This post was inspired by two separate articles I read today on the science of obesity. The old, “fat people are just lazy” ideology is being debunked right and left. Sadly, society hasn’t kept up with the scientific research.
Think about it. Making fun of someone because of their IQ, disability, religion, race or sexual preference is generally not acceptable. Making fun of fat people – well that’s just fine. Especially fat kids, they’re hi-lar-i-ous. Just watch a few hours of TV or listen in on the conversations around you.
Disgusting isn’t it? It’s bullying. It’s discrimination. It’s hate. And it’s devastating to children AND adults. Even if they’re laughing along with you. Honestly, what do you expect them to do?
Some folks never struggle with overeating or their weight. Lucky ducks!
Some of us do. There are many reasons. Laziness does not top the list.
I’ve linked to the first article here if you’d like to read it yourself, which I highly recommend. If not, here are the biggest takeaways along with my comments.
“Our model predicts that if you eat 100 calories fewer a day, in three years you will, on average, lose 10 pounds — if you don’t cheat.”
Long term changes equal long term results. Period.
***
“One of the things the numbers have shown us is that weight change, up or down, takes a very, very long time. All diets work. But the reaction time is really slow: on the order of a year. People don’t wait long enough to see what they are going to stabilize at. So if you drop weight and return to your old eating habits, the time it takes to crawl back to your old weight is something like three years.”
This point brilliantly highlights why “crash” diets and quick fixes don’t work long term. Most folks go “on a diet” to lose the weight and then go “off the diet” once they reach their goal or get tired of starving and/or depriving themselves. My advice – go slow. Make life long changes when it comes to diet and exercise. And spend some time figuring out why the heck you’re overeating in the first place.
***
“There’s no magic bullet on this. You simply have to cut calories and be vigilant for the rest of your life.”
This one is pretty dang clear. No need for me to elaborate.
***
“People think that the epidemic has to be caused by genetics or that physical activity has gone down. Yet levels of physical activity have not really changed in the past 30 years. As for the genetic argument, yes, there are people who are genetically disposed to obesity, but if they live in societies where there isn’t a lot of food, they don’t get obese.”
There is too much food (in the US). It’s marketed like crazy. It’s cheap. And some of us have a genetic predisposition to want to eat more of it. This leads me to the next article.
***
“Reward circuits in the brain are sensitized in anorexic women and desensitized in obese women. The findings also suggest that eating behavior is related to brain dopamine pathways involved in addictions.”
Does that mean you should throw your hands in the air and give up. Hell no!
Bottom line is that you need to make long term lifestyle changes. I wrote about my own journey here. It started nearly 15 years ago. I didn’t magically transform from an obese chick to a personal trainer overnight.
I want to help other women lose the weight for good. It’s the reason I pour my heart and soul into this work. I’m always considering ways to make my weight loss coaching programs more effective. Most programs out there are 6 or 12 week intensives. Quick and dirty. I’ve found this can lead to information overload and overwhelm. The client finishes the program, breathes a sigh of relief and then goes back to their old ways.
This recent research (along with my own experience) has given me even more evidence that I am on the right track. I plan to break my program up into four separate month long “phases” that can be purchased individually. Clients can sign up for the next phase once they have processed and integrated what they’ve learned and feel ready to move on.
It’s a more realistic approach. It allows the time necessary to make lasting changes that will ultimately translate into successful long term results.
You’re not lazy, stupid or broken. You’re a complex biological system.
Be patient with yourself. Stop crash dieting and beating yourself up for “failing” again.
Go as slow as you need to go.
Not only will you lose the weight for good, but you’ll lose it without losing your mind!