Ok, I have held my tongue for a bit, but alas I can do it no longer. I want to scream it from the treetops: LOSING WEIGHT IS NOT THE CURE FOR EVERY AILMENT!
Having struggled with my weight most of my life, it gets to be a bit exhausting when you are told that being overweight is this horrid curse that is going to make you lose limbs, die of heart attacks, affect your loves life, or (insert whatever crack pot thing being fat might do here)
Before all the health nuts jump down my throat, don’t get me wrong being overweight can cause problems for SOME, but my point is that being fat isn’t the SOLE factor for EVERYONE that is going to make you go down like the Titanic.
You might be prompted what lead me on this rant, well it was actually a trip to the gym. That might not sound shocking but let me explain. After being injure for a year, I decided to join a gym again. Until recently I have not even been able to WALK without a limp. When asked my goals by the personal training manager, I thought this guy was actually there to HELP ME or at least listen. He asked me my goals for joining the gym, and I shared with him that my direct goals are to feel better and to get back to my normal level of activity that despite my weight I am actually a very active person and my injury has hindered that.
When I left my goals at that, he paused and circled “lose weight” as a goal ANYWAY. It took me every inch of my strength not to reach across the desk and slap him. Yes, I am overweight. Yes, I would like to lose some weight, but that is not and will never be my main goal. That’s because I know once I get my body healthy enough to be active again the weight will come off because I am naturally an active person.
During the rest of the “interview”, he kept peppering in things like “losing weight will also help get you back to your level of activity,” or “having a trainer will help get you there faster!” Two things became really clear. All he did was want to sell some training packages and that he wasn’t listening. I didn’t get hurt because I was fat. I got hurt because I was unaware that elliptical machines can cause achilles tendon issues.
It is REALLY frustrating when you are overweight and people treat you like you have a disease. My love of chocolate bars is NOT a disease. My size 18 pants are not a condition that needs to be cured. Despite my recent inactivity, I am really healthy. My cholesterol is at normal levels. My resting heart rate is below 60. Sometimes my blood pressure is so low that the cuff can’t even read it. Really I am HEALTHY!
If you walk into a doctor’s office or a gym or anywhere it seems, people can’t understand how losing weight is not a number one priority. How is possible that someone doesn’t care what they weigh, they have goals about becoming more active first? I find it hard to understand why this is so shocking. Don’t get me wrong it will be nice to lose some weight after having had 2 surgeries in four years. I know I will look and feel better, but it’s not because of some ill begotten disease I supposedly have looming on the horizon. It’s because I want to be able to do the things in my life that my body can’t do right now. You know like walking without a limp.
For all of you out there that are overweight and are constantly getting this message, tell them to stick it. Eat in moderation, or practice eating moderately for YOU! Get active because you want to be able to do the activities you enjoy in life. Don’t listen to all the hype that there is some mysterious disease you MIGHT get because you are overweight. There are PLENTY of skinny people with diabetes and awful cholesterol. We just don’t hear about them as much.
If you are active and eat moderately (which does not include starving yourself) your body will find it’s own perfect spot to be, and you will be happy and healthy!
If you guys want to check out an amazing read on how being fat isn’t the plague we have been told, make sure to read Health at Every Size! It’s a great (research based) book that shares how we can all find what is right for OUR bodies instead of applying this “fat is bad” medicine to life! It is by FAR one of my favorite books of all time.
Melissa says
Thank you thank you thank you!!
I bet we go to the same chain gym. I had a very similar expeirence when I joined my gym. Nearly brought me to tears.
You totally got it right on this one.
Ashley Sears says
As he was saying this to me Melissa, it made me think “no WONDER people that are heavy fear the gym.” I am so tired of the “fat shaming”. Get out, be active, eat moderately, and go on with your awesome self!
Crissy says
You know, my doctor has suggested that I lose weight the past few times I’ve been in. To be fair, though, my blood pressure has been on the high side which is scary at my age. I understand your frustration, though!
Ashley Sears says
Crissy, I think if you have medical problems showing it could always be a good idea to trouble shoot it that way, but it’s not a band aid for everything. I have just run into so many doctors that say “lose weight” and when that doesn’t work say “lose more weight”. Doesn’t make sense. Hope your blood pressure gets figure out too 🙂
Sarah Naumcheff says
Oh my gosh don’t even get me started! One of the most interesting things I learned as I’m going to school to be a dietitian is that weight actually has nothing to do with health. You can be 300 pounds and be healthier than someone who weighs 130 pounds. It has more to do with lifestyle and what you eat and what size you are.
Also I’m sick of doctors being extremely sizist (Is that a word?). If you go to the doctor for complaint about anything and you’re the slightest overweight that’s all I’ll tell you, to lose weight. My aunt is dying from cervical cancer because the doctors wouldnt actually look past her size to see what was actually wrong with her and till it was too late. It’s disgusting.
Sarah Naumcheff says
Oops, I meant than what size you are not and…
Ashley Sears says
Sarah, that is EXACTLY my point, and I am SOOOOOO glad that they are teaching you that health isn’t about weight. According to the lovely BMI charts I should weigh no more than 154 pounds. I have a picture on my Facebook profile at that weight, and I have had SEVERAL people tell me that I am too skinny. Yet, doctor’s even at 165 start telling me to lose some weight even though nothing about my health dictates I am unhealthy.
I am so sorry to hear about your aunt. It breaks my heart that doctor’s aren’t trained better. Because of my history with an eating disorder, I have to be VERY careful what doctor I go to because if all they do is preach about weight loss it does bad things! Here’s to more education about weight and health!
Sharon says
Amen, sister!! Your very timely blog post puts into perspective with my own struggle with weight. My heart rate and blood pressure invoke the words “are you sure you are alive” and my cholesterol is very good as well. Part of the problem is that we are bombarded with thin, beautiful people (mostly entertainment folks) who have lots of time AND money to spend on personal chefs, nutritionists, personal trainers and the latest exercise craze. I am an average working person who works every day (two jobs) to pay for my life; I don’t have 5 hours to spend every day in the gym. I power walk close to an hour most days of the week and that’s about all I have time for. It is good exercise and it’s good for the soul and good for clearing the cobwebs. And, I have a ton of food blogs in my reader because y’all inspire me to want to cook/bake yummy things . . . because I love good food!! Thank you for the really great post!!
Ashley Sears says
Sharon, Thank you so much for your comment! That’s my thing as well. I am a FOODIE. I LOVE food, and I will always love food. The funniest thing is that I prefer fresh handmade food that you put your soul in and our society has become such a packaged/from the box/we don’t know what’s in it that our bodies are altering.
As far as exercise, that is awesome that you get in the walk! That’s the point as long as we move. It counts, it doesn’t have to be four hours in a gym. Garden, hike, bike, play with the kids. It all counts. Just be active and happy. Life is too short to be told we are failing because our bodies are comfortable at a bigger weight than some scale or trainer says we should be at.
Julie says
That’s always one of the things doctors go for first for just about anything these days. My last doc told me to lose 10-15 lbs to “kick start” my fertility. That would’ve taken me to just edge of becoming too skinny. It gets very depressing. I did lose a few pounds, started exercising more, changed my diet and a bunch of other stuff and still no “kick start” to my fertility. I’ll never have a baby, but at least the doc is happy.
Ashley Sears says
Julie, in my case that is one thing that my weight does affect is my cycles. I know that when I lose weight they go back to “normal”, but since we aren’t trying to have kids it’s not a huge issue. I am so sorry to hear that you aren’t able to have kids. I adopted my step son, and I can tell you first hand that adoption is a beautiful thing.
Danielle says
My last doctors appointment made me SO mad! I went with two problems. My new doctor’s cure? Lose weight. Seriously? No… that’s not what’ll make my issues better. Thanks but no thanks. So annoyed and frustrated with you!
Ashley Sears says
Danielle, That is EXACTLY my point. I have heard so many sad stories of doctors fat shaming people or not seeing beyond their weight that they miss more serious non-weight related conditions. Don’t get me wrong, there are people that have medical conditions that do make them eat insane amounts of food and get heart attacks and strokes, but labelling fat as the problem for every patient that walks in your door is just irresponsible IMO.
Colby Shipwash says
I struggle everyday with weight loss and making sure I do the right thing to get to stereotypical body. I just want to be healthy, so I can live for a long time.
Sarah BB @ East9thStreet says
I’ve never been overweight by medical standards but I feel overweight right now and am not comfortable in my own skin. That being said, when I was in my 20’s I struggled with hypertension. I ran 5 days a week, was extremely fit and ate decent (I still had to have my McDonald’s french fries!) but even cutting out certain things couldn’t control my blood pressure and I went on medication. Being “skinny” didn’t help me one bit with my medical condition. What helped me was learning to eliminate and manage the stress in my life. Weight is an easy scape goat sometimes for the medical profession and trust me, I’ve worked in the profession for years.
Ashley Sears says
Sarah, You are a great example on the other side! Because you are skinny they might miss your hypertension because you don’t fit the “mold,” which is equally as scary. I know docs have lots of patience and trainers see lots of people, but a little listening and compassion goes as LONG way.