4. From the Hub...

Everyone knows exactly 

what you are addicted to!

Every now and then there is some overweight person proclaiming “I love being fat, and plan on getting fatter!”…these people are lying and their pants are on fire!

This delusional person may have accepted they will never be svelte and lanky, but they do not love being fat - And don’t even get me started on wanting to be fatter!

Everyone is aware that being overweight takes a toll on your health, but overweight people know this far better than anyone else and they deal with their struggle every day.

Being overweight is the result of being emotionally addicted to food.

Most people who suffer with addiction can hide it from the general public, but when you are overweight everyone knows exactly what you are addicted to.

Every human being needs to consume food and food is everywhere…food addiction is the only addiction where you are required to continue to consume the one thing that you are addicted to…damn! damn! damn!

Of course as a food addict you should avoid sugary and fatty foods, you should portion control, meal plan, and deal with why you eat your emotions…every overweight person knows these things – I’d be willing to bet that most overweight people know more about dieting and weight loss than any expert in the world!

To conquer any addiction you need two things; someone who is ready and willing to get better, and a whole lot of someone’s supporting them no matter what – this may include professional help, and from your loved ones it may include a whole lot of honesty and tough love!

When you are overweight there are two types of healthy weight people:

The first person is someone who lives a normal lifestyle; they occasionally diet to drop some extra pounds they gained due to a happy or stressful life situation, they exercise for health and to offset their occasional indulgences, they have friends of all sizes and are supportive when asked to be, and they reserve their judgment…these are the people who cry with and cheer for every cast member on “The Biggest Loser”.

The second person is someone who has always been thin and fit; they diet continuously for fear of gaining one pound, they live in their gym clothes and by a strict routine, they worry about how every inch of their body looks, they also have friends of all sizes and are supportive when asked to be, but they do not reserve their judgment…these are the people who cry for you and tell you they know how you feel, and I have a feeling when they watch ‘The Biggest Loser” they say to themselves or maybe even out loud “how could you let yourself get that way?”

Both types of people can be great supporters when you are overweight:

The first type is good at being there during your successes and failures; when you slip and find yourself staring at the bottom of a pint of Ben & Jerry’s they are sharing a pint with you, when you call to tell them you lost 1.5 pounds they respond with the enthusiasm of a caffeinated cheerleader, and when you have stopped dieting, they don’t say a word and love you just the same.

The second type is good at the start of a diet and/or fitness routine; they will offer helpful tips and advice, they will offer to be your dieting or work-out buddy, and when you have stopped dieting, they don’t say a word and love you just the same.

Both types of people continue to love you just the same, but unfortunately they both say NOTHING when you stop dieting.

We always show our support at the start and finish lines, but very few of us maintain our support when the hard work is being done; when you hit craving potholes and frustrating plateaus, when you are faced with holidays and happy hour’s, when you ran into your ex or have a blind date, when your children have traded their halos for pitchforks, and when it’s a random Tuesday and the idea of steaming chicken and broccoli AGAIN makes you think you have been wrong about cellulite, it is attractive and I do love it…and how fast does Pizza Hut deliver?

We are responsible for our own lives and it is difficult to be there for someone all the time when you have your own life to live, but what if someone you loved pulled out a tourniquet and heroin needle and started to shoot up…what would you say and do…what if their addiction was food and you watched them devour a pound of M&M’s…could you or would you react the same as you did with the heroin addict?
Addiction is addiction, without enormous love, genuine help, and vigilant support…the addict will eventually die from their disease.

So, if you love someone who is addicted to food and I am quite sure you do, remember they are struggling every day. As with all addicts they may not always be easy to deal with, but if you approach them with honest and positive support you will make a difference…love is easy when everyone is smiling, but love is pure when you are willing to go to hell and back to save someone you are not willing to lose.

Originally published on HubPages ~ October 2011