Thursday, October 14, 2010

A bit of a rant, but then something nice.

I came across a website last night, I can’t remember what I googled, and the entire website was devoted to people spewing their filthy vitriol at fat people. Their posts were so full of hatred and rage, it made me feel sad. Because their hate, their rage was based upon what they see daily. None of them realize what hypocrites they are. They don’t realize that by their attitudes, they’re saying we should treat people who are overweight as though they’re non-entities. Not a person because you’re unable to walk fast, or take care of your hygiene, or exercise alot. They forget that a person could have already lost 100 pounds, but they don’t know. I hate it when people judge others based on face value. How insulting. How childish.

I also get offended at the thought that someone might see me in the store (or take a picture of me from behind) and make fun of me or write online about how much they hate someone they’ve never met, because she’s fat and unattractive. Even on the news when they talk about the “obesity epidemic” and show a large person from behind, I bet they never asked if that person was ok with it. I wouldn’t be. I keep telling Jeff that if I ever see my butt on the news, I’m going to be so pissed off at them, I will call them and let them know.

All this makes me feel like it’s a horrible world to live in, when you have to be afraid of someone taking a picture of you. Whether I’m fat or skinny, dress great, or like some of those people who are on the walmart website, it is so wrong to treat people like that.

[breathe] Ok. Rant over.


Anyways, I read this today on Kim Bensen's website. It’s really a great way of putting the daily, weekly, monthly, etc. struggles we go through, in trying to get healthy. I had to share it.

Everything in life has a cycle. Not to sound morbid here, but even businesses, ideas, all forms of life – are conceived, born, grow, peak, decline and die. Even diets have a lifecycle that is familiar to us all.

Conception: “I think I need to lose weight. I know I need to lose weight. I’m going to go on a diet.”

Birth: “Yes, I’d like to sign up for your program. Where do I weigh in? I weight HOW MUCH? Are you sure?” “I’m going to get to the grocery store on the way home and start planning and eating right!”

Growth: “I lost 2 pounds?! Whoo hoo! This isn’t so bad! As long as I measure and plan and stay ahead of the hunger, I can do this! One day at a time. Now, I’m going home to make some of that delicious FREE SOUP!”

Peak: “Look! I’m wearing jeans from two years ago?! I love shopping in my own closet and now I’m out of the plus size section. Yeah baby! This isn’t bad at all. I can do this thing with my eyes closed!”

Decline: “It’s still six days to weight in. I can eat this and still have time to undo the damage. Besides, as long as I’m ‘off’ I might as well eat the rest of the row of cookies before I get back ‘on’ again. I can’t believe I have to do this forever!”

Death: “I know I’ve gained. I’ll skip this meeting, work real hard this week and go back next week just staying the same. But there’s no way I’m facing the scale tonight. I definitely don’t want an ‘up tick’ in my pass book!

And the cycle continues …
The death of a diet really comes down to that SKIPPING part. It’s the pulling away from meetings, from the blogs, from the chats and from updating your diet profile. It’s avoiding emails from your weight loss buddies as the negative thoughts inside start to grow. “I don’t like my leader – who’s she to talk.” “If I didn’t have so many demands from my family I’d be able to focus more on my weight.” “My coworkers are just trying to sabotage me!”

It’s amazing how quickly even the most avid enthusiast, the ‘star’, who was leading the weight loss pack in meetings and offering up great ideas and tips, can fall away in such a short time.

I know. I’ve been there.

Fortunately for all of us, there is also rebirth. (Oh yeah, didn’t I put that in?) Well, it is there! And we don’t have to wait for a gestation period (that period of time where we gain it all back before beginning again.) Though we often do … Why do we do that?

Rebirth – starting over – can be instantaneous. We can cheat death and jump right back in to the life we want so desperately.

7 comments:

  1. I am so saddened by people's hatred and disgust at overweight individuals. I truly believe that it stems from a fear or realization that it could be them. I have been thinner than I am now, so I know how easy it is to suddenly be 250 pounds again. It's all these inputs: the obesity epidemic, plastic surgery, gastric bypass, gym memberships, models, etc. that basically put these thoughts at the front of our minds. We obsess on them -- even skinny people. Then I think it turns into this twisted anger that just manifests itself in hatred toward the overweight, when really it's just about the constant fear and realization that none of us is perfect and most of us never quite feel good enough.

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  2. I love this.. Thanks for sharing..

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  3. Thanks for sharing that. I have never heard of it put that way but it totally makes sense eh?

    If I saw that website it would have made me mad too!

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  4. Amen! What a great way to look at it like a life cycle- sure its a life style, but I think we need more emphasis on the LIFE part of it.

    Dieting doesnt mean giving up what you love it means appreciating what you love even more, because it helps you realize what else there is out there.

    My personal pit fall is cheese. Why does it have to be so damn good!? I don't know but it sure is! I could never eat chocolate again and live to tell the tale, and I would die if I had to give up cheese longer than a few days.

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  5. Great post Laura! Yep, many cycles of life, its how we choose which one to stay with that makes all the difference - glad there is a rebirth though! :D

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  6. Hi Laura! I just wanted to stop by and say hi. I hope you are having a good week. I appreciate the comments you've left for me.

    Talk to you soon :)

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