A Word About Words

Let's talk about fat. Are you fat? Yes or no. What determines your answer? Is it based on scientific fact? Is it based on how you look? Feel? Did someone call you fat? Have you ever called someone else fat?

Let's look at the definition of fat.
Noun: 

1. A natural oily or greasy substance occuring in animal bodies, especially when deposited as a layer under the skin or around certain organs
2. A fatty substance made from animal or plant products, used in cooking
3. The presence of excess fat in a person or animal, causing them to appear corpulent (By the way, "corpulent" apparently has no definition, just synonyms, one of which is "fat"-- kind of a round-about way of thinking if you ask me.)

Adjective:  

1. (of a person or animal) having a large amount of excess flesh
2. (of an animal bred for food) made plump for slaughter
3. Large in bulk or circumference
4.  informal (of an asset or opportunity) financially substantial or desirable

So, according to the Oxford dictionary, fat is mostly a good idea, neutral, even nutritional. What dictionaries don't tend to take into account, though, are the connotations of words, like "fat." If you answered yes to my first question, I'm guessing you answered it with a degree of disgust or reluctant acceptance. 

Now answer this question: Are you ugly? Yes or no. What determines your answer? Is it based on scientific fact? Did someone call you ugly? Have you ever called someone else ugly? 

Ugly:

1. Unpleasant or repulsive, especially in appearance
2. (Of a situation or mood) involving or likely to involve violence or other unpleasantness
3. Unpleasantly suggestive; causing disquiet
4. Morally repugnant     

"Ugly" is negative in itself; it has never been used with a positive connotation, except maybe at Halloween. The problem that I see most often, and have probably been guilty of in the past, is that people tend to determine one word from the other. If someone is fat, then he/she is ugly. But according to the rule of logic, wouldn't that mean that if someone were ugly, he/she would have to be fat as well? Problem: we, as a society, have added a negative connotation to the word "fat" that was never meant to be. If you go to the doctor and are told you are overweight, do you automatically think, "It's official--I'm fat"? I have a feeling the answer is another yes. But when doctors use the terms obese or overweight, they aren't referring to appearance. They are referring to health. 

Consider this (for those whom this applies to): the next time you look in the mirror and don't like what you see because of extra flab or plumpness, change your wording from, "I'm fat," to "I'm overweight." See if that doesn't change your outlook on yourself. 

Fat is an ugly word, unless you're a chef or a rancher. If you're overweight and want to improve your health, first you have to change your thoughts. I've had coaches tell me that overcoming long distances is more mental than physical, and I believe it. I also believe this philosophy can apply to any challenge in life, including losing weight and/or reaching a desired level of health. 

I'd like to end with this scenario: Imagine your dog or cat was "fat." It's funny for most people, even cute. When you take him for a walk or play at home, he starts to wheeze and needs a break after just a few minutes. He looks like a sorry fool when he rolls around on the floor, cleans himself, or waddles to the food bowl for his sixth meal. No one looks at him and thinks, "gross, he's fat." He doesn't care that he has extra flab or a large belly. He's just happy to be with you. But then you find out from your vet that if Fluffy doesn't lose some weight, he's not going to live a very long life. That means saying goodbye long before you expected. BOOM. Time to change. 

Now, I know it's easier to put our pets on diets because it doesn't mean that we have to suffer through a sweet tooth or portion control or low carb lifestyles, but try to put yourself in Fluffy's shoes. If you're overweight, obese, unhealthy, that doesn't mean you're ugly. It's just time to change--time to change your eating habits, time to change your exercise routine (or incorporate one), time to change how you feel, time to feel better. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: thoughts are powerful. Change your thoughts, and you can change most anything about yourself.

Live well.