WEIGHT

Society in general seems to be consumed with weight.  Weight measurements are used in many aspects of our lives.  Let me give you a few examples.  The weight of a vehicle is used to determine the amount of a toll to be paid.  The weight of precious metals will determine the price the consumer will pay.  The weight of drugs will determine how drugs are used and the severity of criminal charges against an accused.  Weight is important for shipping purposes.  In a gym setting, weight lifters monitor their progress by the systematic increases in the weight they lift.  One factor to determine how comfortable a shoe may be is the weight of the shoe.  When mailing a parcel at the post office  the first thing they do is weigh it.  If you go to an amusement park you will find weight limits on certain rides.  It is clear that our society is consumed with weight.  However, the weight that I want to discuss in this article is none of the above.  It is your body weight and why losing weight never really works.  
 Weight loss seldom works, in my opinion because we have it all wrong.  To begin with, any advertiser, company or individuals that deal with the topic of losing weight has it all wrong.  They refer to it as "losing weight."  Think about this for a moment.  When you lose something, there is a tendency to find it or replace it.  So if you focus on losing weight, chances are you will find it back where it came from in the first place.  Your body! Look at most, if not all weight loss programs on the market.  They focus on restricting your diet.  Remember when you were a rebellious teenager and were restricted from either a relationship or an activity?  I bet you, that in many cases it didn't work out as your parents planned.  In fact, it probably worsened the situation.  Moreover, look at all the different weight loss programs on T.V., they focus on restricting cravings.  In many cases, what you're buying into is a food delivery program.  You're paying into this billion dollar industry to purchase food that they pretend to carefully plan and cook for you in its appropriate portions.  If you believe this hog wash, stop reading and get yourself a biggie portion fries and soda to accompany your big mac at the drive through at your local McDonalds.  These companies probably have many factories throughout the country where they have low paid factory workers cooking and  preparing your personalized portions, (what a joke) for shipping.  But, all this seems to be working for this industry.  Their bank accounts are getting heavier, no pun intended, or else they would not be so successful.  And, they have a market based on a successful revolving door strategy. The latest statistics that I have seen is that 2 out of every 3 adults in the United States are either over weight or obese.    
 To me, this is a  real epidemic. But, it is not really talked about as it should be.  I am not a doctor or a scientist but, I can read.  It seems that many health problems can be avoided if this epidemic was addressed.  Maybe the commercial diet industry has powerful lobbyists or maybe there are other behind the scene motives.  I sure hope not but one thing I know for sure is that  we can control this problem on an individual level.  We have total control.  We just have to make a few relatively easy adjustments. To begin with, we have to change out attitude towards this topic.  We have to own up to it.  We are the ones that got to be over weight or obese so we are the ones that can reverse it.  It is your body.  You alone decided what to put into it so, you can decide what to stop putting into it.  No more excuses.  No more blaming corporate America, stress, family, or anything else.  In addition, besides changing our behavior, we have to change our attitudes.  If we can put food into our bodies why can't we put good thoughts about food into our minds? 
 Since last August I have been practicing what I preach.  I was never obese. I was always into fitness but, I wanted to become healthier.  I am not going to write about my specifics because this really is not about me, it's about coaching others towards better health.  In this process, I have had many individuals from clients,  colleagues, friends and family ask me if I have lost weight by choice.  In other words implying that maybe there is something wrong with me medically which is why I have lost weight.  My response has been that it was a choice but, that I have not lost anything but instead gained better health.  We have to change our attitudes as a society but, also as individuals about not losing but instead gaining something better.  We all have the power to control ourselves.  However, most industries would rather you either not believe that or relinquish it to them.  It is our life and we chose to live it as we wish.  But, we have an obligation to live a full, healthy, happy life.  And we can and you will if you want to.  I leave you with a quote on point.  " Don't dig your grave with your own knife and fork."  Author unknown.
      Just a thought.
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