Overweight - Answering Your Critics

There are those that walk amongst us who have followed all the advice, diligently dieted and exercised with genuine effort for long periods of time, yet still fail to lose their excess weight.

Even more heartbreaking for those of us who genuinely struggle with obesity are the accusations of sloth and laziness from those thin people who eat junk all day long and show no physical sign of their own gluttony. "Why can't you just be like everyone else?", they demand. "It must be all your own fault."

"After all," they say in derisory voice, "Losing weight is easy. Just eat less and exercise more. If you don't lose weight, you are just weak willed."

Every person who has never had a real problem thinks they know all the easy answers. All those underlying unwarranted generalisations we face from others just about every day of our lives is a little recognised yet very real and severe form of discrimination, based on the same types of wrong thinking as prejudice against race, skin color, creed, gender, and other well recognised forms of hatred.

In fact, life experience has taught me that the less a person actually knows about obesity and weight loss, the more they think they know.

I spent time a few years ago under the care of some of the most distinguished and knowledgable internationally renowned Professors researching weight loss and obesity from the University of Sydney and the Royal Prince Albert Hospital's Obesity Clinic in Sydney, Australia. I will always remember what Professor Ian Caterson told me one day:

"The more we learn about obesity, the more we realise how little we really understand and how much more there is to discover."

Would any of those permanently thin critics care to explain a man with whom I shared many physiotherapy and hydrotherapy sessions during my time on the program at the Obesity Clinic? He was normal down the left side of his body, though obese down the right side of his body only.

Next time someone verbally berates you for carrying excess body weight and tries to tell you how easy it is to be lean & trim, try asking them what they would recommend to that man that some of the top obesity researchers in the world don't yet know.

Then, while your critic is looking dumbfounded and fumbling for some feeble explanation, hit them with a few more questions, such as:

  • Why do large birth weight babies have a dramatically higher rate of obesity than normal birth weight babies?
  • And, given the above, just what control do you think I've got over my birth weight?
  • Do you know what your metabolic rate is? If not, why do you presume to think you know mine?
  • Do you think everyone has identical norepinephrine levels? Oh, you don't even know what norepinephrine is, huh?
  • Why do some people gain weight during stressful times while other people loss weight, irrespective of their eating patterns?
  • How do you expect an overweight person to even be capable of greater physical activity than a normal weight person?
  • Name me five minerals (not vitamins) that are vital for hormonal function, and explain which of these hormones has a different effect on brain signals related to appetite and metabolism.
  • Tell me what you know about Insulin Resistance Syndrome, what causes it, what its symptoms are, and how to treat it.
  • What has the least nutrient value to the human body - (a) 100 calories of pure fat, (b) 100 calories of pure protein, or (c) 100 calories of pure carbohydrate? (By the way - Your critic will probably answer Fat. The correct answer is C. The human body actually requires fats and proteins for various metabolic and physiological functions. Pure carbohydrate has no known unique use in the human body as the body can convert either fats or proteins as required into blood glucose, as it does with carbohydrate.)
  • Some of the most successful business people, scientists, philosophers and artists in the course of human history have struggled with obesity. Why do you think such successful and influential people who have changed the course of the world as we know it today are "weak willed"?

    • When you see the jaw of your critic drop to the floor, as they turn pale and look like they've been hit by a runaway train, when their silence shows that their ignorance and prejudice has been thoroughly exposed, just calmly walk away.

    At this point, both of you now know that, even though you may carrying excessive body weight, it is your critic who has the bigger problem.

    Trevor Johnson is a Masters qualified researcher cum electronic publisher with over twenty years personal experience in the battle against obesity. Objective information and the pros and cons of many types of weight loss therapies is found at his "Weight Loss, Dieting & Obesity" site: http://www.DietWords.com

    In The News:

    pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    5-Step Weight Loss Program for Permanent Weight Loss

    Every Journey Worth Taking Begins with a Single StepHere are... Read More

    Can Water Really Help You Lose Weight?

    I believe that water not only helps with weight loss,... Read More

    Conventional Dieting Wisdom That Works for WLS Patients

    In many cases conventional dieting wisdom simply doesn't work for... Read More

    Dieting Strength

    There are several factors in winning at weight loss. Sometimes... Read More

    The Mediterranean Diet - Oh So Tasty

    Yes, there is more to the Mediterranean than sun, beach... Read More

    Hang In There Dieters, Help Is At Hand!!

    I was thinking about diets and such and it occurred... Read More

    Put Down That Brownie! Just One Bite Can Knock You Off Plan

    It is very important for low carb dieters to stick... Read More

    Abdominal Liposuction - When Diets Dont Work

    Abdominal liposuction refers to liposuction, or lipoplasty, that is performed... Read More

    The Magic Formula Works its Wonder Today Part 4

    The people of earlier times depended on the rich resource... Read More

    Dieting Effects ? Alcohol

    Dieting presents many complications if you are not fully committed... Read More

    Holiday Wearing A Weight Loss Halo

    You may have read the old stories about how much... Read More

    Weight Loss With Water

    It's calorie-free, inexpensive and easily obtained - yet few people... Read More

    The Hidden Truth About Diets

    Quick, what's the first thought that pops into your head... Read More

    Diet Plans for a Low Carb Diet

    One of the most popular diets is the low carb... Read More

    The R Factors - Your Answer For Getting To The Perfect Body For Fitness And Health

    Building a Perfect Body for Body Perfect Fitness and Health... Read More

    Thirty Hints & Tips to Achievable Weight Loss

    Here are some everyday, helpful hints to get you started,... Read More

    Dieting: A Few Smart Dieting Secrets To Rejuvenate You

    In our society of fast food and long hours spent... Read More

    How Dance Dance Revolution is Getting Kids Off the Couch

    Are you concerned about the lack of exercise your child... Read More

    Negative Calorie Effect in Foods

    Negative Calorie Effect in FoodsWhatever food we... Read More

    Gastric Bypass Surgery, an Overview

    With the number of people suffering from obesity rising so... Read More

    Why Isnt My Diet Working?

    Have you been on a new diet for a couple... Read More

    3 Simple Weight Loss Tips from the Pros

    Tip 1) DRINK A GLASS OF WATER AFTER EACH SNACKThis... Read More

    How To Avoid Common Diet Scams

    As our country gains weight at an alarming rate, we... Read More

    The RESULTS Diet!

    R...real foodE...exerciseS...spiritual stuff first and the other stuff secondU...ultimately, you... Read More

    Weight Loss Recipe: Avocado, Walnut & Crispy Bacon Salad

    Losing weight doesn't have to be boring when you focus... Read More

    How To Look Thinner

    There is no need to worry too much if your... Read More

    Healthy Supplements Make Diet Pills Obsolete!

    Diet PillsTaking diet pills is definitely not an effective weight... Read More

    Ive Been Dieting for Five Minutes - Am I Thin Yet?

    When Instant Results Take TimeYesterday I decided to "get back... Read More

    Youll Need Total Will Power To Undergo Weight Loss

    How much will power does it take in order to... Read More

    Obesity is Big Business

    Obesity and overweight, weight reduction and weight management therapies, miracle... Read More

    Yoga As An Aid To Weight Loss

    Yoga is wonderful for nurturing a state of mental and... Read More

    Your Words Affect Your Weight Loss - Stop the Struggle

    Are you Telling Yourself It's Too Hard to Lose Weight?Telling... Read More

    Cruisin to Lose

    Recently, I won a family cruise on the Regis and... Read More