A life beyond weight loss is the subtitle of my book Fat Then Fit Now. My approach goes beyond simply losing weight. Anyone can lose weight if they do one of several radical options that are available. The most radical, in my opinion, being surgery. I can’t imagine undertaking the risks of anesthesia, infection, surgical error, after care error, possible malabsorption syndrome and a myriad of other risks including a death rate of either; 1 in 500, 1 in 200 or 1 in 50 depending on the source.
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I completely understand the desperation that comes with obesity. I tipped the scales at a God awful three hundred and forty pounds. I couldn’t bend over to tie my shoes, climb a flight of stairs or fit into a movie theater seat. I suffered from elevated blood pressure, respiration and pulse rate readings. I was visiting the emergency room with chest pains every few months.
A vicious cycle was in place. I was fat because I ate too much and to comfort my lonely, pathetic, inactive life I ate and ate and ate. Hell, I snacked from the moment I got out of bed in the morning until the moment I returned to bed in the evening. I only paused from snacking to partake in breakfast, lunch and dinner.
I was completely out of control.
What was worse was that at three hundred and forty pounds — I was still gaining weight. Who knows where my continued increase in fat stores would have led me had I not decided to take control of my life.
I have said it before, I will say it again and again. Unless you have an underlying medical or hormonal condition, obesity is controllable.
It is up to us to take control. We must decide to go from fat to fit and then, go out and do it.
Even in the raging political debate over healthcare reform, the politicians have staked out the position that it is all about care. None of them debate our country’s failing personal health. To them it is much easier to stir the populace, exploit fear and divide the people only on how to pay for care. Not a single, solitary one of them has the guts to discuss one of the primary means to reduce health care costs; self-control. It is projected that 43% of U.S. adults will become obese and they will cost the U.S. health care system $344 Billion annually.
However, with all that said, I chose to not simply lose weight. As I stated in the first paragraph, anyone can lose weight. I set out to restore my health. That is what we need to focus on, that is what life beyond weight loss is all about.
In our quest, we must ignore the conventional wisdom that utilizes the food pyramid to dictate what we should eat. The food pyramid is flawed for its primary reliance on carbohydrate saturated foods. Basic physiology tells us that carbohydrates not immediately shunted to provide energy are converted to fat and stored in the adipose cells of the body. What is the result? Hastened obesity.
The time is now to make smart decisions and retrain yourself that food is not for pleasure, comfort or something to do while watching television. Food is plainly and simply fuel. Yet, the Fat Then Fit Now approach incorporates planned splurges, because as educated as we become — we can’t deny that food tastes good. So via a system of proper eating, exercise and energy you become the master of your appetite and tastes — they no longer master you.
The Fat Then Fit Now approach incorporates smart exercise, combining principles of endurance conditioning and progressive resistance training to turn your body into a fat burning machine. I don’t advocate hours of senseless aerobic activity to burn off the excess carbohydrates you have consumed in the hopes that you finally get to stored body fat. My approach forces the body to rely on body fat for fuel, resulting in excess lard disappearing from one’s frame.
Through the use of positive mental energy approaches to remain focused, you become aware that losing weight is not difficult and exercise is not an arduous complex chore.
Finally, you will start to do more than simply exist from day-to-day. You will start to live an active, healthful life because you now possess the proper physical conditioning to go out and participate in the activities you have so long watched other enjoy!
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Dr. Joe Leonardi is the author of the book; Fat Then Fit Now; A life beyond wight loss.
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