As I sat down to write this article in my home office, with a latte in hand and a beautiful day before me, I began to ponder what I should write about for my next Stimuli Magazine article. I felt a little stumped.  I always like to write about the things that I feel people NEED to know in order to simplify this whole “being healthy” thing.  But what I realized is that many people really don’t like simple, they like complex. No really, it’s true.  At first thought, you might think I’m crazy, but so often when I offer simple solutions about eating healthy or exercising, people really want me to complicate it for them.  

They want me to give them strict rules about what they can and can’t have; when they can eat and when they can’t; what foods should be eaten together and which ones definitely should not or for those that think they need to be “killed” at the gym in order to see results.  I had to ask myself, why do people do this? It doesn’t need to be so uncomfortable!   

After some critical thinking about WHY people like to make taking care of themselves uncomfortable, I was reminded of my hot button, the thing that really sparks a fire in me.  Hence, this is what I think you NEED to know:

The media perpetuates a way of thinking about health by sensationalizing studies or recommendations which leads to either oversimplifying or overemphasizing basic recommendations.  Essentially they confuse us by complicating it (because that’s what we like). Follow that with a flurry of companies who take advantage of this sensationalism and use marketing tactics to claim their stake in a billion dollar industry with their simple solution, coming up with the new and latest discovery.  Is it because these companies have TRULY discovered something revolutionary and have the ultimate solution?  No, it’s a marketing tactic, often offering band aid solutions to a problem.  

What does this mean for the regular person who wants to make healthy changes?  You may try one of the fad or simple solutions offered, it may work for a while, but ultimately, not the long term.  Any health product or service that ONLY tries to fix your external appearance will be limited to short term success.  Your ability to stay healthy and MAINTAIN any results that you experience is a result of the transformation on the inside.  Often you will hear “if you fix the outside, you’ll feel better on the inside” but in it works in reverse.  If you don’t change how you think and feel on the inside, you will never be able to experience lasting change, it’s as simple as that.  I know that people don’t like simple and they actually don’t want to hear that it’s as simple as that, but its’ the truth. 

Instead of wasting your time and money on “band aid” solutions that will cost you more in the long run, physically, financially and emotionally, why not REALLY try something different and life changing - change your mind. So as you’ve probably read, this is a hot topic for me.  In part because I work with clients who come to me after they’ve tried everything and feel tired and frustrated with all the energy they wasted on simple solutions that didn’t work.  I am thrilled when clients are finally at a place where they are ready to change their mind. My wish is that they didn’t have to experience all the failure and disappointment to begin with. What if we had this insight from the start?  The health and fitness industry wouldn’t be a billion dollar industry for one, obesity wouldn’t be an epidemic and people wouldn’t feel so trapped.  I know it might be wishful thinking but even if I can help one more person set themselves free, the ripple effect of their choice makes my “rant” well worth it!

If you are tired of being a victim of marketing campaigns and are ready to break the cycle of weight loss and weight gain or being on and off a program, I am happy to be your resource or guide.

I would love to hear your comments on this “hot topic” below!

 

by Andrea Ferguson
Fitness and Nutrition expert & founder of Life Designs Fitness & Nutrition and contributor to Stimuli Magazine