I’m Calling BS

I did a group coaching call on “Your Relationship with Food and Strategies to Improve It”.

Then another set of calls with some private clients and the theme was more personal, but the same…..

Food is controlling our lives.

If you’ve been keeping up on reading my emails then you know I’ve talked on this “food relationship” topic .

In one email I shared my insight on how the over acceptance of body size and that the claims that a “size 16 is more realistic” is becoming detrimental to our society.

Well as luck would have it, another message conveying the same thing popped up in my facebook “news” feed and I was astounded by the message.

This video on Body Image and Accepting your “size” has over 20 MILLION views and again people were cheering what a great message. I was surprised of all the positive comments quite honestly.

I see it completely different.

You are being brainwashed.

You have been brainwashed for a long time.

That is why you have this “relationship with food” that is controlling your life.

Before I share the video with you, just make the promise you will keep reading and hear me out.

Because just like in politics, we are all being fooled when it comes to health and you need to get educated.

You are being fooled.

“6 great Melissa McCarthy Quotes about Body Image that make you Love her even more. Seriously.”

Let’s take a look and see …….

“My Message is that as long as everyone is healthy, enjoy and embrace whatever body type you have.”

I couldn’t agree more.

We all come in different shapes and sizes. We are made up of different bone structures. We all carry our weight in different areas. Sometimes we feel we are more pear shape, apple, or a stick. We might have a mesomorph, ectomorph, or endomorph body type.

We cannot change our “genes” so yes, we should embrace the type of body we have and love it.

We should not weigh our worth in body weight.

“I’ve never felt like I needed to change. I always thought, ‘If you want somebody different, pick somebody else.”

Absolutely.

Especially for women, we shouldn’t “change” to meet somebody else’s “ideal”. For too long have people thought, ‘Well if I was just more this than that, then maybe they would like me more’.

Be who you are. Love who you have become. Continue to grow to fulfill your passion and potential.

“I have been every size in the world. Parts of my twenties, I was in great shape but I didn’t appreciate it…. If I was a 6 or an 8, I thought ‘Why aren’t I a 2 or a 4’?”

Good point.

You took care of your body and were in great shape, but still didn’t value it. That is a common problem for many people on many levels.

“The grass is always greener on the other side.”

“I’d be happier if I had X but I only have Y. ”

“What I have now isn’t good enough, I need more. ”

Isn’t that the typical American Standard? Nothing is ever good enough. We hardly ever appreciate what we have and always need something deemed better.

With her last statement and now moving into the rest of her quotes, accompanied by her photos…this is where I question how this is a “positive message” on health & body image. Remember, she said it herself in the first quote: “My message is as long as everyone is healthy…”.

“My weight? It is what it is. You could get hit by a bus tomorrow… It’s about being content. And sometimes other priorities win.”

Just wait right there….

So as I mentioned, she refers to being healthy. But you’ve also admitted to being almost every size there is from a size 6 to a size 18+.

While for Melissa a size 6 might be not be her “ideal” size, but this particular photo looks like a size 18+.

I looked up her stats and this is what I found…..

According to one source, She’s 5″ 2′ and 207 pounds and wearing a size 18.

Remember- she says healthy.

Here’s the definition of Obesity: A disorder involving excessive body fat that increases the risk of health problems.

I calculated Melissa’s BMI at 5’2″ and 207 pounds.

What”s BMI?:
Body Mass Index (BMI) is measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women. BMI does not differentiate between body fat and muscle mass. Therefore, body builders and people who have a lot of muscle bulk will have a high BMI but are not overweight or over fat.

Melissa’s BMI based on her stats is 38.

Morbid obesity is a medical term describing people who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40, or of 35 to 40 with significant medical problems caused by or made worse by their weight. BMI of 40 amounts to approximately 100 pounds above ideal weight. Severely overweight health risks. High blood pressure. Cardiac issues. Diabetes. Endocrine problems…….
(Morbid means deadly)

This is where the message isn’t working for me……STAY WITH ME…….

Let’s be real, she’s not a bodybuilder.

She is most likely considered obese. I am not a doctor and I am not labeling or judging Melissa. I am concerned about her message and what it is falsely conveying – as it had over 20 MILLLION views and highly positive support.

Yep, you can use the good ‘ol “I could get hit by a bus tomorrow”.

“It’s about being content. And sometimes other priorities win.”

Wait? I thought this was a positive message about being healthy & accepting your body size?

It’s great to be content and in a good place to be happy, but this sounds to me more like an excuse for a lack of discipline.

According to her stats, she is very much at risk for her health, so what other priority is so important that your health is last on the list?

“The diseases associated with being obese, however, are well known. These include:

• High Blood Pressure
• Heart Disease
• Stroke
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Certain types of Cancers
• Arthritis
• Gallbladder disease”

“I have experience dressing me as a size 6, a 12, and more… And when you go above a size 12, you don’t lose your love of fashion.”

I get it. When you go above a size 12, the amount of clothing options may be limited.

It’s harder to find more stores dedicated to larger sizes. Although to me a size 10/12 is “average”. Does this mean she’s saying a size 12 is plus size?

Since we can find that she has been anywhere from a size 6 to 12 to 18+, I have to weigh in on the health effects of that kind of body weight/size fluctuation.

“Weight cycling is the repeated loss and regain of body weight. When weight cycling is the result of dieting, it is often called “yo-yo” dieting. A weight cycle can range from small weight losses and gains (5-10 lbs. per cycle) to large changes in weight (50 lbs. or more per cycle). Weight cycling has inherent health risks.”

It would absolutely be healthier for Melissa to find a size such as a size 12 and maintain that size.

It’s healthier to be overweight and active, than skinny and sedentary.

But here’s the thing…

You know some people are naturally very thin.

Those are the people who you think have it easy and can eat whatever they want.

Did you know for someone who is very thin naturally, it is HARDER for them to gain weight than it is for someone who has weight to lose?

I’ve been a size 12 and that was fluffy for me, but I also clearly remember being picked on for my legs being too skinny- even in elementary.

And if we saw an actress that was rail thin and emaciated, wouldn’t she make the headlines for needing to go to a rehab center because of her weight loss? After all, a person with anorexia is underweight, which has serious health effects and we send them to get therapy and to the hospital.

My point is… I am NOT OKAY with the over acceptance of body image when clearly it imposes a health risk.

Not to mention other messages, which I will address. One of being “content”.

KEEP READING ……

“With women, there’s this constant weird cultural thing where we’re always supposed to be comparing ourselves with one another….”

Unfortunately, yes. Many women and young girls are comparing themselves to other women instead of striving to improve themselves for themselves. Certain times call for being selfish.

I agree. We need to love ourselves and it should be “me vs me”. How can I improve myself for me- not for someone else’s approval.

That is the one thing I do not like about “bodybuilding” and physique sports- that some people take it way to far and weigh their worth on a trophy.

That’s part of it’s territory for that sport and other subjective sports like beauty pageants & ice skating or even the debate team.

So I try to educate and explain that to people who are interested- that most certainly it’s not for everyone if you are concerned about other people “judging you”. That’s a whole nother topic for another day.

“Who wore it best? Whose butt’s better? Instead, how about if everyone wins?…”

Fine – who cares what your butt looks like in pants. People are entitled to love “fashion” and decide what they think looks good on them. After all, didn’t Melissa say women over size 12 still have a love of fashion too?

Uhhh, so doesn’t that mean no matter your size you will still make sure it fits you, looks good on you, and makes you feel good wearing it?

Oh – I guess that’s why Melissa has come out with a new Fashion Line for Women over size 12. Hooray!!

This is where I call BS.

This is where you are being fooled in this message, and by many others on this topic.

This is a public health issue. Remember- 20 MILLION VIEWs, hundreds of thousands of positive comments and kudos to this video.

You are beautiful no matter your size, but you are not always healthy.

In LIFE, everybody does not win.

When you go to a job interview and there is one position and 20 people apply- 19 people do not win.

When you run a 5K- there is only one 1st place.

You vote for 1 winner of the presidential election.

When you try out for the basketball team- there are only 5 starters and maybe only 12 players. So those other 20 people do not make the team.

So if getting the job, winning a 5K , becoming president or making the basketball team are your goal, you CANNOT be content with where you are in life.

Oh and that Emmy she is holding- there was only 1 winner! Everyone did not win.

Coddling or over building up self-esteem is biting certain generations in the @ss in getting or keeping jobs and every business owner trying to hire employees. Just ask around.

Everybody does not win by reinforcing or masking lack of discipline or telling people what they want to hear.

Being content does not make people or plants blossom into strong (mentally & physical) flowers. If a plant isn’t getting sun it’ll stretch itself to get in a position to get sun to survive. Just look at that odd shaped tree or plant in your backyard.

Are you getting it?

Melissa is trying to sell you her new clothing line.

You are constantly being sold something.

You are being misled everyday to form a new habit that makes someone else $$$.

This country was founded on freedom, but also greed.

As a fitness pro, health teacher, wellness advocate, and mom- I cannot stand back and let you see or read these messages without calling their bluff.

Would it be okay for a size 0 person with anorexia to do the same? I doubt it.

In the case of obesity- which many people who are obese happen to wear larger sizes – everybody doesn’t win there either.

I already listed the health problems associated with obesity earlier- along with:

• limitations in recreational activities
• difficulties in daily activities
• typically more sick & more sick days at work
• more likely to apply for disability or handicap access
• Oh and earlier mortality or death. You die much younger when obese.

So when a 35 year old needs to go into heart surgery or knee replacement and they are obese, what does that mean for the people trying to care for them? (Because yes, patients are getting younger & sicker. )

• Need extra help lifting the patient
• May need to purchase a larger piece of equipment to accompany weight load
• Longer time in the procedure

It puts the health care workers at risk of injury AND it costs more to care for the patient.

AND for an obese patient that means:

• more risk of infection
• longer recovery time
• greater risk of complications

Health care is already expensive .

We have a health care problem, but we also have a SELF CARE PROBLEM.

Because you are being fooled into believing that it is okay to pack on some excess pounds, but who’s really winning?

Health care system making more $$$
The fast food industry – after all you are addicted to convenience $$$
Now clothing companies – $$$

Don’t be fooled!

Obesity is NOT a winning disease.

Get Fit. Eat Clean. That is how you can LOVE yourself and everybody wins!

You do, your family, your co-workers, and society all wins.

Parents- if your children are already struggling with a weight issue now, you need to take action. It will only get harder as they get older. Do not use the “they are young and can eat anything” mentality. It will cost them and they are at even greater risk. The sad fact- today’s youth have a SHORTER life expectancy due to higher youth obesity rate.

This is not the new “Normal” or “Realistic”.

Put yourself first. Don’t be fooled.

And yes, I “sell” health & fitness and the feeling of getting your life back.

You are always being sold.

Be an informed consumer.

Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. Love your shape, love your size, but please love your health!

Committed to your success,
Coach Summer

PS – I am so passionate about helping others take control of their health, that’s why I’ll be awarding yet another community member with a free membership to my program.

PPS – If you haven’t already, I have a page where I share more on health, fitness, nutrition, motivation, and life. CLICK HERE to follow my page & see more.