Obsession has no place in Health and Fitness

There was a firestorm on social media recently as people began to speak out against fitness companies promoting OBSESSION for participants.

I saw the promotion and shook my head. I didn’t think to speak out until I saw one brave woman who did speak out and received a lot of negative comments and criticism.

As someone who is against Restrictive Dieting and Compulsive exercising, I realized that I need to speak out in support of those who take a stand against obsession and also make my feelings clear about a company promoting obsession in fitness.

Here is the email I sent to the company (parts have been edited)

I have been in the fitness industry for over ten years and I have worked in various roles within our business.

I was even a part of your company until I realized your values did not match with mine.

I was completely dismayed to see your company is now promoting a program where the “trainer” says that you’ve got to be obsessed with your macro counting and exercising.

To market this to the general public is irresponsible.

After being obsessed with food and exercise myself and also working with clients who went through the same thing, I can only say that even suggesting that telling people to become obsessed with macro counting and exercise is completely unacceptable.

Please know that I will not be purchasing anymore of your products nor recommending them to others

Why no Fitness Professional should promote nutrition/exercise obsession

Obsession is defined as:

a persistent disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling (Merriam-Webster)
to dominate or preoccupy the thoughts, feelings, or desires of (a person); beset, trouble, or haunt persistently or abnormally: (Dictionary.com)
to think about something unceasingly or persistently; dwell obsessively
compelling motivation (Merriam Webster)

Now I am sure that the “Trainer” who said that people should be obsessed with nutrition and exercise would look at that last definition and say “That’s what I am talking about!”

What exactly is the compelling motivation? To eat and exercise perfectly? That’s not motivational at all because we know that these types of restrictive eating plans are not sustainable and that when people “mess up” they get so upset that they either quit or become even more obsessed with being perfect.

If you have ever worked with clients who have been obsessed with food and exercise, then you know there is nothing healthy about it. There’s nothing healthy about not feeling like you can be around friends or miss social events because you’re afraid of messing up your nutrition or exercise program.

No QUALIFIED Fitness Professional should ever promote clients becoming OBSESSED with food and exercise programs. It is irresponsible and increases chances for disordered eating

Risk Factors for Disordered Eating

According to the IDEA Fitness Journal in October 2017 Risk Factors for Disordered Eating Among Clients are:

Frequently talking about dieting; labeling foods as “good” or “bad”
Rapid weight loss/gain
exercising solely for appearance reasons
poor body image
excessive/compulsive exercise

Disordered Eating: The secret amongst women

Women are suffering.

Women are suffering with yo-yo diets, restrictive fad diets, and binge eating. Much of this is brought on by beginning to diet in adolescence and continues throughout adulthood.

In Women over 65, strict dieting, fasting and binge eating tripled from 1995 to 2005 (Harvard Medical School 2012)
13% of young women meet DSM-5 criteria for Eating Disorders (Nilsson & Sundgot-Borgen 2015)
Women aged 45-64 are ore likely to binge and feel guilty about food than younger women (Harvard Medical School 2012)

Much of this is brought on by constant yo-yo dieting and fad diets.

If I want results, then don’t I need to be obsessed?

Obsessed is the word the lazy use to describe the dedicated

This is a favorite amongst the Insta Fitness Crowd. I don’t believe this for a second. Obsessed with what? Getting abs? Showing you’re a martyr for eating white fish and broccoli?

Obsessed means you’re thinking of your diet and exercise every hour of the day and let me tell you as someone who has been there: It’s not a fun place to be and it won’t be long before you crash and burn.

If you’re competing, then that’s one thing but I’m inclined to agree with Coach Scott Abel that competing for many (especially the people who don’t possess the genetics to be competitive) is just another yo-yo dieting. They can’t be off a contest diet for more than 2 weeks before they are on Instagram begging for validation.

You don’t need to be obsessed. You need to be consistent.

It’s not about the food and exercise

Obsession with food and exercise is often a distraction from having to deal with reality and what really matters. It gives us something to focus on that doesn’t really matter but will earn praise from others.

Renown eating psychology expert and one of my favorite teachers Geneen Roth says this:

“Obsession[with Food] gives you something to do besides having your heart shattered by heart shattering events.” – Geneen Roth, Women Food and God

It’s time to take a stand

It’s time to take a stand against companies who are promoting obsession, fad diets, quick fixes, and all of that nonsense.

The Diet Cycle is vicious and damages self esteem and self worth. Enough is Enough!

Our country has the lowest life expectancy amongst first world countries. Diets aren’t working and we need to get back to what works for optimal health!