Am I Too Mean To Fat People?

About half of what we do here revolves around the weight loss business. The other half revolves around getting people to take world class supplements, to make sure they stay put together, better than the average guy. Both things sort of go hand in hand.

Most Americans tend to get heavy, as they age. There's just no way around this simple fact: Americans are, by and large, some fat bastards. The number is around 60% total, and among those over 45, it is higher. You don't believe me? Go to any function where there is a large gathering of people, say a professional baseball game, and just watch the people walk by. Hell...you don't have to go to a ball
game...go to church on Sunday and look around. Chances are ...you are within reach of of a very high thread count. And a hat that's big enough to provide shade for three.

Every now and then I get a email from someone who accuses me of being mean to "fat people." (That's called fattism in the liberal lexicon.) I used to answer this kind of thing myself, but now I just use emails from fat people, or formerly fat people, or those on the road in between.

Here's one.

"Dear Dr. Bill,

Your email hit me right between the eyes. I've been fat for 20 years, and what you'd call a buffet molester for the last 5. When I got your email, I weighed in at just a shade over 290. My gut hung down over my belt so far that I developed back problems, just trying to stand up. My blood pressure was high, my feet and ankles ached, I had acid reflux and I could go on and on.

I tried to lose weight before (sort of), but everybody always babied me. And so, it was easy for me to just continue doing what I was doing. But that suggestion of yours to stand in front of a full length mirror and take a real look...from all directions...that was like getting hit with a baseball bat. That forced me to stop lying to myself and everybody else, too.

I used to actually tell people that I didn't eat that much (and I didn't when they were around). But I ate plenty when I was by myself and with the wife, who is overweight, but not nearly as bad as I was. But that naked viewing, that was a huge wake up call and while some people in my office thought the email was a little mean, it was what was needed and I wish somebody had said it earlier.

I've been "on the program" for 18 weeks and I now weigh 246. I'm shooting for around 205-210. The first month was tough, but it's been smooth sailing, ever since. I'm eating about 1600 calories a day, which is probably a third of what I shoved down the old pie hole, previously. My ankles don't swell up anymore, from trying to carry too much weight, and my back is much improved, too.

Today, I actually told a business associate he was too fat. He was complaining about all the same stuff I used to, so I gave him some of your medicine. Don't lighten up, Dr. Bill. When you have a big problem, you need someone to tell you what to do, in no uncertain terms.

Years ago I had an uncle who drank too much. (Way too much!) He went to the family physician (same guy for 54 years). The doctor told him, "Elmer...you can keep drinking ...and I'll be a pallbearer at your funeral in six months, or less...or you can stop...and live another 20 years. Elmer lived 15 more years and died from a fall on the ice. (He quit drinking immediately, after leaving the doctors office. One bartender told me that he lost $300 a week in income when Elmer went dry.)

Somebody has to give it to us straight, Dr. Bill. Keep up
the good work."