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Kettlebody Tip #76: Get weight-loss surgery

Charlie — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 07:14:47 +0000

I have had it up to HERE with people talking smack about gastric bypass and other weight-loss surgery.

“All you have to do is change your lifestyle!”

What people who say things like that don’t understand is that anyone who considers weight-loss surgery has probably tried every diet under the sun.

They have tried exercise, too.

Mostly, they have lived probably their whole life hating themselves because of their size. And they have tried desperately to get smaller without surgery, to no avail.

So why do so many people talk about weight-loss surgery as if it is a cop-out?

I’m here to say that it’s not a cop-out. It is a great solution for many people who have struggled with their weight and do it with the right intentions, education, and plan for after.

My sister had it five years ago, and her results were incredible. I saw how hard she worked to get thin for most of her life. It was so painful to see her teased, humiliated, and treated poorly because of her size, all the while knowing how desperately she was trying to not be that size. The surgery was the first and only thing that worked long-term for her. I’m proud of her for having the courage to do it.

Of course, there are complications and risks involved. For example, I saw an Oprah show that said patients have a high likelihood of developing alcoholism because of the way the surgery changes their body. Plus digestive issues, nutritional deficiencies, and the serious complications that accompany any major surgery.

I’m not saying it is the best solution for everyone, but it is a great solution for some. And you are ignorant and wrong to think that a person who chooses it is lazy, unmotivated, or undeserving of weight loss.

By Charlie Fields of kettlebody.com. Charlie is a San Diego personal trainer known for his pleasure-enhancing approach to exercise and eating. For more tips like this or to learn about Charlie’s bootcamps, eating workshops and coaching, or personal training, visit kettlebody.com.

Kettlebody Tip #46: Love your love handles

Charlie — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 14:34:24 +0000

I was just watching Olympic swimming and noticed something exciting!

Michael Phelps has love handles.

He, with the hottest and most talked about body in Beijing right now, has love handles.

And I do, too.

So what?

Well, if you are lucky enough to have love handles, you can take your shirt off, look in the mirror and be proud to be among Michael and me in this very elite circle.

Here are two related things to think about:

1. What you do is sexier than what your body looks like. Michael Phelps is not the finest specimen to ever don a Speedo. Yeah, he looks good, but what is really sexy about him is that he is such a successful and passionate athlete. Wouldn’t you rather focus on being successful and passionate in your life than on feeling bad about a part of your body?

2. You can minimize the visual effect of love handles by changing your wardrobe. Ditch the wife-beaters, board shorts, and box-cut swimsuits. Instead favor slightly loose-fitting tops and low-cut speedos and shorts.

Life is too short for body hatred! Love those handles today!

Kettlebody Tip #39: Rate yourself a TEN!

Charlie — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 08:29:46 +0000

You’re a ten.

Believe it.

Today on the Tyra show, everyone in the audience rated each other on their looks from one to ten. Then Tyra made them wear their number for the duration of the show (of course Tyra herself didn’t have to wear a number).

Then they brought out couples, couples in which the man was rated much higher than the woman.

All of the men said that they see their wives as TENS!

Get it?

It made me realize that it doesn’t matter how random strangers think you look. All it does is make you feel bad for no good reason. And if you’re feeling bad about yourself, you won’t be able to live the happy and positive life that you deserve!

People who love you always think you look great. So you should, too!

PS…The best part of the show was when a woman who thought she wasn’t pretty told Tyra that a woman can’t be both pretty and smart. The look on Tyra’s face was PRICELESS!

Today is Gay Pride in San Diego! It’s a time to celebrate, especially this year. I want all of you to be proud, not just of being gay, but of who you are and how you look. You really are beautiful, just like Christina says, so act like it!!

Kettlebody Tip #31: Go shirtless NOW!

Charlie — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:01:31 +0000

A lot of prospective clients tell me that their goal is to go shirtless at the beach.

I ask them why they can’t go shirtless now.

Your body is not something to be ashamed of, no matter how you used to look or how you think you should look. Your body is wonderful, and you can be proud of it!

Sure, it feels nice to walk down Black’s and make heads turn, but it feels even better to walk with your head high, free from caring how others think you look.

Do you know why? Because when the way you feel about yourself is dependent on how other people think you look, you are in prison. That is a sad and dangerous place to be. It is the breeding ground for depression, eating disorders, alcoholism, and drug abuse. I know, I’ve been there.

Just this weekend, I went to two pool parties with my friend who has a really great body. For a minute, I felt a little nervous about being shirtless right next to him (even though I think I’m in damn good shape, myself), but then I remembered that it doesn’t matter. Even if people at the parties thought his body was “better” than mine, it really didn’t matter. Making the conscious decision to not worry about that allowed me to enjoy myself and have fun!

And, frankly, everyone (even the super-hotties of the world) would do well to stop caring what other people think NOW because it is inevitable that we will one day be too old (or too something else) to turn heads.

Besides, no one really cares how you look shirtless at the beach. They really don’t. Trust me, they don’t.

Now, bottomless at the beach? That’s another story!

Kettlebody Tip #25: Find your real reason

Charlie — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:34:20 +0000

You say you want to lose weight.

But why?

“To look better” is too vague.

“To be healthy” doesn’t mean anything.

“To get a six-pack” is not enough.

WHY???

You must get down to the real reason why you want to lose weight for you to be able to really do it.

Clarify your reason. Keep asking yourself why you want to do this.

Maybe your real reason is that you want to feel confident going shirtless at the beach.
Maybe your real reason is that you want to be a healthy example for your children.
Maybe your real reason is that you don’t think guys will find you attractive unless you have a six-pack.

Now, I’m not saying that your real reason is necessarily true or good. What I am saying is that if you don’t have a real reason, you won’t be able to find that motivation from within to achieve your goals.

Kettlebody Tip #6: Grass not always greener

Charlie — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:11:34 +0000

The next time you are feeling bad about yourself and the way your body looks, remember this:

A lot of skinny girls wish they had curves

A lot of lean guys long for a more filled-out look.

A lot of people with “hot bodies” often wonder if anyone would like them if their bodies weren’t so “hot.”

This reminds me of a quote from the movie Sparkle starring Irene Cara and Philip Michael Thomas.

The daughter tells her mom she is leaving home because she has too many problems there.

Mama says “Any problems you have here are going with you in that suitcase.”

It’s the same with your body image. You can transform your body, but if you don’t feel good about yourself now, you probably won’t feel good about yourself later.

So learn to love your body right now. Start by giving yourself a big hug!

How to lose weight without losing your friends: 3 Tips!

Charlie — Tue, 06 May 2008 09:24:48 +0000

I was in the club tonight celebrating Cinqo de Mayo when Juan told me that he had just been snubbed by a guy who walked by us.

I know him! He used to be my friend then he lost some weight and now he acts like he doesn’t know me.

This happens a lot when people lose weight. They find themselves with fewer friends, and they don’t know how or why.

Here are three tips for losing weight without losing friends:

1. Stop talking about your weight loss.

Your friends really don’t care how many pounds you have lost. Just say that you’re not keeping track, and then change the subject to something about them

-So, how many pounds have you lost so far?

–I haven’t weighed myself in a while…OMFG, where did you get your shoes?

Talking too much about yourself alienates others. Especially if all you’re talking about is how many grams of protein you ate at lunch or how much you have grown to love kale. Plus, talking about your weight loss might make your friends feel guilty if they think they should be losing weight, too. You don’t want to make your friends feel guilty so do like the Go-Gos and keep your lips sealed.

2. Don’t become a hoe.

It’s great that so many more guys find you attractive now that you are thin, but limit your bar make-out sessions to one per night. Or at least get your sluttiness out by yourself. Don’t drag your friends to the club so that they can watch you give your number to anything with a dick. Hoes are embarrassing so get some class or people will stop inviting you places.

3. Don’t become a thin snob.

Some people lose weight and forget they were ever fat. They don’t even want to talk to anyone who looks like they used to look. It’s kind of like poor people who become rich and will only associate with other rich people. They’ll even talk badly about fat people as if they don’t know how hurtful and mean such talk is.

Bonus Tip

As you lose weight, take time to reflect on how you are changing inside and how you want your life to be. Maybe you will want to be more outgoing. Well, be aware that some of your friends might not like the more outgoing you. They might prefer the shy you. Some people don’t like adjusting to change, even if it seems like a positive change. Just be a kind, positive person and trust that any friends you lose will be replaced by ones who like you for who you are and how you want to be.

Learn to celebrate your body by getting a TATTOO!!

Charlie — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 20:35:25 +0000

Here’s mine:

OK, it wasn’t real. It’s gone now.

But, having a tattoo like that, even for only a week, was a great way for me to celebrate my body!

If you are like me and can be uncomfortable with showing a lot of skin (especially when there’s no body of water nearby), having a tattoo on skin that clothes normally cover can help you get over that. It’s so fun to show people, and people enjoy seeing it, that you can quickly overcome any insecurities about your body!

Try it for yourself. Next time you are at a fair where you see someone giving airbrush tattoos, get a huge one on your stomach or back, and show it off. You’ll be glad you did!

Then take a photo and e-mail it to me charlie@homobody.com.

Dear Charlie: How many sessions to get a body like yours?

Charlie — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 18:56:01 +0000

Dear Charlie:

How many sessions would someone with an average body need to get like yours?

Average Jo

Dear Av-Jo,

Now you are talking miracles!

Seriously, though, it depends on how hard they work out, how they eat, their body chemistry, and even sleeping patterns! There are a lot of variables in changing your body, and the number of training sessions is just one of them.

That said, combining my intense kettlebell workouts with light eating will have you seeing results quickly. Doing one without the other will give you results, too, but much more slowly.

So while I can’t give you the number of sessions you will need to get a great body, once you make that your goal, I promise you will be surprised how quickly it comes. I know I was!

-Charlie

3 Cosmo Cover Girls who need reality checks! And what you can learn from them.

Charlie — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 23:26:54 +0000

I love reading Cosmopolitan magazine. There are lots of fun articles. “Orgasms Unlimited,” anyone??

BUT, there is one tiny section that irks me every month.

It’s actually just one question on the Cosmo Quiz that is given to each and every cover girl.

That question is this:

I think my body:

a. is just right

b. may not be perfect, but it’s mine

c. could stand to lose/gain a few pounds

They always choose B!

This question is there to show readers that even beautiful stars have insecurities about their bodies just like we do…as if that’s a good thing!

A good thing would be if these beautiful stars would recognize and celebrate their beauty, showing us an example of someone saying “yeah, I look great, and it’s wonderful!”

In recent months,

Beyonce
Rihanna
Katherine Heigl

have all said that their body may not be perfect, but it’s real.

Now, I think Beyonce must be the ONLY person on Earth who thinks that her body isn’t perfect. What the hell is not perfect about her body?

If these incredibly gorgeous women think their bodies are flawed, what hope do we mortals have in feeling confident in our looks? LOTS.

Because all we have to do is choose to believe that our bodies are perfect. Choose to believe that your body is just right. Now, it’s just right. Not after you lose five pounds. Right now.

Think about this: if you don’t believe your body is perfect now, you won’t believe it when you lose five pounds.

Now say it.

I’ll go first. My body IS just right. My body IS perfect…and it’s mine!

Your turn!