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Pass the Vegetables, Not The Buck: Accepting Responsibility
By Kate Street, July 2004
Do I really need to tell you that our country is suffering from an obesity crisis? Haven't we heard ad nauseam all the statistics about how overweight our adults and children have become in the last decade and how we-must-take-action-now before the whole situation gets worse?
Do I really need to tell you how many diets are on the market these days? All anyone has to do is go into their local bookstore and see that over half of the best-sellers are in the "lose-weight-fast" category. And do I really need to get into all the theories abounding on why we've gotten so out of shape as a nation? Everyone has a different explanation, yet no one really knows why. We blame it on technology, we blame it on fast food, we blame it on genetics. We blame broken homes, two income families, computer games, medication, stress, and hormones. Heck, while were at it, let's blame the Easter bunny for tempting us every year with marshmallow chicks and hollow chocolate bunnies!
Do I really need to tell you any of this? What good is any of this information doing us anyway? In the grand scheme of things it doesn't really matter what the latest miracle diet is, what the best ab exercise is, or what the most popular theory is for our large-girth as a county. Go ahead and blame diets, technology, and your less-than-perfect childhood - and then get over it!
The Inconvenience of Convenience
I don't mean to sound harsh (really, I'm a very nice person) but thereís only one place to point the finger when it comes to being overweight or out of shape, and that's directly in the mirror.
Now, I can admit that perhaps we've been steered in the wrong direction in the past by well-meaning experts and I can also concede that today's lifestyle is not conducive to activity and healthy eating. In our modern technological and sedentary world the catch-phrase is "convenience". Well, let me tell you something - convenience is killing us!
People don't eat a proper breakfast in the morning because it's not "convenient" to get up 15 minutes earlier to eat scrambled eggs and mixed fruit. People stop at fast food restaurants because it's not "convenient" to prepare healthy lunches and snacks the night before. And people bring home take-out because it's not "convenient" to plan a whole weeks worth of dinners on the weekends.
This lack of convenience is the same reason people don't exercise. I mean why should we go to the gym or do a workout tape at home after work when we obviously have T.V. shows, e-mails, housework, and other "obligations that don't make much difference in our overall well-being" to catch up on?
Now, let me ask you this what's convenient about not having enough energy to get through your busy day? What's convenient about heartburn, digestive problems, and high blood pressure due to our fast food? What's convenient about not feeling good about yourself when you look in the mirror or put on your clothes? What's convenient about not having the confidence to pursue the things in life you really deserve? I say to hell with convenience!
Perhaps it sounds like I'm on a soapbox, but it's a well-earned soap-box because I used to be a victim of convenience, too. I'd skip breakfast, eat low-fat crackers for lunch and then eat a ton of whatever was the most convenient for dinner. And forget exercising! I had to rush home to watch my pre-recorded soap opera every day! There were times I despised myself because I thought I was a lazy, selfish person with no ambition. That's not a pleasant way to feel about one's self, that's for sure.
Self-Belief is the Whole Battle
There was one thing I always knew, though, no matter how deep I was into my self-loathing. I knew I was the only person who could change me and my circumstances. I knew eventually someday I would get fed-up with my current lifestyle and I would turn over a new leaf. I had many false-starts but even when I ìfell off the wagonî I knew that one day I would get it all together and finally be the person I wanted to be.
I truly believe that's it's this "knowing" that separates the successful people from the unsuccessful people. A very wise psychologist called this "self-efficacy": the knowledge that you are in control of your circumstances and you have what it takes to succeed (I'm paraphrasing).
This is the important first step - knowing that you can reach your goals. Knowing that you are the one in control of your body and how you look and feel. Quit passing the buck to doctors, nutritionists, diet books, miracle pills, and personal trainers. It's up to you, and you can do it, no matter how overweight or out of shape you are.
You even have the answers right inside you if you look hard enough.
Reclaiming Our Bodies
Accepting responsibility for our bodies and how we treat them can be frightening. It means we need to change and change can seem daunting. But it can also be empowering. Too many people remain stagnant in their comfort zones, even if they're miserable. Perhaps it sounds strange that one can be miserable and comfortable at the same time, but it happens more often than not. It really should be called a discomfort zone.
However, once we build the courage to step out of our discomfort zone and do something proactive, the benefits are immediate. You start to feel differently about yourself and then the feeling just grows and expands. So don't look at accepting responsibility as something negative. Instead, find relief in the fact that we truly are the only ones who can change ourselves for the better and for good. Look at this as an opportunity to reclaim your body, your health, and your intuition.
All too often we rely on doctors to tell us how we're feeling, nutritionists to tell us to eat our vegetables, and personal trainers to tell us we need to move. Don't we really already know these things? We know our bodies better than any professional. We know what to do for our optimal health and well-being. Let's reclaim our bodies and our responsibility! We really are our own gurus. Let's start acting like it.
One Final Guilt Trip
If you're still unconvinced about changing, let me guilt you into it. Not only do we have a personal responsibility to take care of our health and our well-being, we have a public responsibility. Taking care of ourselves will help reduce the astronomical cost of health care (or more accurately, sick care). And if you don't care about that, think of your family. Do you really want your children to have to care for you when you get older or end up in assisted living? Do you want to be around to see your grandchildren get married? Do you want to be healthy and active enough to enjoy your retirement with your spouse? A diet alone will not help you with these issues. It's not about the pounds --- it's about your habits. Do some of yours need changing?
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Article By Graeme and/or Kate Street ~contact info not valid, websites gone~ Graeme and Kate first met as personal trainers at the Bay Club in Portland Maine and started an In-Home personal training business and a fitness media production business together. Graeme graduated suma cum laud in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology. Kate has a BA in Psychology and an MS in Health and Wellness. She holds over a dozen various fitness certifications, three through AFAA.
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