Fat 2 Fit #91 – Confronting Loved Ones About Weight Problems


Written on March 13, 2010 – 4:13 pm | by Russ Turley

Today’s feature is about confronting those that you love about their weight problems. Besides money issues, taking to someone about their weight has to be the most awkward subject to breach. Listener Rachel wrote in that she was worried about her parents. They are both overweight. She was wondering about how best to talk to them about her concerns. You may be struggling with your weight, but you’re reading this or listening to this podcast. You know you have to make these lifestyle changes. How many of you have someone in your life that is literally fat, dumb and happy? They’re killing themselves by overeating and don’t have the foggiest idea that they are indeed putting themselves in an early grave. We run down the things to consider and the best ways to approach loved ones about their weight.

In the email and comments section of the show, Wendy is participating in a program at a local university. Part of the program is wearing a pedometer and trying to get to 10,000 steps each day. She’s wondering about the accuracy of the pedometers and whether to be concerned about it. By Becky’s calculations, she should be losing 1.5 pounds per week with her current plan. However, her current plan includes eating below her basal metabolic rate. She writes to us because she actually gained weight last week, a week in which she ran 25 miles and supposedly burned 5300 calories.

On the web report, Jeff has an article on exercising in your 70′s. Included is a top 10 list of things to remember when you start exercising in your advanced years. Russ highlights some new calculators on the Fat 2 Fit Radio web site. To add to the already popular BMR calculator, you can now check what your goal body weight should be and check whether you are at risk for heart disease or diabetes with the waist to hip ratio calculator. Finally, Russ hinted at a body fat calculator. Well, it’s here as well. Check out all the links below.

Links Mentioned in the Show:
Exercising later in life
BMR Calculator
Goal Body Weight Calculator
Waist to Hip Ratio Calculator
Body Fat Calculator
Fat 2 Fit Support Forums
Confronting loved ones about money and weight
Friends with eating disorders
How to confront a friend

Recipe of the Week:
Terrific Low Fat Lasagna

Homework:
I have watched many weight loss tv shows over the years where a trainer or nutritionist shows up at someones house on the very first day, and starts going through their kitchen to see what they have been eating. They always end up with a large box full of junk foods and unhealthy processed food that they take away, because clearly these foods do not help to improve their health. Your homework this week, is to become that trainer or nutritionist and honestly and impartially, go through your own kitchen cleaning out the junk that you know hurts your fitness goals. I’m not saying that you have to throw everything out, but at least get it out of sight and out of mind. If you wrap it up and seal it in a garbage bag, put a “Do Not Open Until” sign on it – and don’t put a date. Put a weight loss or measurement goal. Chances are that when you open that bag after losing 20 lbs or 5 inches off your waist, that junk food in there will no longer be appealing to you.

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  1. 4 Responses to “Fat 2 Fit #91 – Confronting Loved Ones About Weight Problems”

  2. By Jack on Mar 14, 2010 | Reply

    Just a quick query about the tools, I wasn’t sure wether the measurements I was supposed to be taking were centimeters or inches as the page doesn’t specify which. Could someone confirm which so I know I’m not doing it wrong?

    Also the goal weight it gave me was 173lbs and just to get to my highest BMI the BMI charts say that I should be about 146lbs, I wonder why there is such a large difference and which should I be aiming for?

    Thanks for the great podcast,

    Jack

  3. By Russ Turley on Mar 14, 2010 | Reply

    All the measurements are in inches.

    Our calculations are not based on BMI. BMI does not take into account your lean body mass. Our calculator does. There’s no direct relationship between the two numbers.

  4. By terry on Mar 29, 2010 | Reply

    If I was going to talk to a loved one about their weight, I would not start with their weight. I would start with my concern over their health and focus on getting more exercise for all the benefits it gives.

    If you can get a loved one to exercise they will benefit, and will likely lose some weight. If they do lose some weight then you can be there to praise and excite them into perhaps making other changes to improve their health like eating more healthy foods. Then if they are feeling good and losing some weight you can start focusing on ways to really lose some weight (like listen to Fat2Fit Radio!)

    I think most people can handle hearing that their lack of exercise is bad for their health better than hearing that their weight is bad for their health. Losing weight is so overwhelming to think of…getting more exercise is a smaller step that has many benefits for them and it doesn’t have as much embarrasment impact.
    -terry

  5. By Heather on Apr 4, 2010 | Reply

    Hey! I’m not able to get to your site often due to time constraints -so I’m so happy that you are using Facebook now too! Do you do any updates there similiar to here?

    But, I just listened to a show today, I think it was this one, and the quote at the end really struck me. Where can I find it? David Smith? Something about being where you are b/c you want to be at that place?

    I can’t recall off hand but would really like to put it on my info. tab on my wall. :)

    Keep up the great work! I walk my 30 min. listening to your show. :) Thanks!

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