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


    Health Care Costs ? Can Your Diet Control Them?

    One of the most talked about topics in any political... Read More

    Calcium - The Key To Quick Weight Loss

    Are you dieting your way to bone loss?Are you aware... Read More

    Lose Weight on Hips and Thighs: A Quest for Slimmer Hips and Thighs!

    Losing weight on hips and thighs has always been a... Read More

    How to Curb Carbohydrate Cravings!

    As a weight loss mentor it never ceases to amaze... Read More

    Natural Weight Losss: The Minor Changes That Can Have Huge Affects On Your Future Health

    People always ask me " how it is that your... Read More

    Close Kept Secrets to Weight Loss #1

    I am so grateful that you're taking steps to take... Read More

    Weight Loss, Exercise, and Bodybuilding Tips ? Keeping Your Body-Fat Low: Part 7 of 10

    People usually quit weightloss and exercise programs for one of... Read More

    Weight Loss Surgery: Benefits and Risks

    You may be considering weight loss surgery if you are... Read More

    Weight Loss from Exercise

    Weight loss from exercise can be achieved by walking, running,... Read More

    5 Easy Steps to Help You Lose Weight

    When losing weight, most of us don't have the time... Read More

    How High-Carb Diet Plans Treat Carbohydrates

    A number of popular diets are focused on carbohydrates. Some... Read More

    Obesity:The Gateway to Diseases

    Do you know the name of that one disease which... Read More

    2 Simple Steps to Effective Weight Loss

    It's agreed that if you raise the amount of calories... Read More

    Six Secret Tips That Can Help You Lose Weight Fast

    1. Include in your diet things that contain more water... Read More

    Help for Sugar Cravings

    Many people have asked me what foods they should eat... Read More

    Gastric Bypass Surgery - Is It Right For You?

    When we hear all the success stories of the gastric... Read More

    Fat, Fat Go Away

    I am Dr Patrick Flanagan, and this is the latest... Read More

    Record Your Meals To Lose Weight

    Are you one of the many people who feel frustrated... Read More

    The Truth About Counting Calories And Weight Loss

    Do calories matter or do you simply need to eat... Read More

    Want To Lose Fat? Eat More of This

    If you've been working out with weights for any length... Read More

    Get NeanderThin on the Cave Man Diet

    Are you up to a cave man diet? You won't... Read More

    Failed at Weight Loss: Heres Hope

    All Diets Work: No Diets WorkHave you lost weight in... Read More

    The Psychology of Weight Loss: Part 4 ? The Power of Praise!

    Your success in sticking with an exercise and weight loss... Read More

    Gastric Bypass Patients Succeed Eating High Protein Diet

    The first rule for successful weight loss and weight maintenance... Read More

    Free Weight Loss Tips - Help For Beginning a New Diet

    If you are about to begin a diet, the number... Read More

    Lose Fats - Gain Confidence when You Lose Weight

    "How do I lose 5 kg or 30 kg?""How do... Read More

    The 7 Phases of Change

    Lose The Weight For Good With The Seven Phases of... Read More

    Dieting? Upgrading Your Non-Conscious Mind ? Part 2

    To upgrade the current software in your brain you can... Read More

    Struggling with Weight? ? Get a Dog

    Just about every one of us struggles with our weight... Read More

    Secrets Of Weight Loss

    One thing's for sure, in this day & age, if... Read More

    BuildingMoreThanBodies: Best Proteins For Burning Body Fat and Building Lean Muscles and Strong Bone

    Lean turkeyLean ground beefChicken breastFish, halibut, orange roughy,More fish, shark,... Read More

    Safe and Permanent Weight Loss Cannot Be Achieved in the Fed State

    Weight Loss Axiom Number ThreeInsulin and GlucagonThese are the two... Read More

    Diet Sodas & Losing Weight: Is Diet Coke Good Or Dangerous For Healthy Weight Loss?

    Zero Calorie Diet Sodas: Good Or Bad For Weight Loss?Calorie-free... Read More