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2006 December 13
Copyright © Brian Wright

Leaving Fat City
Maybe Oprah shows us the way out

In some of my writings, and in my conversation, I’ve been insensitive and negative toward people who have a glaring weight problem.  Recently, when I came to realize one of my friends is truly suffering from the problem, I felt the need to make amends.

Jack (not his real name) has gotten noticeably larger, too.  He’s a great guy, and I care about him, about his health and longevity.  All he seems to get from his friends, including me, is laughter or offhand comments about fatsos.  My column today is partly an attempt to redeem myself.

I started by thinking about the dimensions of the problem.  In New Pilgrim Chronicles I have a footnote:

According to a statement of the International Congress of
Obesity, 9/2/2006, obesity is a pandemic that threatens to
overwhelm health systems worldwide with illnesses such as diabetes, heart problems, high blood pressure, stroke, and some forms of cancer.  More than one billion adults are
overweight, outnumbering the 600 million undernourished
people of the world.

Women have their own black beasts: confectioners are
always suggesting such things as boxes of candy being rife with deep sensuality.

Many people will be astonished to realize how low their optimal weight really is.  For example, I’m 5’10” and charts (courtesy of Ray Kurzweil’s book Fantastic Voyage) say my ideal weight range is 158-180 lbs.  I’m close to 190 lbs, so I’d like to lose 20 for self-image.

For my friend, who’s about my height and weighs another 90 lbs. more than me, I can only imagine the anguish he feels in the self-image department.  Just getting started when the goal seems so remote has to take the ultimate in gumption.
But that’s where I’m finding the solution lies:  Gumption and taking one small step at a time.

Last weekend I went into my favorite independent book store in Michigan, Everybody Reads, and asked for literature on diet or obesity.  She found a great source: O (the Oprah Magazine), with an article about the celebrated Bob Greene Best Life Diet that Oprah Winfrey successfully adopted.

  First you discover why you eat improperly and who you are. 
  Greene’s first question is “what is the best life possible for
  you?”  Taking a page out of Ayn Rand, he helps you learn to
  love yourself and what you are worth becoming, i.e. your
  “best life.”

  Second, start moving.  You find out how to get active, to
  exercise at a level you’ll maintain.  After the first four weeks,
  take a few of the more harmful foods out of your regular
  diet. 

  Third, you’ve acquired the healthy habits of a lifetime.  This
  isn’t a crash program, just a steady advance of daily little
  victories.