For some of you fitness bunnies, today’s article may not be particularly relevant. Sorry ’bout that. Give it to a fat friend perhaps. To be honest, sometimes I get tired of having the same discussions and talking and writing about the same issue – over and over (and over) again. After this post I will give the obesity thing a wide berth (pun intended) for a while. I certainly don’t seek out the fat discussion but it invariably seems to find its way to me. More than half of the emails I receive are essentially the same question; “how do I get leaner and lighter?” And media outlets are always contacting me to talk about the obesity epidemic (as they call it).And a big hello to the grammar police.
9AM with David and Kim
To me it seems like we’re still chasing our tails and still missing the point. Yes I’ve covered some of what I’m about to say before but perhaps it’s worth repeating because we still seem to be looking for answers in the wrong places and we certainly ain’t gettin’ no thinner!
Yesterday I did my regular Channel Ten gig and we chatted about the fact that Australia has now officially become the fattest nation on the planet – according to the latest research from Melbourne’s Baker Heart Research Institute. That’s right; out of one hundred and ninety five(ish) countries here on the big blue ball, we sit (literally) at the very top of the Global Fatometer. The good-old, fun-loving, sun-drenched huge Aussie.
Aaah, we’re such high achievers aren’t we? If there was a Fat Olympics, we would be standing (or lying perhaps) at the top of the (very well reinforced) medal podium laughing at all you wanna-be fatties. And you Americans thought you could eat… Ha.
Amateurs.
Commitment
Us Aussies are certainly not gonna let stupid things like education, increased awareness, public health warnings, government campaigns, weight-loss initiatives and alarming statistics stand between us and our beloved calories. Nope, we are nothing if not committed to our obsession with food and our devotion to culinary pleasure.
Burger anyone?
Throw into the obesity equation an ever-increasing array of low-fat, low-salt, low-GI and low-calorie foods, a mountain of weight-loss pills, powders, potions and products, a plethora of gyms, studios, health retreats, clinics and fat farms… and our ability to still gain weight becomes even more of an achievement. If ever there was a generation determined to kill itself, it’s us.
Excuse my overt sarcasm today but COME ON!!!… what actually needs to happen for people (individually and collectively) to stop doing this to themselves and to stop making stupid, destructive choices day after day, month after month, year after year?
And then miraculously find a way to blame something or someone else for what they have done to their own body?
Barking up the Wrong Tree
Despite what some experts teach, obesity is not a physical issue at it’s core; it’s an emotional issue and psychological issue and the increasing number of fat Aussies is the physical consequence of that reality. In many ways, fat is merely a symptom of what happens between our ears.
My experience tells me that for many people, obesity is merely the physical result of underlying psychological and emotional issues and until we acknowledge and treat the internal stuff accordingly, our exteriors will continue to grow.
Get your head in the right place and your body will follow. Remember… your body is not who you are, it’s just where you live. Your mind determines what happens to your body.
Choices
Over-eating doesn’t cause obesity; it’s merely one of the mechanisms. What causes obesity (for the majority) are poor choices over an extended period of time. Choosing the fast food. Choosing to over-eat. Choosing the sedentary lifestyle. Choosing not to exercise. Choosing to find an excuse rather than a solution. What causes obesity is us.
It’s not some random accident, we create it.
How dare I tell the truth and hurt people’s feelings. If only we’d stop getting offended and start getting enlightened, responsible and proactive then maybe we’d see some real physical change. For twenty five years I’ve been helping people change their bodies and what works best is reality, honesty, accountability and practical strategies. The sooner we admit that we are the cause of our obesity, the sooner we move towards a genuine solution. A forever solution, not some temporary behavioural change.
Getting out of My Own Way
When I was fat (yes, I was fat) it wasn’t because of my situation, circumstance, environment or my lack of time, resources or knowledge. It was because of the choices I made. What I chose to do to my body. It wasn’t about my genetics, it was about what I chose to do with my genetics. It wasn’t about my ability or potential for change, it was about my attitude and my subsequent behaviours.
I knew what to do but I simply didn’t do it.
It wasn’t an educational issue.
It was a me issue.
Sound familiar?
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{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
Another stellar post Craig. I am fat, and finally can admit this to myself after much denial. I signed up for the gym last Sunday and am committed to going. I am working on the food issue, and making better choices. I am sick and tired of being the fat “version” of myself. I want to be Sus again!
I’d love another skateboard dude type of post, that’s one of my faves. Keep on rockin’!
Sus
Hi Craig, no I didn’t manage to quit smoking and I am still reading you. Sorry (mostly to myself)I dropped out like that. You are right about the overweight thing. Whilst I am a loser at stopping smoking so far, I have lost 18 kgs since August 07 and you are right about what you say here. I have 3 more to go. I didn’t even realise I was overweight to be honest until I went to the doctors and she told me. 20 kgs! I began regular(instead of random) exercising immediately and I feel great. After I’ve lost this last 2, I’ll get back to the smoking quest. First things first though, I have to finish this original goal. I feel so great about my progress so far. It’s been a total lifestyle change and I have taken lots of hints from you especially the information about finding what works for you. That was really the key. I haven’t crash dieted, I’ve just worked with reductions in foods that I know don’t work for me. After 42 years on the planet, you really do know.
A great saying Craigie – Your body is not who you are, its just where you live. I will use it when i deliver my 2nd motivational talk in Brissy tomorrow. I will direct them to your blog and tell them i learnt from one of the best!
thank you — Renovating suits you!!
jsp
Love your work, Craig.
)
Those stats are scary. Fattest nation, geez. I’m gob-smacked by the excuses people can come up with for WHY they can’t lose weight.
I get asked all the time about my own fat loss, the usual “how did you do it?” stuff. And the hopeful expectation on the asker’s face fades really quickly when they hear that I just started eating properly and exercising regularly.
Yeah, sorry, no magic pill. Too bad, so sad.
“we still seem to be looking for answers in the wrong places and we certainly ain’t gettin’ no thinner! And a big hello to the grammar police.”
That’s OK Craig… at least you put the apostrophes in the right places !
{HUGS} Tina
You, fat bastards, go and push some weights!!!
Okey, maybe I am too strictly for you, maybe you become angry, but know what? This should be that way. I love you, Craig.
P.s. By the way, I am straight, girls
Hell yes this sounds familiar!! In my recent weight loss success I have come to realise that the only thing that had to change was me and my stinking attitude. Once I admitted that, all my excuses went out the window… Of course I’ve also had the help and support of the lovely Leanne and everyone else on the forum… a little help from your friends doesn’t hurt!
Hmm…there is a big societal taboo about telling people they are fat. I’m not sure if it helps to point it out or not.
I know for me certain people pointed it out but it didn’t really help me change my ways.
I think what worked for me is that I woke up one day and realised I needed to change to be happy.
Another SledgeHammer moment.
Proudly brought to you by Craig Harper….
Love you
Shelley
Thanks Sus..
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Good for you Joh – 18kgs is fantastic – and yes, you need to figure out what will work for you.
You’ll sort out the cig thing when you’re ready
( )
Thanks JSP – enjoy your gig in Brissy… ( )
You’re right Kek – bodies are very adaptable… heads take a little longer! Great work on your weight loss ( )
That’s a start isn’t it Tina? When are you joining the editorial team?
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That’s right Lauren – take your head there and your body will follow…
Well done
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Hi Andrew… I’m not suggesting we approach strangers and point out there obesity but I am suggesting that we address the overall issue openly, honestly and practically..
Well done on your results so far Andrew..
Thanks for the love Shelley. I’m loving the abundance of love this morning!
( )
Hey Saulius… thanks for your thoughts and for the love! I’m comfortable with a little man-love.
Manhug ( )
thanks Craig just what I needed after a 2 week holiday in Bali and way too many Bintangs and an extra 3kg to bring home!!!! Here I go again back into it!
Luv your work!
Wow, I’ve so been waiting for one of those posts to pounce on Craig!
I’ve been racing in triathlons for a few years now so have been a pretty fit lady for a while. However! My diet always let me down a bit as the lure of chocolate stopped me from being the healthy, slim person I want to be.
I really don’t know which of your ass kicking posts sunk in, but I am now the healthiest i have ever been. I am living the life of the healthy, slim person i want to be and now my body reflects that.
The funniest thing is, I have been asked in the past week by three different people, just like Kek, “what’s your secret?”
I tried to explain I’m just enjoying being healthy, living as the person I want to be and training just as I always have. I tried to explain it’s actually become easy and I still have lindt balls occasionally but I’ve dropped 3kgs the past 4 weeks because most of the time, I’m awesome to my body!
That’s not a very good secret though, is it? Eat well most of the time, exercise lots and live life the best you can. Heard that before.
So what’s my secret? Go visit Craig Harper’s site and get a kick in the ass.
Thanks for everything ()
Lisa K
Great article Craig. So relevant to what’s happening in my life right now. In Jan this year, I made the decison to lose weight and 6 months down the track, I’ve lost 11kgs and I feel FANTASIC! It wasn’t until I “saw the light” in regards to getting my emotional and psychological side of me in order, that I realised, the westra kilos I was carrying would (and did) easily fall off me! I hope others “get it” before they become a statistic in the obestity stakes.
Cheers
Sonia
G’day Craig,
You’re wrong, ya know? You could never repeat the above statements too many times.
I not only don’t get why people don’t get “it”, but I haven’t been able to work out why I never got it before this year.
Years of abusing my body didn’t seem to bother me at all and now just the thought of some of the foods I’ve eaten in the past make me feel physically sick. What was I thinking? because you are sooooo right, it was totally my choice to do that. What the …….?
Now, if you can work out how to bottle that “AHA” moment and sell it to the guys and gals that don’t get “it” yet you’d give Bill Gates a run for his fortune.
You’re a legend Craig,
Cheers,
Jo
it’s good that you have helped heaps of people Craig. I think that surely everyone must know all this stuff by now but it isn’t the case I guess.
It isn’t hard but it does involve taking responsibility and maybe we are all too ready to blame someone or something else.
I am not overweight, there have been a few extra kilos here and there and then it’s just a case of being sensible. I don’t see what is so hard about it. As someone else said it’s all about the choices.
I don’t want to be fat so I don’t eat bad food. I don’t deny myself either, it’s just about balance. I’m healthy and I don’t like the look of FAT not to be confused with liking people who are fat. Hope that came out right!!!!
Just do it. I really like that saying. It really says it all, for everything, for me.
The following line from Ice-T has always resonated – “My lethal weapon’s my mind.” You are absolutely spot in with saying that one’s weight and fitness (or lack thereof) is due to the choices that one has made. I have only been really fit once in my life – one decade ago – and that was due to choosing to exercise and totally cutting the crap food and drink out of my eating and drinking habits.
The first month was absolutely frustrating but four months later I felt like a teenager – full of energy and enthusiasm. My mistake was to stop.
Now with 40 years of age (and being a father and not single like a decade ago) staring me down, there has been a decade of excuses and bu..s..it rationalisations and poor choices.
I took ownership of the poor choices that I have made and started making better choices – i.e. choosing to stop drinking soft drink (2 can a day habit) (455 days free of Coca Cola) – and making myself accountable for these new choices.
Calls for the government to institute a “fat” tax and ban junk food advertising takes away the idea of personal responsibility.
Keep repeating the message because using the grey stuff between one’s ears, cutting the crap food and drink, getting off one’s lard butt to exercise and acknowledging that years of neglect will take plenty of hard work and sweat to erase is the ONLY solution.
On a final note a psychology book on habit change that I read had the following key information – habit change may take several attempts to be successful – the key is to not let a lapse became a relapse.
Cheers
P.S Being a bloke I hope this goes some way to balance out the gender balance of comments.
You’re welcome Trace…
Glad I could be of service Lisa K!
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Great work Sonia – congrats ( )
Glad you figured it out Jo ( )
Thanks for your thoughts justme…
Great work Ben – good to hear from another Bloke… thanks for your insight..
Hi Craig,
The inner me issue is so relevant. I have battled for the past couple of years to loose the middle age spread. I do not eat badly but am aware that I do look for the “mood food” specially in times of trauma or crisis. I have recently completed a personal development course at work which included 5 coaching sessions with a phsycologist. As someone who believes in educating and digging a little deeper for the answer, I was totally amazed at the link we made this week with food and my upbringing. I now truly feel empowered to get this right and am convinced that I will no longer revert back to that default setting which is set at some stage in our upbringing. As I go through the pain (yes it is painful)of connecting the inner me with the outer me I look forward to taking my waist down from 85 to at least 75 as my next short term goal. To everyone else out there do no be afraid to confront the pain of the past to achieve the joy of the future. Have an awesome weekend !!
luv & blessings Cheryl ()
Craig,
….another fabulous post!! All true and I love your approach…now if you substituted the word ‘alcohol’ for ‘food’ and ‘binge drinking’ for ‘fat’ I reckon your blog could be used to reach a whole lot of youngsters (and they seem to be the ones who are doing the most binge drinking and writing themselves off) who have every excuse for their alcohol problem, except the real reason…..I’ve got a few in mind who need to be told, and gently doesn’t do it for them!!
Love your work…..
TangerineDream
Have you heard anything of a product called ‘Isagenix’ sweeping through the Fitness Industry in Melbourne. I’m a fit dude and certainly don’t need to lose any weight. After spending in the neighbourhood of 15k on supplements/powders/potions/pills etcetc over the past decade, I am always interested in any product that can offer a heightened sense of vitality and well-being.
This topic holds a lot of interest for me as I’ve gone through the weight-loss journey personally, and I now work in a well-known women’s fitness centre.
Every day I hear excuse after excuse as to why people can’t find time to exercise/eat better and the list continues. Never once does someone say “I chose to eat rubbish this week” or “I’m too lazy to exercise”.
While I agree we need to help with things like making fresh ingredients more affordable, ultimately NO ONE is forcing people to be lazy, to eat unhealthily and, until people learn to stand up to take responsibility we will continue to be the fattest nation. As Craig says so much of this is physcological – making healthy food cheaper isn’t going to change that!
PS love your work Craig!
Hi Craig
I love your comment about “either changing or being comfortable” My husband and I are both working very hard on changing our lives (through weight loss – see… not the “D” word) and I have found these words are making a lot of sense to me.
I’ll definately be looking out for one of your seminars in the near future.