When I'm out putting in my daily power-walks, I usually see quite a few overweight people struggling to get into a walking or running routine. Of course I applaud there efforts for getting off the couch and doing something about that unwanted fat. But here is my dilemma - I want to encourage them to keep up the good work, but am not sure how they would react.
Being that I used to be fat myself and am still a far cry from skinny, I remember that in heavier times, I tended to ignore the state of my body. Yeah, I knew that I needed to lose weight, but since I really couldn't see me as others did (avoided mirrors) it was easy to convince myself that I wasn't really all that overweight. And to reinforce that fact, I tried to blend in to the background in hopes of going unnoticed.
Thus the concept of being acknowleged as being overweight is not something that most fat people welcome. So, if I encourage someone to keep on track with their exercise, someone who is clearly in the obese category, then I am for sure acknowledging their body size, so am I helping or hurting... I don't know?
Me personally, I want anyone and everyone who is seriously trying to lose wieght to know that I too went through that and am always willing to share my story as well as tips and tricks for staying on track. But on the flipside, hearing that from someone several body sizes smaller, may not be more depressing than inspiring.
So what do I do? Speak up or keep my mouth shut? For now, I lean towards the latter... just wonder if that is the wrong thing. If I could just help one person... that would be so awesome.
I still don't think losing weight is all that hard - its the lifestyle change that will kill you... initially!
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