Today I had a thought as I worked out. Let me elaborate. I started gaining weight when I was 13 years old. My parents had a nick-name for me, “Chancho” which means “Hog” or “Pig” in spanish. I guess I looked fat. As I got older, I noticed my weight increasing. In my 30’s I reached a weight of 220. During my early 40’s I had tough time adjusting to my job and entered a slump. I became motivated and lost over 30 pounds purely by dieting. I reached a goal of 179 pounds! People began telling me I was too skinny!. I loosened my diet restrictions. My weight climbed up..190-200-205! Which brings me to today. I am 47 and weigh 205 pounds.
I currently lift weights and practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I find this has much to do with my weight gain. Muscle gains increase weight. This terrifies me as I stare at the scale and see the numbers creep up. Also, my clothes, that once felt loose, are now starting to feel tight! But I don’t look fat. I look muscular. Thus brings me to the crux of my little post here. I had (have) to switch my mindset from “I need to lose weight!” to “I’m gaining lean muscle.” You see, I feel good! and I don’t look so terrible for a 47 year old. So why the conflict?
The mindset of losing weight comes from negative connotations about being overweight. For example, these are the things I associate personally to being overweight.
1. Being stagnant, lazy, unproductive or inactive
2. Lack of self control; overeating
3. Lack of self care; eating or drinking without considering health.
4. Illness from lack of self care.
5. Unhygienic
6. Unable to keep up with those who are healthy. Fatigued. Weakness.
The culmination of the above leads to a feeling of lack of self respect and unattractiveness. It’s ever so subtle. Granted, if one is overweight because of the above, it would be in their best interest to tweak and overcome those habits.
But what if you take care of yourself? Eat right, are productive, exercise, etc….and are gaining weight due to muscle gain. The mantra repeats itself like an old voice “I need to lose weight!” “I’m gaining weight!” “I’m fat!” “If I feel fat, I must be fat. I must be out of shape!” These are twisted beliefs. Habitual mantras of an old lifestyle. It’s like the beautiful supermodel who thinks she is ugly ….if that makes sense. Gaining weight because of muscle isn’t bad, it’s great! I’m really trying to get that ingrained in me. Stop the “lose weight” mission and be satisfied in my “I’m gaining muscle!” self. So there you have it, one does not always need to “lose weight” to be healthy.
On The Move 