Lately I've been meeting with a some people who are considerably overweight and are trying to make a change. Something I have seen is that these people have a belief that if they drop the weight, only then will they feel okay. Each one does not believe they are okay just as they are. Some feel that if they drop the weight, they will go out and finally live life. Go to a dance club, go to the pool/beach, pursue dating, etc.

These people are making a big step in the right direction by deciding they want to change. However, is it for the right reasons? Sure you could argue that their anger provides them a great motivator in their transformation. But that kind of energy can swing both ways and it may not always be on their side.

I was just wondering what you guys think about this. Does being fit make you happy? Or does being happy make you fit?

Being the type of person who was not fit kept me unhappy.

Being the type of person who is healthy and fit also helped me become happy.

It's not one or the other, really, it is a process that manifests in both aspects ... it was part of who I became, and the reflection on the surface was both a fit physique and happiness.

I definitely did not become happy because of my physique. I talk about this on my CD set. I used to be embarassed to take my shirt off. When I finally lost that sense of insecurity, I was still overweight ... but I stopped giving up my power to others. In other words, someone who is always worrying about what others think, will lose weight and still worry. Someone who learns to love themselves will get comfortable and the weight will release as a reflection.

I find those who look for happiness in fitness often lose it (go back to being overweight) or become addicted (obsess over the fitness/food and become dysfunctional). It takes a true inner transformation to remain fit, healthy, and confident while remaining in balance.

It's not to say any of these levels is right or wrong, or that others won't find happiness shedding pounds ... but as a person who specializes in working with obese individuals, I can say that most who do not go through the process of accepting themselves as they are end up not succeeding in long term weight loss. They are basically trying to address the symptom (the weight) but can't stick with it because the problem (what's inside) keeps manifesting.

Jeremy

Lately I've been meeting with a some people who are considerably overweight and are trying to make a change. Something I have seen is that these people have a belief that if they drop the weight, only then will they feel okay. Each one does not believe they are okay just as they are. Some feel that if they drop the weight, they will go out and finally live life. Go to a dance club, go to the pool/beach, pursue dating, etc.

These people are making a big step in the right direction by deciding they want to change. However, is it for the right reasons? Sure you could argue that their anger provides them a great motivator in their transformation. But that kind of energy can swing both ways and it may not always be on their side.

I was just wondering what you guys think about this. Does being fit make you happy? Or does being happy make you fit?

Lately I've been meeting with a some people who are considerably overweight and are trying to make a change. Something I have seen is that these people have a belief that if they drop the weight, only then will they feel okay. Each one does not believe they are okay just as they are. Some feel that if they drop the weight, they will go out and finally live life. Go to a dance club, go to the pool/beach, pursue dating, etc.

These people are making a big step in the right direction by deciding they want to change. However, is it for the right reasons? Sure you could argue that their anger provides them a great motivator in their transformation. But that kind of energy can swing both ways and it may not always be on their side.

I was just wondering what you guys think about this. Does being fit make you happy? Or does being happy make you fit?
that was 100% my only motivator. never failed me, i kept going the entire way.
unfortunatly - like you were hinting at - it's a false belief. so once i got "here", i didnt recieve the magic confidence i thought i would.
i'm still scared to talk to girls
i'm still not outgoing when it comes to trying new things
i'm basically still the same guy - only not fat.

it's a very depressing realizeation, but ... maybe if i bulk now? :)

I was just wondering what you guys think about this. Does being fit make you happy? Or does being happy make you fit?

Happiness and fitness seem to go hand-in-hand and become self-sustaining in time. I like being fit, and being fit helps make me feel happier. As such, I take care of my body knowing that it's part of what makes me... happy.

The person I was before my transformation may be physically gone, but "he" is still here. "He" haunts me daily and "he" is who I tend to still see in the mirror; I hated that person and that hatred of what I let myself become - not hating myself - but what I let happen to who and what I was is what I despised. I found a way to fix it in the gym and through proper nutrition, better habits, better attitudes - I even found better friends because I got fit. I'm telling you, fitness can snowball into an avalanche of great things.

The trick is finding that motivational reason that drives you - but it can't be a simple dislike for your physical self - no one likes being overweight - they are simply that way because they don't have reason enough to change and/or are afraid of change itself. That is a mountainous obstacle to overcome, even for those of us, like myself, whose weight was an issue but never approached obesity - I topped out around 30% body fat and 190 or so lbs. at my heaviest.

It also takes an ability to visualize who you want to become. Transformation starts in the head and the heart, not on the treadmill or what you stock your refrigerator with. All the healthy food in the world means nothing unless the desire and belief in yourself are there. That's what makes a happy person and a successful transformation.

That's just my opinion... I could be wrong.

-R

You are what you are.

Losing weight will not make you more confident directly. You will not drop all the weight and then all of a sudden become Mr Smooth etc. One must LEARN to be more confident, in the same way that you have to put effort into your physical transformation, you must also put energy into changing your mindset and who you are. I know a few people who are overweight and are very confident with women, i see many overweight people with nice looking women on their arm.

One does not necessarily equate to the other. If you are overweight, you must put the effort in to reduce your weight. Visa vi if your unhappy, you must put the effort in to change that to. Loosing the weight may help you be happy if it was the thing that was making you unhappy. If its not what making you unhappy, look to improve the areas which are.

I absolutely hated myself for a very long time. However, after the deciding "click", and taking up fitness, I find liking the guy in the mirror more and more each day. Even though I'm still 50 pounds heavier than what I once used to be, I still like myself better, and also act more confident. Not sure if I ever become an outgoing guy once I'm fit or not, but that is a reason by itself to carry on. So, yeah, so far I'd say fitness certainly works in that regard.

I'm a pretty happy and confident guy to begin with. I know that dropping the fat I have, and in my case I'm looking at about 140-150lbs, will be life changing. I'm not expecting my life to instantly become 53% better or anything, but I know my life is going to different. And I'm excited to see what those changes are going to be like more than anything else.