My Progress

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Give me the skinny on this weight loss bid-ness

Sunday morning. Day two of a 3-day weekend (thank you, Dr. King!). I'm chillin on the lappy with the dog curled up and Guy Fieri on the tube, reading some blogs. I read each and every blog on that list over thataway (-->) on a daily basis. I never talk about them in my own blog, and I have no idea why, but today one post really got me thinking and as I was typing a comment that got longer and longer, a blog post emerged.

One of the most popular, likable and successful weight-loss bloggers in this little community (whom I know almost all of my readers also follow) is Tony "The Anti-Jared" Posnanski. His post today was about a subject that I think hits home to a lot of us, dignity. I know that when I was one of the heaviest guys in my high school class, I really didn't stick up for myself much, and I think part of me thought I brought this on myself , I deserve every degrading word. I think it's rather important to find your self-respect and self-worth in order to be a success story. We aren't just shedding pounds of the fat variety. We're dropping off bags of guilt and self-doubt along the way.

That's not what really got me thinking about Tony's post this morning, though. No, what really got me thinking is the story of the customer that approached him ostensibly to help him lose weight. Clearly, the guy had the wrong motivation for doing so since he was just looking for an endorsement for his product, but if not for that, I think the message would have been a genuine, thoughtful gesture. It reminded me of a manager I saw yesterday at BestBuy that looked a bit like myself when I was at the peak of my unhealthiness. I wanted to walk up to him and tell him where I've come from, what I've done, and how doable this weight loss stuff truly is.

I mulled it over in my head and thought about how I'd wished someone had told me that sooner. I came to a couple of conclusions:
  1. several people on numerous occasions tried to encourage me to lose some weight throughout my life
  2. I never took it very seriously
  3. I always acted like I was
The truth is you have to be ready to do it yourself before any information out there is worth anything to you. Besides, what if someone had given me a speech like that on day 2 of this weight loss journey? Who am I to assume he hasn't already started and is down 100 pounds from where he used to be?

As much as we all share our stories -- our successes and failures -- to a lot of people, weight loss is a much more private matter. As I've said before, I respect anyone that wants to lose weight and share it with their peers, but I've come to realize that I also respect anyone who isn't ready to start or doesn't want to discuss it. Epidemic or no, the first step begins with the individual making the decision.

13 comments:

Carlos said...

soo true. it's much more about being ready to listen than the message.

Anonymous said...

I would certainly resent strangers commenting on my need to lose weight. I'm sure nobody around here can't tell if they're fat or not. Your intentions may be good, but if somebody isn't ready to hear it, they're definitely not going to want to hear it from a well-meaning stranger.

mcc394 said...

I couldn't agree more. If a person isn't ready inside, then they will fail. We have all been there and done that, probably more than once.

awesome post.

I'm adding you to my blog roll. Thanks.

twinkelydots said...

I can't tell you how many people have acted concerned about my weight.

I have a protruding belly. I get asked all the time "when are you due?".

Ummm... yeah.

I'm 48 and went thru menopause at 41. That biological clock is very very broken and thrown away.

"Such a pretty face. If you would only lose weight...."

I am now. I am now.

Anonymous said...

RIGHT ON! Until one is ready, one will not be receptive to any type of prodding. Great post.

Oh, and thanks for becoming a follower of my blog. I have done the same for yours and I've added you to my Blog A-List. I'm looking forward to reading more.

CJ said...

You make a good point. I so agree with you. Who is to say that person isn't already doing something..? We all have to be ready!!

Linda said...

I like that Tony-not-Jared's blog, too. Prett insightful, that guy. Thanks for dropping in on my blog.

H.E.A. said...

I completely agree. Its like most personal problems in life: alcohol, stress, obsessive compulsive, hot tempers...

Until you REALIZE that you may be struggling with it, and until you DECIDE you need to do something to change it, no one else is gonna be able to tell you about it, help you, or offer guidance. And its really not their place until you ASK them for it.

But, now that we're here and sharing with the world, lets represent KC by doing it healthy-style :)

Dina said...

I was just thinking today about how it has to be the person that decides. No amount of cajoling or nagging will work otherwise.

Brightcetera said...

I can't handle the truth! :)
I'd've slapped you!
I'm violent like that lol

Seriously? It's waaaay too personal for so many reasons not to say anything. The person knows they're fat. I think this would shame them perhaps.

Jeff said...

Great post! We really do have to be ready to change on our own. It's a personal decision we all deal (or don't) in our own time.

I've been enjoying your blog. Your success is encouraging to me and I look forward to following your continued journey.

Anonymous said...

SO AGREE.
in all life realms.

If Im not ready you can nagprod all day long and it is NOT gonna work.

bbubblyb said...

Great post and so true!!!