Childhood Obesity and Bullying

If you are a resident of Northeast PA,  you are aware of the recent passing of four students.

The tragedy is that each of these four young people took their own lives.  It was speculated that bullying may have been a causative factor in at lease one of these teens lives.  I reached out to the local media to discuss Childhood Obesity and and how it relates to bullying.  It is a topic that I have written and spoken about.  You see, I was bullied as a child.  At times, verbally and other times, mercilessly physically.  Many in the media have offered me the opportunity to be interviewed and share my insight.

I will list each as they occur and provide a link if one is available.

It is my hopes to reach as many young people as possible and share with them my experience and reassure them that there is life beyond being bullied. A life so worth living.

Joe

Here is a link to my appearance on the David Madeira show.

It starts at about 21 minutes in.. Joe http://thedavidmadeirashow.com/?powerpress_pinw=5958-podcast

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Physical Culturist and Chiropractor, Dr. Joe Leonardi is the author of the life changing book, “Obesity Undone” and a contributor to NaturallySavvy.com. He is available to appear on any talk radio, internet podcast or television outlet. His web site www.ObesityUndone.com is available to help you reach your goals.

He has appeared on 94.3FM’s The David Maderia Show, Bounce Back to Your Brilliance w/Angel Tyree, What’s Weighing You Downw/Dr. Marilyn Gansel on FTNS radio, Nurture and Nutrition on Blog Talk Radio, Low Carb Conversations with Jimmy Moore and Friends, BlogTalk Radio’s Toni Harris Speaks, Internet Radio: Cathie’s Talking, TV -35′s Storm Politics with Tiffany Cloud, WILK’s The Sue Henry Show, Magic 93′s Frankie In The Morning, WBRE’s PA Live, SSPTV’s News 13, Public Television WVIA’s State of Pennsylvania and Call the Doctor; Entercom’s Outlook on Northeast PA with Shadoe Steele, Citadel Broadcasting’s Sunday Magazine with Brian Hughes, Lisa Davis’ Your Health Radio; Hank Garner’s Podcast, Dr. Robert Su’s Carbohydrates Can Kill Podcast; and the one and only Jimmy Moore’s Livin’ La Vida Low Carb podcast.
Dr. Joe Leonardi also will come and speak to your group; to learn more about his motivational speaking fees and availability contact him at docjoeleonardi@betterlifeseminars.com and check out his website www.betterlifeseminars.com.
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************The information in the videos is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or disorder. The posting that I write do not apply to those with an underlying medical or hormonal condition. I advise anyone embarking on a weight loss and fitness plan to have a thorough medical evaluation. You want to be sure that you are physically able to exercise and you don’t have any underlying medical conditions.************

Always Be Inspired

I wrote the below column almost four years ago.  I still receive comments about it, so I thought I would re-post it here, as a way to kick off the beginning of my 49th year on planet Earth — I absolutely  love getting older.  There are aspects of my life that could be better, and some that could be much worse.  Most importantly, I have a great family, relationship,  I am in good physical health and I am very fit,  but I do have 2 minor complaints; reading glasses and nose hair. So, in the grand scheme things are going well. However, if you are ever feeling down and out about reaching your fitness goals, please read the following.  Joe

Inspiration

By: Joe Leonardi

As I am writing this the Thanksgiving holiday has just passed, it is time to get back on the workout wagon. A day of gorging and feasting is followed by a return to the track to run and the gym to lift weights.

The heating rays of our star Sol barely warm the northeast from November to March, but today’s cloud cover made for a particularly dank, dreary, desolate day. So gray were the skies that my usually high motivation to exercise was replaced by the blahs.

I completed my laps around the stadium oval and drove off to the second half of my daily, personal biathlon. I parked my car, hefted my bulk from the driver’s seat, opened the trunk and grabbed my gear. I slowly passed through the gym entrance closing the door to the dismal day behind me. I peered down the hallway and fought the urge to turn on my heel and exit. Eventually, I plodded my way down what felt like an unending corridor. A stop at my locker to put my clothes away lasted longer than usual. I finally progressed to the weight room trying to come up with any excuse not to.

I scanned around hoping that someone was using the leg press machine – no one was. I stared at the one hundred pound plates I would need to lug up and onto the machine and thought ‘maybe I’ll just use the forty-fives’. My mind and body were both in agreement, I was not in the mood, but I forced myself onward.

As I neared the equipment the sun caught my eye. It was not the center of our solar system, it was the rays emanating from a young girl pausing between sets of her routine. A broad smile dominated her face as she talked with her barking, bellicose personal trainer. She then turned her attention back to the cold, unyielding iron. A smile no longer was apparent, it was replaced by a look of ferocious intensity. It is a look I have seen before; in the eyes of the elite athletes I have trained with and treated over the years – it was the look of a champion.

Then I noticed something that should have been apparent, but I was so caught up in first her joy for what she was doing, then the intensity which she carried it out, I did not see that she was missing one arm and one leg. The inability to grip the bar with two hands did not deter this young person’s enthusiasm for her training. I smiled outwardly, but inwardly I was ashamed at my mental attempts to avoid exercise.

Inspiration is found in many forms, but on this day the ultimate inspiration was brought forth by another’s joy and passion; another’s delectation for an activity that I have had an on and off relationship with since my parents purchased my first barbell set from Sears when I was twelve years old. More inspirational though, was the way she was dealing with what was apparent adversity – seemingly she was ignoring it.

Cover of Rocky

In the last Rocky movie, when junior was complaining about trying to live in his father’s large shadow, Stallone’s iconic character uttered the following statement. “The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you!”

Sure it is a line from a movie, but the girl I watched today, she did not appear to cower. Now, I don’t know her story, I don’t know her name, I never saw her before today, I don’t know anything other than the following:

There are many excuses not to do, but there are few legitimate reasons. Life is not fair, it is not easy and no matter what our problems are, whether they appear trivial or extreme, they need to be handled and life needs to be more than just lived it needs to be experienced, it needs to be enjoyed and  it needs to be relished.

I was not the only one affected on this day. I chatted with another person who was equally inspired.

Finally, the word “can’t” should be abolished from my vocabulary. When I don’t feel like going to the gym or going to the track or facing a difficult situation I will forever remember what I saw today and will know what can be accomplished.

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Physical Culturist and Chiropractor, Dr. Joe Leonardi is the author of the life changing book, “Obesity Undone” and a contributor to NaturallySavvy.com. He is available to appear on any talk radio, internet podcast or television outlet. His web site www.ObesityUndone.com is available to help you reach your goals.

He has appeared on 94.3FM’s The David Maderia Show, Bounce Back to Your Brilliance w/Angel Tyree, What’s Weighing You Downw/Dr. Marilyn Gansel on FTNS radio, Nurture and Nutrition on Blog Talk Radio, Low Carb Conversations with Jimmy Moore and Friends, BlogTalk Radio’s Toni Harris Speaks, Internet Radio: Cathie’s Talking, TV -35′s Storm Politics with Tiffany Cloud, WILK’s The Sue Henry Show, Magic 93′s Frankie In The Morning, WBRE’s PA Live, SSPTV’s News 13, Public Television WVIA’s State of Pennsylvania and Call the Doctor; Entercom’s Outlook on Northeast PA with Shadoe Steele, Citadel Broadcasting’s Sunday Magazine with Brian Hughes, Lisa Davis’ Your Health Radio; Hank Garner’s Podcast, Dr. Robert Su’s Carbohydrates Can Kill Podcast; and the one and only Jimmy Moore’s Livin’ La Vida Low Carb podcast.
Dr. Joe Leonardi also will come and speak to your group; to learn more about his motivational speaking fees and availability contact him at docjoeleonardi@betterlifeseminars.com and check out his website www.betterlifeseminars.com.
———————————————————————————————————————
************The information in the videos is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or disorder. The posting that I write do not apply to those with an underlying medical or hormonal condition. I advise anyone embarking on a weight loss and fitness plan to have a thorough medical evaluation. You want to be sure that you are physically able to exercise and you don’t have any underlying medical conditions.************

cles

• I Was Martin Kessman (fatthenfitnow.wordpress.com)
• Dr. Melina Jampolis’s Implied Advice: Purchasing Natural, Whole Foods Are Expensive – Buy Dr. Melina Bars Instead (fatthenfitnow.wordpress.com)
• Don’t Allow Obesity To Turn You Into A Victim (fatthenfitnow.wordpress.com)

Victory Over Obesity

You can’t go a single day without hearing or reading something about the Obesity Epidemic. Even the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, is involved. Make no mistake about it, there is an obesity epidemic.  Unfortunately, either no one is listening, or the information they are listening to is incorrect — either way the obesity epidemic is getting worse.

Awareness is great, but alone, it is not the solution. We have been aware of the fattening of the United States for more than a century.  Bernarr McFadden was sounding the warning cry as far back as 1902. In his his magazine Physical Culture, he declared that weakness was a crime and implored his readers not to be criminals.  Most people did not hear, let alone pay attention. Yet, some people did hear his warning.  One of those was an Italian immigrant who resided in New York, Angelo Siciliano, who became famous as Charles Atlas.    Another who had heard McFadden’s message was a young, sugar addicted, sickly, west coast resident.  He not only heard the message, he listened and changed his life.  That young boy became a chiropractor and without a doubt the leading fitness enthusiasts to walk the planet earth. The young boy was Jack LaLanne. Many listened to Dr. Jack LaLanne, unfortunately, many did not.

For more than one hundred years people have been sounding the alarm; shouting  from coast to coast that obesity is coming, obesity is coming and unlike the colonist  of revolutionary America, citizens of the United States chose not to listen.  The result is a population with people unable to bend over and tie their own shoes; a population of diabetics who will make owners of dialysis centers wealthy beyond imagination; a population that has given rise to big and tall and plus size stores; a population whose young now require insulin to live and perhaps worst of all — a generation that may not live as long as their parents.

Who is to blame?  The list is long and distinguished.

-the government with ridiculous carbohydrate laden food guidelines.

-Ancel Keys, M.D., whose fat headed ideas regarding dietary fat has led to fatter and fatter people.

 

-George McGovern, whose personal bias and nanny state political ideals led to the dietary fat is bad mantra from the federal government.

-agribusinesses which have placed a glut of nutrient deficient foods on the tables of the world.

-scientists who invented high fructose corn syrup.

I could take up an entire posting with those who are to blame, however, the most important person on the list is the only one that matters.

THE INDIVIDUAL!

That’s correct, the person that stares back at us in the mirror.  If you are one of the overweight, obese and unfit without an underlying medical condition, then you are the one who is responsible and you are the one who can take control and do something about it.  I know, I was one of you.  I lumbered about carrying a ponderous, pachydermian three hundred and fifty pounds upon my frame.  I took control of myself and in turn my fitness level and you can do it too.

However, there are still many who sabotage our efforts.  They could be those we are close to personally, or they could be those who we never meet in person, but they are there.  People as famous as Rush Limbaugh and President Obama to Wilkes-Barre Scranton personalities like Steve Corbett, Webster and Nancy and L.A. Tarone. The enemies of the state of health and fitness are out there at every level and I will endeavor to call them out.  It is important to recognize the enemies in this battle, not to assign blame, but to recognize who they are and defeat them so that we can in turn win the battle over obesity!

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Physical Culturist and Chiropractor, Dr. Joe Leonardi is the author of the life changing book, “Obesity Undone” and a contributor to NaturallySavvy.com. He is available to appear on any talk radio, internet podcast or television outlet. His web site www.ObesityUndone.com is available to help you reach your goals.

He has appeared on 94.3FM’s The David Maderia Show, Bounce Back to Your Brilliance w/Angel Tyree, What’s Weighing You Downw/Dr. Marilyn Gansel on FTNS radio, Nurture and Nutrition on Blog Talk Radio, Low Carb Conversations with Jimmy Moore and Friends, BlogTalk Radio’s Toni Harris Speaks, Internet Radio: Cathie’s Talking, TV -35′s Storm Politics with Tiffany Cloud, WILK’s The Sue Henry Show, Magic 93′s Frankie In The Morning, WBRE’s PA Live, SSPTV’s News 13, Public Television WVIA’s State of Pennsylvania and Call the Doctor; Entercom’s Outlook on Northeast PA with Shadoe Steele, Citadel Broadcasting’s Sunday Magazine with Brian Hughes, Lisa Davis’ Your Health Radio; Hank Garner’s Podcast, Dr. Robert Su’s Carbohydrates Can Kill Podcast; and the one and only Jimmy Moore’s Livin’ La Vida Low Carb podcast.
Dr. Joe Leonardi also will come and speak to your group; to learn more about his motivational speaking fees and availability contact him at docjoeleonardi@betterlifeseminars.com and check out his website www.betterlifeseminars.com.
———————————————————————————————————————
************The information in the videos is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or disorder. The posting that I write do not apply to those with an underlying medical or hormonal condition. I advise anyone embarking on a weight loss and fitness plan to have a thorough medical evaluation. You want to be sure that you are physically able to exercise and you don’t have any underlying medical conditions.************

Victims, Victimizers, Victimization and Victimhood

In my writing and speaking I focus on the positive aspects of life,  not only to be motivational, but to inspire those that are battling obesity to take charge of their own lack of self-control and in turn take command of their lives.

Often times I have been accused of being unfair, unfeeling or uncaring.  Of the three, the most often accusation leveled at me is that I am unfair.

I am criticized for not understanding the plight of those who are obese.  I am attacked for not supporting groups like the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance or worse for not be welcoming of their mission statement which reads; NAAFA is a non-profit human rights organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for fat people. 

Look at some of my before pictures.  I was an unhealthy, unfit and an undesirable three hundred and forty pounds.  What my detractors don’t understand, or perhaps just don’t like, is the fact that I shed my victim status and took responsibility for my deplorable physical condition.

As far as improving quality of life — the best way to improve quality of life is to shed body fat and embrace a fit lifestyle. I do not require, nor do I desire, an organization to justify my lack of inner strength nor to propose legislation to force others to make accommodations for my lack of discipline.

There are others outside the world of weight loss and fitness who just as wholeheartedly promote people to embrace victim status.   WILK’s afternoon entertainer Steve Corbett jumps to mind as the leading local voice attempting to convince listeners that other people are responsible for both their lot in life and their salvation.

In any setting the victimizers are all the same.   They promote themselves as being the defenders of certain individuals, when in fact, they exploit those individuals to further their agenda.

The victimizers not only want, but need us to accept the role as victim.  Their own self worth, advancement of their ideals and excuses for their own weakness requires that their target audience scapegoat others for their predicaments.  The victimizers entire sense of self is dependent upon the victimization of the masses. Without people accepting victim status, they have no audience — and in turn, possess no tangible self worth.

In the battle over obesity, how can you no longer be a victim? In the absence of an underlying medical condition, accept the fact that you and your choices are responsible for your current condition.  Once you accept that it is your choices and your responses to situations that led you to where you are — resolve to no longer be a victim of those particular choices.

Photo by Noah Hamilton (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I have written about two amazing young people; Stephanie Jallen and Bethany Hamilton.  Both of these young people could very well have been the victims of circumstance.  Yet, these women made a choice that they would NOT be victims.  They would not simply overcome their situations, but they would succeed because of what others would perceive as limitations.  They did not blame others for what happened to them. They accepted what fate had delivered into their lives and have gone on to great achievements.

What is most fascinating about these two incredible individuals is that they made their decisions not to be victims at young ages.  Stephanie was nine years old when she embarked on her dream of being a champion paralympic skier and Bethany was thirteen when she decided to not allow the loss of an arm to derail her dreams to be a champion surfer.  Read that again; one person was nine the other thirteen years old.  They chose how they would respond to adversity before they were even old enough to drive a car.

Can we as adults learn from the examples of those so young?

Is there a situation so bleak that it requires unhealthy eating?

Are we able to overcome simple laziness to reach our fitness goals?

The answers are yes, no and yes. We are capable of learning, we are intelligent enough to realize that food will not solve the problems and we can be resolute to overcome laziness.

However, those who promote victimization would tell you just the opposite.

They do not want you to believe in yourself.

They do not want you to accept individual responsibility and perhaps most importantly, they do not want you to believe that you as an individual can conquer your own inner demons.

There are no more malevolent persons than those that want you to be convinced that your fate, your position or your condition is the fault of someone other than yourself.  The evil resides in their desire for you to stay overweight, out of shape and down and out simply to justify their existence.

Say no to being victimized.

Say no to the vicitmizers.

Say no to being a victim.

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Physical Culturist and Chiropractor, Dr. Joe Leonardi is the author of the life changing book, “Obesity Undone” and a contributor to NaturallySavvy.com. He is available to appear on any talk radio, internet podcast or television outlet. His web site www.ObesityUndone.com is available to help you reach your goals.

He has appeared on 94.3FM’s The David Maderia Show, Bounce Back to Your Brilliance w/Angel Tyree, What’s Weighing You Downw/Dr. Marilyn Gansel on FTNS radio, Nurture and Nutrition on Blog Talk Radio, Low Carb Conversations with Jimmy Moore and Friends, BlogTalk Radio’s Toni Harris Speaks, Internet Radio: Cathie’s Talking, TV -35′s Storm Politics with Tiffany Cloud, WILK’s The Sue Henry Show, Magic 93′s Frankie In The Morning, WBRE’s PA Live, SSPTV’s News 13, Public Television WVIA’s State of Pennsylvania and Call the Doctor; Entercom’s Outlook on Northeast PA with Shadoe Steele, Citadel Broadcasting’s Sunday Magazine with Brian Hughes, Lisa Davis’ Your Health Radio; Hank Garner’s Podcast, Dr. Robert Su’s Carbohydrates Can Kill Podcast; and the one and only Jimmy Moore’s Livin’ La Vida Low Carb podcast.
Dr. Joe Leonardi also will come and speak to your group; to learn more about his motivational speaking fees and availability contact him at docjoeleonardi@betterlifeseminars.com and check out his website www.betterlifeseminars.com.
———————————————————————————————————————
************The information in the videos is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or disorder. The posting that I write do not apply to those with an underlying medical or hormonal condition. I advise anyone embarking on a weight loss and fitness plan to have a thorough medical evaluation. You want to be sure that you are physically able to exercise and you don’t have any underlying medical conditions.************