the devil's advocate

I'll randomly flip through channels on the television and sometimes will find like dating shows or shows aiming to help people with happiness.

The first thing these shows recommend to do EVERY TIME is to lose weight. Sometimes they'll say it nicely like "get outside and take your dog for a walk!!!" or other times they'll blatantly start visually assaulting the screen with aerobic moves.

Like what?

Since when can't fat people be happy and in good relationships? And why does "fat" connotate such negative feelings and images that we have shows devoted to making sure you unfat yourself? Sure, we're promoting good health and all that jazz. News flash: my fat uncle has lived 15 years longer than my exercise-loving grandpa... surprise!

With that said, the people on these shows are generally not fat either! And if they were? Why not find them another fat person to hang with instead of immediately urging them to go to the gym?

Why should any of us change ourselves to date and *improve happiness*? Losing the pounds won't instantly score you a hot chick and it certainly won't make you so zen that you'll smile at your Starbucks barista when they fuck up your cappuccino...so what gives?

Here's the problem with the "lose weight for happiness" concept. Most of us on le chunky side will buy into it. We'll get thin from denying ourselves our hobbies and carbs in place of Jogging and Vegetables. Yes, we'll lose some weight. We might even find a significant other! This significant other will probably love Jogging and Vegetables also because we either met them at The Jogging and Vegetables Club (since we've focused on nothing else) or online where we have advertised ourself as Someone Who Loves Jogging and Vegetables. We'll become happy in our relationship and slowly start doing things we really love again (but didn't have time for before because we were too busy losing weight and finding a bf/gf) and Jogging and Vegetables will take a backseat. Suddenly we're fluffy again and find we have nothing in common with our beau or we're too fat for them. Whatever the case may be - it was all a lie anyway.

Lose weight if you feel like it. Don't do it because you feel at the end of it all you're owed something or there's a prize waiting for you.

I'm sure some people find nirvana and happy mediums and positive energy in the scale. Mazel tov to you - I'm going to go find my boyfriend at the supermarket... probably in the bakery section.