{"id":226,"date":"2020-10-28T15:23:19","date_gmt":"2020-10-28T15:23:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/penmore.com\/insurance\/is-losing-weight-actually-the-wrong-goal\/"},"modified":"2022-09-15T14:16:01","modified_gmt":"2022-09-15T14:16:01","slug":"is-losing-weight-actually-the-wrong-goal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/penmore.com\/insurance\/is-losing-weight-actually-the-wrong-goal\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Losing Weight Actually the Wrong Goal?"},"content":{"rendered":"

We<\/span><\/span>\u00a0need to overcome the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>negativ<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span>\u00a0stereotypes<\/span><\/span>\u00a0to focus on the real goal of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>healthy lifestyle<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

By Bill Zolis<\/p>\n

You eat too much, you\u00a0<\/span>don\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0exercise enough, you get fat, right? Sure, end of story<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>But if\u00a0<\/span>there\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0one thing that our common sense will tell us, based on what we see around us and our own experience, it is that it can\u2019t possibly be as simple as that.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All the negative stereotypes around excess weight and obesity\u00a0<\/span>\u2013 you know what\u00a0<\/span>I\u2019m<\/span>\u00a0talking about —\u00a0<\/span>are causing a lot of people a lot of anxiety<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0guilt and\u00a0<\/span>uncertainty. But\u00a0<\/span>let\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0think\u00a0<\/span>this<\/span>\u00a0through and try to apply some common sense. We\u2019re not doctors, but \u2013 wait, hold on a second here, a 2007 Physicians Health\u00a0<\/span>Study<\/span><\/a>, published through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the U.S., found that 40% of doctors were overweight and that 23% were obese.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Just\u00a0<\/span>sayin<\/span>\u2019.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What that means to me \u2013 just common sense, if you\u2019re still with me on that \u2013 is that if\u00a0<\/span>being overweight was\u00a0<\/span>just caused by lack of motivation or self control<\/span>\u00a0or whatever<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>then the very intelligent, highly educated, hard-working<\/span>, strongly motivated<\/span>\u00a0and well-informed members of the medical community would not still be struggling with the same issues at\u00a0<\/span>such a rate.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you go\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0reputable sources of information<\/span>\u00a0from people who are not\u00a0<\/span>pressuring you to buy<\/span>\u00a0something, such as the\u00a0<\/span>Mayo Clinic<\/span><\/a>, you\u2019ll find\u00a0<\/span>th<\/span>at\u00a0<\/span>everything we know about weight management can be summed up in two words: healthy lifestyle.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So I\u2019m thinking that our workplace wellness programs would be more successful \u2013 and our people would be more motivated \u2013 if we could just forget the negative stereotypes about people who are overweight and,\u00a0<\/span>m<\/span>ore important,\u00a0<\/span>if our programs\u00a0<\/span>were designed to tell people that it\u2019s okay to\u00a0<\/span>stop believing all those negative things about\u00a0<\/span>themselves<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Never mind\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0fad diets<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the miracle<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>weight-lo<\/span>ss\u00a0<\/span>programs and best-sell<\/span>ing books that\u00a0<\/span>prey on anxiety<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 and that pop\u00a0<\/span>up in ads anytime you search \u201cweight loss\u201d on the Internet.<\/span>\u00a0Never mind all the\u00a0<\/span>health warnings about the dangers of being overweight that we are peppered with every day \u2013 okay, they\u2019re right, we get it, but they\u2019re\u00a0<\/span>a) not helping and, b) just making us feel bad.\u00a0<\/span>Never mind the\u00a0<\/span>popular\u00a0<\/span>view that being overweight is your fault \u2013 maybe it is, maybe it\u00a0<\/span>isn\u2019t<\/span>, but\u00a0<\/span>let\u2019s talk about what we can<\/span>\u00a0do about it<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0And the big one that\u00a0<\/span>just might get me in trouble with\u00a0<\/span>some of my readers: never mind weight loss.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0get me wrong. Weight loss<\/span>, for that 40 or 50 o<\/span>r<\/span>\u00a060 percent of us who could lose a few pounds, is a good thing and a desirable outcome<\/span>. What\u00a0<\/span>I\u2019m<\/span>\u00a0saying is that it m<\/span>a<\/span>y not be a<\/span>n appropriate<\/span>\u00a0goal to set<\/span>, and I\u2019ll tell you why.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Every reputable, non-fad, non-scam source of information I can find will tell you that \u201chealthy lifestyle<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0is what\u00a0<\/span>it\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0all about.<\/span>\u00a0(And, interestingly, I\u00a0<\/span>couldn\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0find any that said choosing a number \u2013 say 3<\/span>0<\/span>\u00a0pounds<\/span>\u00a0to lose \u2013 was a<\/span>\u00a0very<\/span>\u00a0good idea.)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0set \u201chealthy lifestyle\u201d as the goal\u00a0<\/span>and let weight loss, by itself, take\u00a0<\/span>care of itself<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0Or, to put it another way,\u00a0<\/span>let\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>work toward a healthy lifestyle with a goal of, yes, living a healthy lifestyle.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And\u00a0<\/span>let\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0not forget that losing weight<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>can be much,<\/span>\u00a0much harder for some people than it is for others. We can\u2019t judge ourselves or measure our success on the basis of\u00a0<\/span>any one<\/span>-size-fits-all benchmark of ideal weight.<\/span>\u00a0Some individuals may\u00a0<\/span>still\u00a0<\/span>need \u2013 and your\u00a0<\/span>benefits plan may need to accommodate \u2013 more specific\u00a0<\/span>supports such as nutrition counseling,\u00a0<\/span>cognitive behavioural support and even\u00a0<\/span>certain<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>medicines\u00a0<\/span>if prescribed by a physician.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Like I said in a previous blog (<\/span>Three Things I Learned From Doc Martin<\/span><\/a>) \u201cthe goal here is to gradually reset your\u00a0<\/span>appetite, your eating habits and your metabolism, and get comfortable with some fairly moderate lifestyle changes that allow you to maintain a reasonable weig<\/span>h<\/span>t without worry<\/span>ing about it all the time.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Setting a goal of losing a certain amount of weight may not be a bad thing, but the problem is\u00a0<\/span>that, when we get there, we find\u00a0<\/span>ourselves asking \u201cWhere do we go from here?\u201d and having to fight every day just to stay in the same place.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But if<\/span>\u00a0we\u00a0<\/span>decide to live a healthier\u00a0<\/span>lifestyle as our goal,<\/span>\u00a0today<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0rather than as a means toward a goal of losing a certain amount of weight<\/span>\u00a0at some point in the future,\u00a0<\/span>we will quickly start to notice some important\u00a0<\/span>changes in our lives:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

–\u00a0<\/span>we\u00a0<\/span>will\u00a0<\/span>by definition\u00a0<\/span>be<\/span>\u00a0focused on the long term<\/span>\u00a0right from the start,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

–\u00a0<\/span>we will find that our goals<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>are\u00a0<\/span>achievable\u00a0<\/span>every day<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

–\u00a0<\/span>we will have goal<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0and a program that\u00a0<\/span>are<\/span>\u00a0sustainable in the long run<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

–\u00a0<\/span>we<\/span>\u00a0will be able to measure success in terms of\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>positive changes<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>we<\/span>\u00a0make<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

–\u00a0<\/span>we<\/span>\u00a0will feel better and worry about our weight less,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

– we will start to be healthier, and,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

– yes,\u00a0<\/span>we<\/span>\u00a0will\u00a0<\/span>stop gaining weight and then start to lose some of it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This\u00a0<\/span>has to<\/span>\u00a0be a personal journey<\/span>. It\u00a0<\/span>doesn\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0matter what anyone else thinks<\/span>, or the stereotypes, or how easy it all seems on\u00a0<\/span>TV commercials\u00a0<\/span>to \u201close 20 pounds in\u00a0<\/span>y<\/span>our first month!\u201d or\u00a0<\/span>anything else.\u00a0<\/span>It\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0about you,<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0about\u00a0<\/span>your choice to live a\u00a0<\/span>healthy lifestyle.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Losing\u00a0<\/span>weight<\/span>\u00a0is a difficult journey toward an end<\/span>, and we\u00a0<\/span>don\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0know what to do when we get there. Living a healthy lifestyle is an\u00a0<\/span>end in itself<\/span>, and<\/span>\u00a0we find ourselves appreciating the journey more and more\u00a0<\/span>as we go along.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Oh, and\u00a0<\/span>we\u2019ll<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>almost certainly start to lose weight along the way.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0not about arriving somewhere, some day, it\u2019s about being in a good place every day.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

***<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Workplace inspections:\u00a0<\/span>Here\u2019s a link to a pdf\u00a0<\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>an\u00a0<\/span>employers<\/span>\u2019 guide<\/span><\/a>\u00a0to health and safety workplace inspections\u00a0<\/span>published by Peninsula Group<\/span>. I think\u00a0<\/span>that\u00a0<\/span>you will find\u00a0<\/span>it\u00a0<\/span>interesting and useful.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

***<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I really appreciate comments, ideas, suggestions or just observations about the blog or any other topics in benefits management. I always look forward to hearing from readers. If there\u2019s anything you want to share,<\/span>\u00a0please email me \u202f<\/span>bill@penmore.com<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Copyright Notice<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a9\u00a0<\/span>Penmore<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Callery<\/span>\u00a0Group 20<\/span>20<\/span>. All rights reserved.\u00a0<\/span>All of<\/span>\u00a0the content herein is the sole property of the\u00a0<\/span>Penmore<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Callery<\/span>\u00a0Group, and may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in a retrieval system – in whole or in part – without the written permission of the\u00a0<\/span>Penmore<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Callery<\/span>\u00a0Group. Links to the originating article at www.callerygroup.com are permitted.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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We\u00a0need to overcome the\u00a0negative\u00a0stereotypes\u00a0to focus on the real goal of\u00a0a\u00a0healthy lifestyle\u00a0 By Bill Zolis You eat too much, you\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0exercise enough, you get fat, right? Sure, end of story.\u00a0But if\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0one thing that our common sense will tell us, based on what we see around us and our own experience, it is that it can\u2019t possibly be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-226","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/penmore.com\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/penmore.com\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/penmore.com\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/penmore.com\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/penmore.com\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=226"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/penmore.com\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/penmore.com\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=226"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/penmore.com\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=226"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/penmore.com\/insurance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=226"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}