Do You Choose To Be Fat?

This post may make a lot of people mad. It’s politically incorrect and it goes against what a lot of other writers say. I don’t write simply for the sake of controversy but I do feel that this is an important topic and it needs to be laid out.

On many sites I visit, there is often the claim that if you’re fat, it is not your fault, that you’re fat because you’ve either been lied to by fitness infomercials or by food manufacturers who fill our food with junk, because of pollution, too little spare time, etc.

Usually, what comes after that is a pitch to sell you another product or program that is “the one true way to lose weight”.

In many ways this is a true feeling. We are all lied to or made to believe the wrong things (even if a lie hasn’t been said) by clever marketing and advertising. However, all of this doesn’t mean that being fat is completely not a result of our actions, that no responsibility rests with us.

Let’s be clear: there are food products out there that shouldn’t even be called food. There are magazines that act as nothing more than a billboard for dubious supplements. There is a wealth of misinformation about dieting and overall confusion.

However, at the end of the day, some people get fat and others don’t. We are all exposed to the same marketing, the same products, and the same misinformation. It’s a level playing field and we can all play to win or play to lose.

This is why I believe that it’s time to ask yourself whether you choose to be fat?

Is Being Fat a Matter Of Choice?

Some people don’t have a problem with being fat or they think that this is attractive (as was the dominant view in various periods in history). If you are one of these people, good for you! Most people will envy your happiness.

But I’m not talking about these people. I’m talking about you, the overweight man or woman who dislikes being overweight and would like nothing more than to trim down. Is it time to change your mindset and consider whether you are actually choosing to be fat?

Fat By Choice But Not By Fault

It’s important to make a distinction between choice or responsibility and fault. You may be responsible for you being overweight but do not get bogged down by a feeling of guilt. I don’t want you to start blaming yourself and become paralyzed by despair and self loathing. This isn’t productive and it’s not where I want you to go.

What I want you to do is to take stock of your habits, lifestyle, and choices and to realize that even if you’re not making an active choice to be overweight, your actions may say that you are.

For instance, what you choose to eat will have a dramatic effect on whether you gain weight or lose it. You know it. So, when you choose to eat fattening food, drink a lot of alcohol, or consume high calorie beverages, aren’t you also making a choice to gain weight?

When you decide to stay at home and not go to the gym because you’re tired, it’s raining, or any other workout excuse that comes to mind, aren’t you also knowingly choosing to not make the necessary effort requires to get leaner?

The same goes for when you choose to stay up late and watch another silly sitcom and lose valuable sleep time. We make these kind of choices each and every day.

Blame or Change – Another Choice

Now, you can feel guilty for being overweight or you can opt for change. This is another choice you have to make.

I would choose change and not get into a blame game with myself. What this post is all about is the idea of responsibility and the prospect of change. Once you take responsibility for your situation, you can start making real changes in your life. This is how every process starts, with a desire for change and an initial step.

I can’t promise you fast results or an easy path. All I can say is that you have a choice: accept being overweight or make an honest attempt at getting leaner. You can do it. Have faith in yourself.

Every day ask yourself whether this will be a day in which you choose to be fat or choose to be thinner. Once you make the right choice it will be easier to take the proper action to achieve your goals.