The Comeback: Episode 132 “A Minor Obstacle”

https://www.createspace.com/3903024

http://www.obesityundone.com/

Physical Culturist and Chiropractor, Dr. Joe Leonardi is the author of the life changing book, “Obesity Undone” and a contributor to NaturallySavvy.com and CarbSmart.com. He is available to appear on any talk radio, internet podcast or television outlet.

He has appeared on 94.3FM’s The David Maderia Show, What’s Weighing You Down, w/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 http://www.betterlifeseminars.com.
———————————————————————————————————————
************The information contained herein is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or disorder. The posting and videos 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 No guarantees are made or to be implied.************

 

The Comeback: Episode 127 “Proper Planning Leads To Success!”

 

https://www.createspace.com/3903024

http://www.obesityundone.com/

Physical Culturist and Chiropractor, Dr. Joe Leonardi is the author of the life changing book, “Obesity Undone” and a contributor to NaturallySavvy.com and CarbSmart.com. He is available to appear on any talk radio, internet podcast or television outlet.

He has appeared on 94.3FM’s The David Maderia Show, What’s Weighing You Down, w/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 http://www.ObesityUndone.com.
———————————————————————————————————————
************The information herein is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or disorder. The posting and videos 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 No guarantees are made or to be implied.************

 

The Comeback: Episode 126 “Can We Cure Obesity?”

 

Today I talk about falling back into the “What If Syndrome” and asking Would of? Could of? & Should of?

https://www.createspace.com/3903024

http://www.obesityundone.com/

Physical Culturist and Chiropractor, Dr. Joe Leonardi is the author of the life changing book, “Obesity Undone” and a contributor to NaturallySavvy.com and CarbSmart.com. He is available to appear on any talk radio, internet podcast or television outlet.

He has appeared on 94.3FM’s The David Maderia Show, What’s Weighing You Down, w/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 http://www.ObesityUndone.com.
———————————————————————————————————————
************The information herein is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or disorder. The posting and videos 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 No guarantees are made or to be implied.************

Guest Post: Fight Cancer With Physical Fitness– The Power is Yours by David Haas

The below posting is from David Haas, a cancer patient advocate for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance. He writes and does research for the betterment of cancer patients around the United States.

 

Fight Cancer With Physical Fitness– The Power is Yours

For many, physical fitness is part of leading a healthy and active lifestyle. If you have been diagnosed with cancer, if you are undergoing treatment for cancer, or if you are in remission from the disease, regular physical activity should be an important part of your ongoing fight for fitness.

So what are the benefits of physical fitness for a person with cancer?

Cancer can be depressing. Just knowing that you are living with a disease that could shorten your lifespan is a constant wear to mental health. Regular physical activity such as strength training, aerobic exercise, biking, or hiking is a great way to relieve depression and to ease your worries. Studies have shown that people who exercise regularly are less depressed than those who lead sedentary lives. Cancer patients who exercise are therefore giving themselves a mental health edge by taking care of their physical fitness.

Physical fitness helps to boost your overall immune system. When you have cancer, you need all the help you can get with battling the disease. Regular exercise gives you the extra energy your body needs to fight the disease of cancer. Being physically fit helps all the major organs in your body that aid and support you as you cope with cancer.

The National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health says that there is strong evidence that physical fitness may reduce the risk of developing colon, breast, lung, endometrial, and prostate cancers.

The NCI also has information about how exercise may positively impact on the rate of cancer survivorship. Some studies seem to suggest that those patients, who exercised regularly after cancer diagnosis lived longer, lead a better quality of life, and had a more positive outlook for their recovery.

Many who have cancer take drugs or therapies that can, in some ways, be as devastating as the disease itself. Another advantage of physical fitness is that exercise has no contraindications or negative side effects, unless you overdo the physical activity.

Regular physical exercise can help keep you balanced in body, mind, and spirit. If you have cancer, if you are undergoing mesothelioma treatment, or if your cancer is in remission, physical exercise should be an important and regular part of taking very good care of yourself.

 

I Am Glad I Did NOT Accept MY Obesity!

{When it comes to anything I write, I do not have cowardly policies as Dr. Melina Jampolis and others may have.  If you disagree or even dislike anything I write, feel free to comment here or on my facebook page.  All I ask is that you don’t use vulgarity, nor insult or attack anyone else.  If you would like to insult me, go ahead.  I can take it, unlike other so-called experts I am not thin skinned.  Joe Leonardi, D.C. }

In regards to a previous Enemies of the State of Good Health posting, I was sent a message from one of my readers asking me, in reagards to the Fat Acceptance Movement being included,  what is wrong with the acceptance of larger people?

That is a very valid question.

One that deserves a response.

There isn’t any problem.

I don’t like or dislike someone based upon their weight or appearance.  Overweight, large or obese people were not the subject, nor enemies of the state of good health.  The “enemy” was the organization and others like it.

My dislike for the Fat Acceptance Movement has nothing to do with individuals who are struggling with weight issues. My dislike for the movement,  stems from having been morbidly obese at one time and having thought that the world should accommodate my girth because of my lack of self-control and self-discipline.  The Fat Acceptance Movement promotes an almost civil rights tone, pushing for obese people to be treated like a minority.  I simply disagree.  As I have stated many times, in the absence of an underlying condition, being overweight or obese is a choice.  It may not be a conscious choice, but it is a choice.

me at 340 pounds on March 1, 2008

My former incarnation, Joe.340, thought as what I have read are the beliefs which the Fat Acceptance Movement  promotes.  I was appalled that booths in restaurants were not more spacious.  I genuinely believed that movie theater seats should be roomier.   Also, why couldn’t they have less seats on an airplane and make them all as big as first class? It was my personal belief that others should conform and adapt to me.

Well, that is the problem and that is my main issue.  The Fat Acceptance Movement wants the world to change for them and in turn promote an unhealthy life.  And despite some exceptions, most people who are obese are NOT healthy.

I never suggest to a person that they should lose weight.  I was recently emailed someone’s height and weight and asked whether or not I thought they should lose weight.  I responded to the person that I help those who want to lose weight and recapture their health.   I do not decide for someone if they need to lose weight, even if it the answer is obvious.  It is up to an individual to decide, not only if they need to lose weight, but more importantly, that they want to lose weight.

I live by the mantra that weight loss is a side effect of fitness.  The primary goal of what I do is to get people to embrace fitness, eating low carbohydrate foods found as close to their natural state as possible (a paleolithic model) and good health.  People who have read or heard about me seek me out to lose weight and I help them do that, yet I don’t make the weight loss the only motivation nor the only goal.  The numbers on the scale are a useful feedback tool to reach the most important goal; improvement of their overall health.

Most people who are overweight or obese are not in an optimal state of health and fitness. Yes, I am aware that there are exceptions to the rule, but I am not even sure about those exceptions. Additionally, I am by no means saying that if you are not overweight, you are fit.  There are plenty of folks who do not have a weight problem that are pure physical wrecks.  I am willing to help them as well.  However, I can only relate personal experiences and that is what I try to share.

Back to being overweight, yet fit. Years ago, before I had gotten up to three hundred and forty pounds, I may have fallen,  kind of — sort of,  into that category.  I was in the gym religiously, focusing mostly on strength training and doing very little endurance exercises.  I was stronger than I had been in my entire life.  I weighed about two hundred and eighty pounds, I was carrying around excess fat, but muscular development was obvious.  The joke at the gym where I trained was, I could lift the entire gym… I just couldn’t walk around it.

Was I fit because I was strong?

Was I healthy because my lab work was all good?

Was I fit because my vital signs fell within normal ranges?

You better believe that I was convinced I was fit.  In my delusional mind, I didn’t need to lose weight.  I could not have been more wrong.  That excuse-making, rationalizing mindset was a direct factor in the birth of Joe.340.

I am also not saying we should judge anyone based upon appearance.   What I AM saying is that I do not believe that we should accept our own self-imposed limitations.  We have the power to improve our health and we should not allow a group, no matter how well intentioned,  to dis-empower us.

340lbs 3/1/2008

When I was obese, I could not tie my own shoes.

When I was obese, I could not rise out of a chair without pushing off the arm rests.

When I was obese, I could not get up out of a low couch without rolling over on my stomach, placing my knees on the floor and pushing myself to a standing position.

Were any of the above examples really acceptable?  Unfortunately, for me, they were —- for far too long.

I have been accused of being harsh.

I have been accused of being unyielding.

I have been accused of being unsympathetic.

Well, let me tell you a few things:

200lbs 3/6/2009

I am harsh!  I wish someone was more harsh with me. I don’t want someone to have to be sitting in the emergency room with chest pains, as I was, to realize they need to do something now.

I am unyielding!  I have heard all the excuses, I have used most of them, giving in to the excuses will only make the situation worse.

I am NOT unsympathetic!  Trust me, I was there, I am very sympathetic.  However, I don’t express my sympathy by encouraging lackadaisical behaviors.  I show my sympathy by assisting those who seek my help to reach their goals.

It is my life’s mission, to help those who wish to take control of their poor eating and exercise habits. It is my desire that through fitness, everyone enjoy an improved quality of life.

And, if I am lucky, I will save a life or two along the way.

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Chiropractor, Dr. Joe Leonardi is the author of the life changing book, A Life Beyond Weight Loss. He is available to appear on any talk radio, internet podcasting or television outlet. He has appeared on 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; Jimmy Moore’s Livin’ La Vida Low Carb podcast; Hank Garner’s Podcast, Dr. Robert Su’s Carbohydrates Can Kill 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 web site www.betterlifeseminars.com.

———————————————————————————————————————

************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.*************

Related articles

• Obesity Victimization Does Not Defeat Obesity (fatthenfitnow.wordpress.com)
• Dr. Melina Jampolis’s Implied Advice: Purchasing Natural, Whole Foods Are Expensive – Buy Dr. Melina Bars Instead (fatthenfitnow.wordpress.com)
• I Was Martin Kessman (fatthenfitnow.wordpress.com)

I WAS Martin Kessman

{What I am about to write is based on the fact that there has been no report that Mr. Kessman has an underlying medical or genetic condition that IS the cause of his morbid obesity.  All what I write is intended to be about my experience and for those who do NOT have an underlying medical condition.}

I have read with interest, the very limited reporting on Martin Kessman and his lawsuit against Weight Castle, I mean White Castle. Not too long ago I weighed a ponderous, pachydermian 340 pounds. I was not overweight, nor heavy, nor big-boned, nor simply obese; I had morphed into the morbidly obese category.

I would belt my pants first because I couldn’t reach around to put it through the loops when I was wearing them.

I feared getting on an airplane, not because of flying, because I couldn’t fit into the seat.

I couldn’t walk a flight of stairs without stopping to deeply inhale much needed air.

I wore loafers or pre-tied my shoes, because I couldn’t bend over to tie them.

And YES, I could NOT fit into any BOOTH at a restaurant; fast food or other.

I have genuine issues with people who attempt to play the victim card for their own poor eating choices. I have genuine issues with people who expect the world to bow to their lack of self-control. And, I have genuine issues with people who attempt to exploit accommodations for those who have real disabilities, because of their lack of self-discipline. Much of what I write may be perceived as harsh, but when people don’t take responsibility for their own health and fitness, as I once did not, it get’s my Sicilian blood boiling.

The Americans with Disabilities Act, exists to make sure people, who through no fault of their own, who have a disability, have equal access to goods and services. What is astonishing, is that there are those who have true disabilities who do NOT allow their perceived disability to be an obstacle in their lives.

I wrote about a young women, Stephanie Jallen, who was born with congenital issues that left her with an underdeveloped arm and required one leg to be amputated. This young woman is pursuing her goal of competing in the 2014 Paralympics. When I interviewed her for a follow up column, I asked her how I should refer to her.  Should I say she is handicapped? A special needs person? — I wasn’t sure what term to use.

She told me I should refer to her as normal, she then added — HANDICAPPED IS A MENTAL STATE!  This young woman was only 13 years old when she made that statement, not an adult who is well aware that his or her limitations are their own cause.

Image by Kanaka Menehune via Flickr

Photo by Noah Hamilton (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The other inspirational individual I wrote about is Bethany Hamilton.  Her story was captured in the film Soul Surfer. For those who don’t know who she is; at the age of 13, while surfing, Bethany had her arm bitten off by a shark.  Let me repeat that,  her arm was bitten off by a shark. Instead of crying to the world to feel sorry for her, young Bethany embarked on a training regiment and made modifications, so she could continue her dream of pursuing a pro surfing career.  By the way, today she is a pro surfer.

Neither of the above inspirational individual’s situation was caused because they overstuffed themselves with food.  Neither situation was the result of self-inflicted limitations.  So, what does it say about our society that people of age and maturity complain about being victims of circumstance, circumstance that they themselves created? Amazing!  More amazing is that  people as young as thirteen don’t want society to make accommodations for them?  They don’t want to be viewed as disabled.  They are so driven and so focused that they go on to achieve and fulfill their dreams; while other simply cry victim and want the world to change for them.

If Mr. Kessman does not have an underlying medical condition; then perhaps instead of eating obesity inducing food at White Castle since 1959, he should have been following a low carb, paleo or primal diet and exercising.  In his lawsuit he claims “his inability to fit into the “booth-style seating” was “extremely embarrassing … to have to experience in front of a restaurant full of customers,” yet, he has no problem posing his protruding abdomen for a picture to be spread all over the world.

He claims to just want to sit down like a normal person.  First off, what is normal?  I don’t strive to be normal; I strive for excellence, but with that said, if he wants to sit in a booth like a normal person, then push the plate away and, after medical clearance via a  thorough physical, start doing more exercise than simply lifting food to his mouth.

I can relate to Mr Kessman, I was him.  Hell, I was once even more obese than he.  If he would like to enjoy his remaining years and have a better physical quality of life, I will be more than willing to take him on as a client and get him in shape.

Finally, of what I have read, one claim of his did bring a knowing smile to my face.  He claims the he is not humongous, he is just a big guy.

Funny, I used to tell myself that  as well.

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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 contained herein 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.************

 

Related articles

• Fat man demands civil rights (fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com)
• White Castle and the Fatman (atlmalcontent.wordpress.com)
• Obesity Victimization Does Not Defeat Obesity (fatthenfitnow.wordpress.com)
• Dr. Melina Jampolis Is Wrong On Paleo Eating! (fatthenfitnow.wordpress.com)

Enough Excuses

The top 1o excuses I have heard since I have been helping people battle obesity.

1 – I just can’t live without ice cream.

2 – I love pasta.

3 – I don’t have the time.

4 – I was going to, but then I got side tracked.

5 – I slept late.

6 – I am stressed out.

7 – I don’t have the will power.

8 – I eat out all the time.

9 – I can’t cook.

10- I WAS going to start on Monday.

Some excuses are from clients of http://www.FatThenFitNow.com,  some from friends, some from people who have seen my web site and some from those who knew me in my obese days and tell me they have to get in shape, but just ______ fill in the excuse.

There are many excuses not to re-take control of one’s health, but there are few legitimate reasons. Yes, there are actually legitimate reasons, but that is not the topic of this column.

As far as excuses go — I have heard them all, here is a little secret; I have used them all.

I am here to tell you that there is no reason to be obese. As I wrote in a previous column, obesity is not a complex issue. In the absence of a medical or hormonal condition, obesity is a choice.

I know, I know the burning of me in effigy is commencing. I can hear the epithets being directed at me now.

Doc, how dare you say I choose to be this way!

How dare you say I want to look and feel like this!

Who do you think you are, do think that if I could, I would control myself?

How can I have the temerity to state that obesity is a choice? What gives me the authority to make such a claim?

That’s easy — I once weighed 340 ponderous, pachydermian pounds and had to squeeze into a tight-fitting size 54 pants. I was so far out of shape that every day tasks required Herculean effort.  I am confident I know a thing or two about becoming obese.

Recently, I have dropped well over one hundred pounds and transformed by rotund shape into a fit physique.  I also know what it takes to drop the weight.

Jack Lalanne has said that exercise is the king and diet is the queen. How do you argue with a person who reached 95-years old person and remained full of vim and vigor?       You don’t!

Image via Wikipedia

I tell people to get their own new physique and recapture health and vitality  entails a complete commitment.

I even us a formula. It is:

100% Exercise + 100%  Eating +

100% Energy

It is not difficult to get in shape, eat the correct foods and stay focused; it requires the three D’s:

Desire

Determination

Discipline

Many excuses such as time or eating out can be overcome with proper planning. I teach an eight o’clock class five days a week. Because I am in my office until seven in the evening, I work out first thing in the morning, which means I am in the gym by five a.m.!

Do you think I like setting the alarm for four a.m.?

Do you think I am thrilled when it goes off?

However, that is when I have the time and that is when I get up.

Throw out the excuses! Say no to obesity! Choose health and fitness!

As far as excuse number 10, the hell with Monday — Get with it today!

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Chiropractor, Dr. Joe Leonardi is the author of the life changing book; Fat Then Fit Now;  A life beyond wight loss.

He is available to speak  to any school, association or group. He will make himself available to any talk radio, internet podcasting or television outlet. He has appeared on Public Television WVIA’s State of Pennsylvania and Call the Doctor; 94.3 FM’s Tough Talk With Joe Peters; Lisa Davis’ Your health radio; Jimmy Moore’s Livin’ La Vida Low Carb podcast; Hank Garner’s Podcast.

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Related Articles

• “Study: 78% of Americans Are Obese” and related posts(weeklyworldnews.com)
• U.S. Adult Obesity Rate Expected to Climb to 42 Percent(aolhealth.com)
• Obesity Rates Will Reach 42 Percent (nlm.nih.gov)

Please Do Not Become An Obesity Victim

The horrific tragedies in Japan started me thinking and reflecting.

In my Navy days I visited Japan on several occasions.  I have fond memories of both the country and the people.  Those I was honored to have met possessed a strong character and an incredible work ethic.  They demonstrated  a widespread respect for people and an apparent dislike for personal weakness.  Those I had become acquainted with were not excuse makers; they were doers.  Although currently,  they are genuine victims of horrific natural and now man-made disasters, with incredible resolve they are taking the steps necessary to deal with their very real adversity.

Observing their strength led me to think about the victim mentality so prevalent here in our own country. There are those that are merchants of victim-hood whose sole goal is to convince others that they are victims and that they need to:

-One; blame someone

-Two; rely on someone else to relieve their victim status

Locally, WILK Newsradio’s talk jock Steve Corbett is a classic example of victim-hood peddling.  Utilizing desperation, delusion and demagoguery he attempts to convince people that their lot in life is the result of one group and their salvation is in the hands of another group.

What would drive someone to knock the downtrodden further down?

When did we lose the inner power of the Rugged American Individual?

What does any of this have to do with weight loss or fitness?  Perhaps nothing, but more than likely — everything.

I started wondering about differences between true victims and people who are convinced to become victims.  Concerning obesity, this victim mentality comes from movements like the Fat Acceptance Movement or Fat Rights groups. These organizations want people to feel victimized because of their choices.  I emphasize, I am not referring to those whose obesity is caused by a genuine underlying medical condition. I am speaking with those who do not take the appropriate steps to control their weight and fitness levels, yet wish to take control.

I have heard more excuses than I can recall as to why one is obese and out of shape.  I used many of those same excuses myself. There must come a time when you look in the mirror an accept responsibility for your current physical condition.  Yes, there is some general, genuine blame to go around:

-Dr. Ancel  Keys

Image via Wikipedia

-Senator George McGovern

-The U.S.D.A. Food Pyramid

-And others I’m sure

However, blaming others only increases your victimization.  By placing blame, you also are looking for someone else to fix the problem.  Here is the cold, hard reality.  You are responsible for gorging on the foods you should not eat. You are responsible for not getting up and moving around.  You, and only you, are responsible to improve your condition.

I understand how hard, cruel and unfair life is.  Much of my life is collapsing around me.  Not to go into specifics, but things in a good part of my world are not good.  If not for the mental discipline that allowed me to take control of my physical condition and weight, I can only imagine how much worse matters would be.

It is the strength of my mind, combined with the healthiness of my body that will not allow my legs to collapse under the crushing weight of the world upon my shoulders.  We are capable of commanding only one factor in life — ourselves.  So, take charge and don’t allow anyone to manipulate you into a becoming a victim of obesity.

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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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Related Articles

• Jack Lalanne VS Ancel Keys (liberationwellnessblog.com)
• The Relationship Between Obesity and Genetics (brighthub.com)
• Excuses plus obesity equals more obesity (fatthenfitnow.wordpress.com)

What is difficult?

{To be clear what I am about to write does not apply to those with an underlying medical or hormonal condition. I advise anyone embarking on a weight lossand 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 an underlying medical condition.}

What is difficult?

by: Joe Leonardi

One of the primary tenants relating to the mental energy aspect of the Fat Then Fit Now plan is turning off negativity. How many times has one been told;

“It is  difficult to lose weight.”

“It is difficult to find time to exercise.”

“It is difficult to change my eating habits.”

My clients tell me the above often. They have been discouraged, either by themselves, or others convincing them of the difficulty of their task. I tell them, “losing weight and getting in shape are the easiest things I have ever done.” Most of them look at me as if I have grown an extra eye, or another head. However, I only reiterate my position.

You see, the body will follow the brain. If you tell yourself something is difficult, even if it isn’t, will become more demanding.

I tell them to put things in perspective.

Compare watching what you eat, to a person in a third world country who has no choice in what food, IF ANY, they eat.

Compare the effort it takes to exercise, to the plight  of the Chilean miners, who were stuck underground for more than two months.

Compare the lack of living a full, active life with the self-imposed limits that obesity places upon oneself.

Once the situation is put into perspective, your brain will start forming a new reality. Once you begin to realize that you don’t NEED ice cream to complete a meal, the cravings will subside and then disappear. Once you realize that exercise actually feels good and the results are even better, you won’t want to miss your exercise time.

Difficult is a relative term depending on what you want it to mean and where you chose to apply it. Yes, life has many difficulties.

In these very tough economic times, you may be unemployed, so day-to-day life is more difficult. Will being overweight and out-of-shape make it any easier? Or, will it make things more difficult?

One may be facing a personal crisis, a relationship ending, divorce, the passing of a loved one. Will true solace be found at the bottom of an ice cream container? Will comfort really be found laying on the couch, allowing deterioration of the body?

Image by ninahale via Flickr

A positive aspect of fitness is that it gives the body an opportunity to renew each and every day. As you exercise, freshly oxygenated blood is pushed through the muscles, bringing nutrients to the entire body. As different hormonal releases are stimulated, the mood will change for the positive. This new positive mood will translate into a greater ability to handle the stresses that may otherwise deteriorate your health.

When you have a challenging task at hand, you may not be able to change the task, but you can change how you view it. If you more than simply tell yourself that it is easy, if you convince yourself the difficulty does not exist, then, in the case of obesity, the obstacle will be conquered and unhealthy version of you will be vanquished.

Childhood Obesity; We Need To Act — NOW!

{To be clear what I am about to write does 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 an underlying medical condition.}

by: Joe Leonardi

It is called an epidemic.

It is labeled as a pandemic.

It is heralded as a threat to U.S. national security.

Childhood obesity has tripled in the last thirty years, that’s right tripled! Our kids are more than simply overweight, they are obese, some of them morbidly obese. You can do an internet search and read about many explanations as to the causes. In addition to the dozen or so causes that are listed, we are also told it is a complex issue. Scientists are out there looking for virus and contagions as causes of our obesity epidemic. Have we become that much of scapegoat society?

Well, I disagree on most counts.

In lieu of an underlying medical condition, the cause is a simple, one word answer: laziness! Not on the part of the children, NO, that onus is on the parents and the school system!

Complex? You have to be kidding me; right? It isn’t complex, it is improper eating and lack of exercise.

You see, these so-called experts have it all wrong. It isn’t about a child’s weight or appearance  — it is about a child’s fitness.

Voices from as far back as the 1920′s have been warning us that this impending malady.

Bernarr Macfadden claimed that “weakness is crime” and implored us not to be criminals.

Image via Wikipedia

Charles Atlas beaming as a picture of health boasted from print ads  “You too can have a body like mine.”

Jack LaLanne would proclaim on television; “I’m here for one reason; to show you how to feel better and live longer.” Jack is 96 years old, he still exercises and he is still out proselytizing to all who will and should listen.

The above three town criers of fitness tried to get people to focus on healthy living, exercise and their own views on what constituted healthy eating. They warned of the laziness that was hitting the United States. Even back in the 1920′s, Macfadden was aware that the move to industrialization was bringing on a sedentary life.

Unfortunately, their cautionary words fell, and continue to fall, mostly on deaf ears. Adults in the United States continued and continue to grow large and unfit. Now, even more unfortunately, our children are following this example and they to are becoming unhealthy.

Type II diabetes in children is on the rise. It is widely reported that 4% of Childhood diabetes was type II in 1990; that number has risen to approximately 20% today and 85% of those are obese! Am I the only one who sees the obvious?

We have young adults diagnosed with degenerative disorders that are secondary to obesity. I have seen patients in their 20′s with degenerative arthritis I see in people much, much older!

Obesity related diseases and disorders are easily preventable. It is simple; we mustn’t allow ourselves, or our children, to become obese.

The dreadful, government sponsored food pyramid needs to be thrown out the window. Education about the damaging effect of over indulgence in sugar, high fructose corn syrup and processed carbohydrates needs to be part of our educational process. Junk food vending and soda machines should be immediately removed from any institution of education.

Exercise has to be encouraged. We need to stop cutting back on recess and physical education classes. Specifically, physical education, must be an every day class; it must be structured and all students, who are physically able, must participate. We must emphasize the physical fitness of students along with academics.

It is time to start feeding our children properly. I have been admonished for promoting a whole food, low carbohydrate diet by parents who claim that it too costly. Really? Our children’s health and well being is being sacrificed over cost? Anyway, it is a bogus argument and merely just another excuse. If you take the soda, chips, candy, ice cream and the other junk out of the shopping cart, it won’t be that much more expensive if more expensive at all. The ideas isn’t to add these foods to your regular diet, it is to replace fat fueling, fitness robbing foods.

What are the risks if we do not act?

Children being bullied.

Children unable to enjoy an active youth.

Young adults who will sacrifice truly experiencing live because of self-imposed, obesity limitations.

Perhaps, the most troubling risk; our children, for the first time in history, may be robbed of life expectancy equal to our own!

{To be clear what I am about to write does 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 an underlying medical condition.}