it took me 15 mins to eat a vegemite roll this morning. Next meal I forgot to do it and ate the roll in 5 mins as I was heading out the door.
this is a link about mindful eating…http://www.dailygood.org/2012/02/20/7-habits-of-mindful-eating/

- - amsies said
  - 17 Sep 2013
    11:33 am
Having given birth fourteen weeks ago and struggling to lose the baby weight this is a very timely article for me

- - suzmuzz said
  - 17 Sep 2013
    10:55 am
My Facebook news feed is full of before and after shots, some real, some fake. I totally understand the need to be accountable when embarking on a weight loss journey. But when do you stop? Do we all need washboard abs to be happy? Or, should we spend more time playing with our kids? What is a healthy body? Is it a number on the scales, or a dress size? Or is it feeling fit, capable and strong? Is it wrong to want to have the best body you possibly can? Or is society responsible for setting ideals that are out of reach and impractical for most of us? I don’t have any answers, but I do know that happiness comes from within and each of us has the power to decide what makes us happy.