I know this is probably not the kind of post you want to read the day after Christmas but I just had to share. I told you I am going to be more healthy and pay more attention to my food intake in the very near future, right? Well in preparation for that I taped ‘The weight of the nation’ which was featuring on HBO. And while theoretically I was told nothing knew I was still impressed with some of the facts.
First of all my heart went out to the very obese people who had the courage to come up there and tell their story. Not something that you can take lightly as I am sure it takes some guts to stand up there and tell the world how you feel. Some girls where shockingly overweight with 27 years and close to 200 kilo. I used to be a little judgmental. I’m sure a lot of people feel that way; you see someone who is morbidly obese and you can’t help but stop and stare right? Over the past couple of years I have grown to have a lot more respect for people that are that much overweight. Heck I feel self conscious and I am half their size, not even half I think but still I struggle finding clothes that I like, I struggle sometimes wondering what people might think of me. And here they are… Telling it the way it is.
The show was a lot about how diets don’t work, which I already knew. But I was also quite shocked by the statement that was made on people that – at some point in their life have been on a diet – basically always had to eat less. Take for example two women. They both weight 65 kg. But one has always had that weight all of her adult life, while the other has gained and lost weight, to now be at the same weight of 65 kg. Both women may look the same, but when it comes to food and their calorie intake; if they both eat the same plate of food, it might be fine for the girl who has never gained or lost but way too much for the girl who has been on a diet.
I guess the bottom line is that once you start the whole freaking Jojo diet process; you’re doomed for life. You have to watch what you eat for the rest of your life! Quite a depressing thought really but I guess we can blame ourselves for getting us in that spot in the first place!
All those diets that promise you a 5 kilo weight loss in 5 days or those diets that tell you to no longer eat carbohydrates or fat or protein? They’re all useless. Yes you WILL lose weight, but it also WILL creep back up before you know it. The only real solution is to change your lifestyle, to change your eating and exercise habits.
Truth is; we all know that already, now don’t we? The trick is to actually go and do it. Or as the slogan of my former employer used to be; JUST DO IT!
Way to go, Simone.
I know you were at it with is last heer, and you lost quite a few kilos! So, pick it up once more, get it down and change the way you live while you’re at it.
I wish you all the luck!
Anna (who is now running out the door once more…)
Thanks so much Anna! I will. Pretty determined this time to make it a permanent change…. About to head out the door for a nice long walk too!
this is so true…sometimes you have to hear this again. i was about to start another crash diet as the last weeks i have been overeating. but you are right, what are we doing???? just eat healthy and be sensible with what you eat. change and be good for your body, even if it is harder than a crash diet…at the end we will be able to enjoy more foods without guilt and the immediate 1 kilo weight gain…i start as of today!
I’m starting today as well with a healthy lifestyle, exercise and good food.. Pretty sure that the weightloss will come in time too. We can do it together!
I think the most important thing is to be healthy and comfortable. There is a “too heavy” point as well as a “too skinny” point and both extremes are unhealthy. We have so many problems in our society these days – body image, fast food + junk food + processed food, too little exercise + too much sedentary activities available… this is such a societal problem and must be dealth with. But individually, it takes courage and self-control. Even I feel out of shape – haven’t exercised correctly since before we moved and I feel it. And I have promised myself that I would get back to my exercise regime. Give me courage, Simone. You inspire!
I know. I agree that a lot of the issues arise from easy access to all the bad things out there. If I heard some of the people on the show talk about the ads for instance that were running on tv in the US ( and increasingly in Europe too) it is no wonder that young kids get the wrong impression altogether. Child obesity is a big thing in the US and it’s a big thing here in the Netherlands. Maybe not at the same level yet but we are getting there unfortunately too. And I am sick and tired of myself falling for the trap too. It’s about time to gain control back but yes it’s gonna be hard at times I am pretty sure!