WKBT anchor Jennifer Livingston received an email from a viewer telling her he was surprised her physical condition (obese) hasn’t improved in years and that she must realize she isn’t a suitable example for the community’s young people.
Do you agree with Jennifer? Do you agree with the emailer? Share your comments if you feel the call to do so. As I write this it’s October 3rd, 2012. I don’t want to influence any comments yet so I’ll wait to comment until a week or so goes by but I will comment then so check back in a week or so if you care to see what my thoughts are on this.
Leanness Lifestyle University
As we all know, obesity is only partially a choice. To lose weight, and then keep and maintain a healthy body, you have to know how to lose weight and maintain a healthy body. Many people, myself included, have struggled with plans that promised weight loss but were either too difficult to follow, or simply did not work. It took me years of trying different plans before I found one that did work. Furthermore, as we know, food is an addiction for many people. It is a habit that is as hard to break as smoking or any other addiction. Therefore, it is my position that judging this young woman is neither helpful, nor productive. The person who posted these comments does not know whether or not Jennifer has tried to lose weight and does not know if she exercises or does anything else to help her health. If the person who posted the comments has struggled with weight, and knows how to help her, then she should offer to help, and if she hasn’t struggled with weight, or doesn’t know how to help, then she should keep her negative comments to herself.
My only reply so far is the person who wrote the news anchor with the email was a man – not a woman.
Okay, the person who posted these comments should either offer to help or keep HIS comments to himself….
Who do this person think he is I think Jennifer looks great I wouldn’t change a thing about her if she was ment to be thin the she would be thin theirs nothing wrong with a bbw I’m more attreacted to them than a thin woman because they keep it real so Jennifer I got your back.
Coach, as a former obese person and a now Fitness Coach, I can see both sides of the story, but here goes…The letter writer did not say she was fat, she did. She has an overweight chip on her shoulder. And not saying her reasons are valid. Her being obese has nothing to do with who she is as a person. Is that the complete e-mail message? Her rationalizations and having people to support her being overweight is all good, but the bottom line is, is she healthy and is that her business? People can criticize [and do] people for being overzealous in their health, working out too much, having money for a trainer, etc, but you CANNOT criticize an overweight person, no matter what the circumstances. I don’t see the writer as a bully, but I do see her as oversensitive. We don’t know what goes on behind closed doors. Her weight is her issue. But don’t EVER criticize her issue. I see this as common in America today. People rationalize their health issues because someone else is mean. Doesn’t make them any healthier, unfortunately. Now in her mind, she doesn’t need to lose weight and will not try because she has rationalized it. I would like to hear your take on it though, Coach!
Oh dear, you seem to be like the reformed smoker who preaches to others about the disgusting vices of smoking. Everyone is different! It’s that simple. It is possible that the news girl has a personal issue with being overweight. That is her business, whether she is a media personality or not. She obviously cares deeply about her children and their welfare and the fact that today’s society cares more about appearance than reality. This is in all areas of life. Materialism is more prevalent than ever and this is encouraged by the media and the powers behind the media. This news girl is a PERSON with a life and feelings. If she feels that she wants or needs to do something about her weight, that is her decision, her choice. Would the emailer send a similar email to models who may have eating disorders, telling them that they are not good role models for our young people? Is anorexia not a far more dangerous condition, affecting more and more, younger and younger people? This woman’s weight does not affect her ability to be a positive role model, indeed her stand today, in my view, makes her a caring person with wider issues than her own in mind, which I think makes her a good role model.
It appears the woman is a bit angry, her feelings were hurt and she isn’t happy with her size. I would venture to say the e mailer is a man lucky enough to not have many issues with food. Food abuse and food addiction are powerful foes that keep many of us depressed and over weight or obese. One can change his or her past as of 2 minutes ago if the reason why is a strong enough motivator. The woman can use the e mail she received as a springboard into action if she so chooses or she can focus on an easier softer way. Sooner or later if our why is there, we take action to change.
Jennifer said it so well herself “lead by example” that is all the emailer is asking her to do.
I agree with Debbie’s comment. We as Americans have been conditioned over the last 20 years to accept obesity as normal and not as something that we have control over. The media and corporate america manipulate our perceptions of normal all for the sake of making a profit at the expense of our health.
We do have a choice regarding being overweight and obesity. My wife is Japanese and I have many friends who are Japanese. We use smaller plate sizes. We cook at home more using real food and less processed food. When we eat out, we order a single entry and split it.
We were all taught as children to “clean our plates” but the problem is the plates have become bigger, the amount of food on the plates greater. But we have a choice. We don’t have to eat it all. Obesity/overweight really is just a matter of balancing what comes in and what gets used. We as Americans need to change our behaviour. Eat less, move more.
Boy, if eat less, move more only worked for everyone….I’m afraid your approach is too simplistic and fails to address a number of issues with weight and maintaining a health weight. As I stated the first time I posted, I tried about 10 different weight loss plans before I found one that worked for me. Just moving more and eating less doesn’t solve the problem. You have to eat the right foods and you have to know what those right foods are. You have to eat small meals frequently. Otherwise, your body just adjusts to the fewer calories and the increased activity, and turns down your metabolism. If you don’t have the correct knowledge on how to lose weight, it is nearly impossible to do, and there are so many “plans” out there that claim they have the answers…and they do work for SOME people, at least for awhile….but until you find the answer that works for you, the plan you can stick to, you don’t know how hard someone is trying to control their weight until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes. And it is more difficult for some than it is for others. For some, they have the physical ability to do more activity, and the willpower to eat a little less, and that is all it takes. For some, it takes MUCH more than that.
In my opinion, the author of the email is an asshat, and he should put his energy into more constructive, positive outlets if he is so worried about the community and about promoting a healthy lifestyle. Its not his place to judge her; indeed, it’s nobody’s f’ing business! If we all spent half the time improving ourselves that we spend criticizing and judging others, we’d all be better off. As the saying goes, don’t should on me, I won’t should on you.
Even the Bible says it, just as plain as day: “JUDGE NOT, LEST YE BE JUDGED.” Every person has a story about who they are, why they are fit – or not – and what led them down that path. Unless you know them, you don’t know jack s**t about them and what struggles they have been through, or continue to go through. I think the man’s email is the ultimate exercise in narcissism from a sociopathic personality, even though HE might think it was well-intended. Everyone and anyone knows who has been involved in LL, that it’s as much about WHAT’S EATING YOU as it is about what you’re eating (if not more so). It’s also true that no amount of name-calling, cajoling, bullying or badgering has ever been successful in getting someone to lose weight…not without other more devastating consequences. The person themselves, like anyone addicted to anything, has to be ready to reach out and ask for help. You CANNOT grab their hand and yank them forcibly out of their situation. That NEVER works. And as for the man who wrote the email, it would be interesting to know what things are going on in his own life, that he chose to focus on her.
Hi Dave – As a fellow fitness pro, a compatriot in the battles against obesity and disease, a champion for the goals and desires of those who want a lean and healthy lifestyle AND a (former & supremely satisfied) client of yours, could not resist commenting on this.
First, the person who sent this woman the email is an ignorant jerk-wad. He knows nothing of this woman and as such is unqualified to comment on her physical condition. In fact, I would guess that his compulsion to comment after watching a few minutes of a program he never otherwise watches is more a comment on some bizarre psychosis he has than it does this woman’s physique.
Second, while she herself admits that she is overweight, the idea that it is her ‘responsibility’ to alter her appearance to set an example for others is just plain sick. If her program was about nutrition, health and fitness then clearly it would make sense for her to have the lean and fit physique. But it’s not and she doesn’t and none of us have any clue as to why things are as they are for her.
If I learned anything at all from you Dave it is that fat loss an fitness is more about mind set than hour upon hour exercising. And mindset is MORE than motivation and trite bits of positive thinking white-wash so many ‘experts’ dribble out day in and day out. Mindset is about making deep often subconscious changes to the way you respond and behave under specific conditions of influence.
For the vast majority of people, this is a profoundly challenging undertaking which is virtually impossible to succeed in achieving without a highly skilled expertise of a trainer. And I don’t mean those gym-bunnies who carry around a clipboard and hand out towels at the local Golds Gym. I mean a REAL pro who understand the neurology of a fitness mindset (like Dave).
As it relates to this woman, I don’t think anyone here has any idea what or how much she eats. So what in the name of Zeuses butt-hole qualifies anyone to comment on what she should or should not do.
There is really one principle that matters in her case:
“When the student is ready, the teacher will appear”.
And keep the ridiculous, self aggrandizing, ignorant, simplistic advice about what and how much this person or that person ‘must’ eat to yourself.
Thanks for ll as always Dave!
Steve L
I applaud Jennifer for standing up for herself. I am amazed at some of the hateful comments posted here. I watched her talk about it TV. Due to a thryoid condition it is hard for her to lose weight. To me what is going on with her personally is none of our business. She is aa beautful person. Her husband is very supportive of her. He was very upset that the person who wrote the letter would attack her the way he did.