I was reading about a study that was done recently (link to article here: http://www.emaxhealth.com/109/14800.html), that suggests a most un-p.c. conclusion: the increase in people’s weight in this country is partly the result of it being socially acceptable to be heavier.
Whether you agree with the study’s conclusion or not, I must admit, I have always maintained that in order to keep yourself at a certain weight range — one that requires a great deal of work, you must not only strongly desire to be “there,” you must ALSO feel a specific dislike at either the thought or experience of being above that range (for yourself, not suggesting what others should or shouldn’t do or feel). You have to. Because eating cleanly is difficult. It demands constant, daily attention (ever notice how when you return to work Monday it takes you a little while to return to exactly where you left off on Friday? What do you think happens to your body when you take a few days off from working on your eating and exercise?), and when the going gets tough, you’d better have some strong, underlying motivation to stick it out or you’ll find your eating — and subsequent weight — about as stable and resolved as a rogue plastic grocery bag on a blustery day.
Now, don’t misunderstand me. I would never advocate you set unrealistic standards for yourself. I know where my own body “settles in” when my eating is squeaky clean (not perfect, but clean most of the time) and I’m exercising daily (again, most of the time). It’s where I have the most energy, the most restorative sleep, and indeed, where I prefer my physical appearance. Given that my weight readily maintains itself below the national average, deep down I could never accept my body at this country’s “average,” because I’d know deep down it would not reflect my body at its optimal health and fitness; if anything, to be there would indicate something has gone awry with my exercise and/or eating plan. But this works on the other end of the spectrum, too. If your genetics predispose you to a seeming setpoint that’s considerably *higher* than the average even in light of consistent, clean eating (and I do mean “consistent” and “clean” — I don’t mean what most people convince themselves is “consistent” and “clean”), then indeed, it would not do you well to shoot for a level of leanness that’s far beneath what you believe you can achieve.
Or would it? I’m beginning to question if there’s a potential benefit in aiming high, probably higher than what you know you can achieve. Does this not make you reach further? Will you not make a harder effort when you set ambitious goals for yourself? What I’m seeing all around me is evidence that people are settling for mediocrity, that “good enough” is….well, good enough. Don’t expect greatness of yourself, because gosh, then you might disappoint yourself if you don’t reach it. Don’t set your goals too high, because gosh, that takes more work. How awful, those who limit themselves so! In the overall scheme of things, most of us are capable of just about anything. Don’t tell me you have no sense of direction, you can’t read a map, you can’t cook, you can’t <fill in the blank>. Those are copouts! You CAN do these things! But you might have to work harder, subject yourself to some discomfort or embarrassment, and yes, you’ll have to focus and keep pushing yourself even when you don’t want to, and YES, sometimes a little harsh self-talk is the greatest gift you can give yourself. I don’t mean, “I’ve gained five pounds. I suck.” I mean, “I’ve let myself gain five pounds. I know better.”
I once read that alcoholism and other addictions are curiously more prevalent in areas/societies/cultures/countries that don’t frown upon it, and in some cases actually make light of or celebrate inebriation, and that it’s curiously sparse in countries/cultures/societies/families/circles that view such lack of self-control in an extremely negative, face-losing light. Why would weight be any different, I wonder?
It’s just one more reminder that in the end, if you wish to be where you wish to be, YOU have to set the standards for yourself. You must dismiss whether it’s socially acceptable or not and determine what YOUR best body/health/level of fitness is at, and don’t let yourself be swayed by where the wave of humanity is orienting themselves at the moment. Just as we can’t let ads, TV shows, etc. or unrealistically thin/”perfect” women’s bodies lure us into setting those kind of standards for ourselves, so too do we need to ignore if ”everyone else” seems to be okay with letting their bodies grow to sizes we don’t wish for ourselves.
