When I go into the city, I find it a bit of a sensory overload. The lights the billboards, advertisements everywhere.
Even in the atrium of the office building where I was sat waiting to deliver a talk. A huge TV screen displaying a couple with athletic physiques running on a beach at some luxury holiday resort.
The managing director walked into the lobby area. “Andrew” he extended his hand to greet me.
We exchanged pleasantries as we were walking to the elevator, he mentioned that I should make the most of the advertisement he saw me looking at.
“It’s getting removed from the feed as someone has complained about it. They said it was offensive.”
This seemed absurd to me. I’m all for body positivity but when it goes the other way and there is almost a positive discrimination against those who have an athletic physique. Then it’s gone too far”
I find that the complaints usually come from people in the most pain and are uncomfortable in their bodies.
I think it triggers that uncomfortable pang of discomfort. Because they are comparing their physique to those in the advert. And they then feel guilt, inadequate or inferior.
They complain about being reminded about. This way they don’t have to hear the uncomfortable truth.
When I went back to the office to deliver another training session. This advertisement was replaced with a clothes company advert featuring plus-size models wearing their plus-size range. With the slogan ‘big is beautiful’ scrolled across their logo.
Now big (I’m talking obesity/high-fat mass, not tall or high muscle mass) may be beautiful to some. But according to the empirical evidence big is dangerous!
I think the message ‘big is beautiful’ is not a good one. It’s like saying smoking is cool, or drinking is fantastic.
When you celebrate and encourage people to embrace an unhealthy position the problem grows. People become ignorant of the risks associated with obesity because it is accepted.
Is shaming the answer? Absolutely not! This will only exacerbate the situation. I’ve seen celebrities go on TV and say we should shame people who are obese. This only compounds the issue.
Is celebrating it the answer? No this only promotes and confuses.
Is education and eradication of false information the answer?
It could be.
I personally think that Health and wellbeing should be part of education. Food technology could be adapted. So that children learn about balanced meals and energy content (calorie awareness).
I’d love it if my job didn’t exist. Because people know how to stay fit, healthy both mentally and physically.
I’ve worked with so many people that have been in an unhealthy position. and is not just the physical health issues
it’s the psychological ones that come with it.
Unfulfilled in their career because they are underproducing (due to low energy levels). And not progressing to the next level promotion that they have been working towards for the past 5 years.
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Unconfident in their body and their intimacy with their partner has dropped off, and they are starting to look at what else is out there.
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Stuck because they have been wasting thousands of dollars and hours on quick fixes. And they are still in the exact same spot as they were 5 years ago. Except maybe worse off because they are 5 years older.
If you want to get unstuck, next month I’m taking on 2 people for my one-to-one coaching program.
Click here to book in for a call if you would like to discuss.