Can Bad News Help?
While interviewing a potential, new client, I often hear of the difficulties and pain of being unsuccessful managing weight. At the same time, I listen intently and hopefully to ascertain whether this person can bring to our work, the qualities that most likely will lead to lifestyle change. Maybe this time, control can be placed in this person’s hands. Can we work together successfully and exchange a frustrating, disappointing past for future success?
As hard as it may be to consider, one quality that makes a very positive difference in the level of change my clients make is the ability to accept and use the idea that being overweight is likely to result in health problems. This may seem a cruel fact to be carried upon the shoulders of someone already hurting. Understandable is the lure to avoid or deny. Read on if you are ready to learn more…
Is Being Overweight Dangerous?
Unfortunately, yes.
According to HelpGuide.org, (A Harvard Medical School collaboration) suggests: “With excess pounds you face higher risk of a whopping 50 different health problems.”
Being overweight or obese, risks are increased for heart attack and stroke, diabetes, many cancers and depression, to name a few.
These risks accumulate with excess weight.
Summary: Yes, while being overweight is in all likelihood dangerous, this is not the whole story! While it may be challenging to shoulder, consider this paradox: if you have the ability to grapple with and accept the tough fact that yes, being overweight is in all likelihood dangerous, you may see that of all things important in Life, your good health is more important than anything and worth reclaiming and protecting.
Upon this thinking, you may have just opened the door of change.
Take action now. Whether that be something as basic as using your phone to track your steps, or using time to increase walking by 20 minutes each day or making substantial changes related to your food environments, any new action taken may be life-changing. Do not underestimate the impact of one decision, one action at time.
“Do Just One Thing.”
“Even losing small amounts of weight--can have a very big impact on your health.” Monica Bertoia, coauthor and research associate at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health taken from Newsweek Online.