I was just watching the awesome movie Se7en with Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman and it came to me that the 7 deadly sins which are part of the movie’s theme may be part of the problem which leads people to gain weight and prevents them from losing it. As you may know, the 7 Deadly Sins are:
Let’s see how each of these sins affect your weight and fitness.
Gluttony
Clearly, gluttony is at the root of the problem. Gluttony simply means excessive eating and drinking and, as you probably know, this is the main reason why people gain weight. If you commit the sin of Gluttony you will probably have a calorie surplus and gain weight. Commit this sin often and you will be fat. No question about it.
To lose weight or even maintain it, you need to control the amount of food you eat. You need to learn how to eat less calories, something which is the opposite of Gluttony.
Sloth
Being slothful means being lazy and this is not what you need to be if you want to lose weight. After all, working out is a big part of any efficient fat loss process. You need to be ready to workout hard at the gym. You need to make a big effort in your training sessions and you need to do this often.
You can’t be slothful or you will find it hard to burn sufficient calories to create a calorie deficit and lose weight. In addition, without training effectively, you won’t have a high enough metabolism and will probably not get the kind of body you seek. So, don’t commit the sin of Sloth.
Wrath
The sin of Wrath is a tricky one. It seems to have little to do with weight loss, but it has a lot to do with it because it affects your attitude. Feeling wrath or anger is not a positive emotion and one which can lead to negative outcomes.
For instance, if you’re submerged in self-wrath because you gained weight you will probably not take the right steps to lose it. You will be consumed by what you feel and it will be difficult to have the positive mindset needed for the change you wish to make.
Being angry may also lead to overeating and this, naturally, is very bad for weight loss.
Envy
Envy can be good, if it’s moderate, because it may lead you to work hard to change your body. However, trying to look like someone else is not really the best way to create motivation. There are people who are simply blessed with good looks and genetics which we can’t compete with. It’s unfair, but this is just the way it is. I will never be as tall as some people and I won’t ever be featured on the cover of a fitness magazine. It would be counterproductive for me to judge myself by someone else.
Your only competition should be with yourself. You need to improve on who you are, set goals which are relative to your current situation. Trying to be like supermodels may be a good goal for some people, but for others it may be a source for disappointment.
Pride
I hate asking for help. I don’t like to admit that I need it. It’s my damn pride and it has often made it harder for me to solve problems. When you try to lose weight, you need to avoid the sin of Pride. You need to be ready to ask for help.
Being open about your desire to lose weight and your current dissatisfaction with how you look may not be easy. It requires the admission that you’ve failed in the past. It requires you to ask for help and support from your friends and family. You may even have to approach a trainer or a dietitian to seek help. It may seem like you’re weaker than you would like to be.
The truth is that other people can make things much easier for you. They can help you lose weight faster. To be able to get their help you need to stop being prideful and be open for help.
Lust
Lust is usually believed to be related solely to sexual urges, but the original source of this sin refers to all forms of desire. It is desire, the unlimited, out of control, kind that leads you to live in excess, whether it’s in food consumption, idle activities, and other unhealthy habits. It’s the lust and desire for everything in any amount that causes you to be and remain unhealthy and gain weight.
You need to have desire, but it should be for health and positive change.
Greed
Sometime you need to spend money to change your life. However, if you’re Greedy, which is similar to being cheap, you may try to do everything for free. Sometime, being ready to pay for something can help.
Spending money can help you lose fat in many ways: hiring a personal trainer, buying fitness equipment, getting a good fitness plan, investing in healthier food, etc. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to get fit, but being ready to spend some money can make things easier for you.
The 7 Deadly Sins Of Fat
Are you a sinner? Do you commit any of the 7 Deadly Sins of Fat? If so, it’s time to repent and mend your ways. Your body may thank you for it… I’m not sure it would do anything for your eternal soul. That’s not in the scope of this website.