Its definitely one of the losses everyone is happy about. Not even just happy, I must say blissful. In an overly visually dominated world, one's looks, figure, size of shirt, pant, waist size of skirts seem to matter more than anything else.
The media and movies play to this big time. Even seen a fat man or woman in a movie? I come from a state of very sensible movie goers - God's own country, Kerala. In fact, it is the ONLY state in this country which accepts heroines purely on the basis of their acting skills and not on the waist size or other sizes. So I thought mallus grew up with a very healthy self image, especially when their body is concerned. After all it is a land where martial arts originated, or at least widely popular. A very physically active bunch of people.
Alas, I was so mistaken. TV and media has had their degrading effect on god's own people as well.
In a byegone era, the big and fat people dominated. Big time! It was considered great to be physically big and huge. With plenty of fat. These days it is the other way round. It is the skinny ones who walk with an air of pomp, feeling sorry for the fat ones. The skinny ones proudly say how their weight has never exceeded 70kgs and how they are always taking care of their health.
Obsession with weight loss has become an epic phenomenon. Billions of dollars getting spend, but the average weight just goes on increasing. Isnt there something seriously wrong? In a country like India, where no one wants to move their ass, many heroes "control" their weight by just reducing the quantity of food. Oh, wish it was that simple.
As a person who weighs 108 kgs, I get my fair share of criticism. Criticism? Of course, From the worthies who are under 70 or under 80 kgs in weight. They feel it is their birthright to tell us fatties to cut down on food first. Without even so much as checking the basics. The underlying assumption always being you eat 24 hours a day and thats why you gain weight. Ah! The same folks who criticise me so fervently never do any exercise, while I put in 2 hours on my bike *everyday*. Of course, they have an answer for that too. Because of all your cycling, you eat too much. What a simple world, is it not? What the dudes dont realise is after 1-2 weeks of dedicated pedalling (or any exercise for that matter), your body gets used to the rhythm and you wont feel a bit more hungrier than before. But then how will they know? The only exercise they know is sweating watching some horror movie on TV, on a nice comfortable couch, munching potato chips.
I am told that the biggest problem in fighting obesity is people do not see obesity as a disease. Thats the biggest issue. It is not a cosmetic issue at all, considering the attendant miseries and myriad diseases it can possibly bring. We never make fun of someone with cancer or heart disease, though lifestyle probably have contributed to these. Then how on earth do we think it is alright to wisecrack about the obese guy, struggling to walk around or take a few steps? Do you think they are munching food all the time? May be you should check the facts. I personally know folks who are very heavy but eat almost equal or less than some of the 70 kg worthies.
I have a question to all the skinnies. If you have never been 90-110 kgs, how can you to give your weight loss wisdom to obese folks? Man, for heavens sake you have not lost any weight, because you have not gained any!! You really dont qualify to say how to reduce weight.
I have always found it is the skinny folks, for whom 70kgs is like an elephant's weight, who have the strongest opinions on weight loss and what food to take to reduce weight!
My dad used to poke fun on my weight, directly implying it was all the food that I ate. When he had a heart attack and a subsequent byepass surgery and I stayed with him in the hospital, I found something interesting. Out of the 20-30 patients in the cardiac ward, only one person was 90 kgs in weight. Rest of them were all under 75!! That time onwards, I am not sure if it is weight that alone causes heart problems. Dad never makes fun of my weight anymore, considering all the exercise, walking, tea without sugar, no meat and such disciplines did not prevent *his* heart attack, inspite of his weight of only 70 kgs.
Man, I eat only twice a day (no breakfast). But then the skinnies say, you should never skip breakfast. You should eat this, that, drink this, water, blah blah blah. So whatever a obese guy does is a problem. Some say you should just have 2-3 solid meals a day. Other say no, you should have ten small sized meals. Now probably you get an idea of the fat dudes' issues - he gets unasked for advise from all direction, none of which are consistent with the other. And each of those advises given out with an air of superiority from an under 70 kg nobody. No wonder, astrology seems much more credible than dietician's advice.
I am 108 kgs and have a BMI of 34. And I will live longer and healthier than 95 percentile of the Indian folks who are reading this. Thats for sure. Overweight or obese, I am healthier than you, any day, any time.
Lets face the fact folks - if it is that easy to lose weight, by just saying no to a few cookies or soft drinks, everyone in the world lose weight. Because no one chooses to be obese. Period.
