'Diet Culture', Operation Transformation and 'Change Your World'

Apologies in advance for what a feel will be a long newsletter on a topic that I have been wrestling with for a while on how I stand and how to convey my message.

A lot of my thoughts and ideas for this newsletter usually come during my long Sunday run and, what I had in my head may not come out in words on this newsletter but we'll see where we go with it.

This week, Operation Transformation started back. Truth be told, I did not watch it so I will not comment on the episode. However, I have seen a lot of commentary around it when it comes to 'diet culture' and mental health that I do want to address.

Side Note: where are all the gym owners that were talking about mental health during lockdowns for gyms to be open, only to promote their crash diet approaches now?

Back to Operation Transformation and the 'diet culture' talk around it. I did a blog/newsletter on this a few months ago when old clips of the programme surfaced on Instagram. Again, I have not watched the show this week so they may have made drastic changes to it. And the reason I haven't watched is honestly that I have zero interest in it, personally. If you watch it, and you are motivated by it. Fantastic! If not, that's great, too.

The 'diet culture' has been brought up quite a bit. The Irish Independent had an article describing it as "hugely triggering" (it's a paid article now, so I wouldn't click it). The Irish Times has a similar headline and you can read the full article HERE.

I want to be very careful on how I use my words as it has affected people negatively and caused eating disorders. The claim is that Operation Transformation focuses so much on weight loss as opposed to proper lifestyle change and body acceptance, which can lead to fat-shaming.

Fat shaming is an awful thing. I think we can all agree on that. And through the different radio interviews, I've heard this week, particularly on Friday with a woman who was a then 18-year contestant (contestant the right word for that show?) who subsequently went through an eating disorder after the ordeal she went through on the show, annoy me. No 18-year-old person should ever be on a diet TV show. It was 10 or so years back. It was wrong then and it's wrong now.

I'm also of the opinion that if you don't like something, change the channel. Don't let that negative energy consume you. But it's a main show on the national broadcaster. People are watching and listening. And, for something running this long, has to have worked for some, right?

But, back to fat-shaming for a second. You have no idea what that person is going through. Both mentally and physically to be where they are now. I would never judge a person for that. They could be at the very start of their fitness person. They could be a large person who does train 3-4 times a week and is fitter and faster than those with less body mass than them. Or they can just be comfortable with their size and that's that.

All of the above can be true. However, and this is where I am struggling with my wording, so I have to be blunt. Despite hearing this from that side of the coin, thus week on multiple occasions, being obese is not healthy. Promoting being comfortable in your own skin is great, more power to you. But you then have to acknowledge the increased health risks of being obese. The increased risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes. It can literally shorten your life.

The other thing we have to acknowledge is that, yes it is much more difficult for some than others to lose weight, but that the person has to accept that it is possible if they look at it with a different outlook.

Now, I am not talking about people currently going through eating disorders. Not my field. Can not offer any help or advice there. To people who say, I've heard it on my travels a few times this week; 'this is me, I'm fat and I have accepted it'. That's also not true.

As the line goes from Denzel Washington in one of my favourite movies, 'The Equalizer', "Change Your World".

Another side note: I had a horrible diet/training regime a few years back I was stressed with work, eating chicken fillet rolls for breakfast after a half attempt on the odd gym session, trying to make it own my own etc. and not taking care of myself. This is not a sob story about me, but it's actually about those around me that I used to live with. A few of them got in better shape after they moved out and address getting healthy in their own way. They remind me of this from time to time and it would be funnier for me if it wasn't so true.

They 'changed their world'. They found people to train with on activities they wanted to do without focusing on nutrition and, over time, had great results.

Thankfully I did, too. And I enjoy the training and the routine I am currently in.

And if you are struggling with food choices, diets, diet culture, weight and don't know the answer, I would recommend the same thing for you too.

What do I practically mean by that?

Take the focus away from the scales (ironically still the logo and focal point Operation Transformation). Focus on doing an activity you enjoy doing. The great thing about this is that it can be ANYTHING that gets you moving. It doesn't have to be a strenuous activity, either. Getting an audiobook and walking while listening to it, or walking the dog is a fantastic start.

I would encourage doing something that you can do with others, whatever that may be. You are more likely to enjoy it. Do not track the scales.

Going back to my own issues a few years back in comparison to where I am now. I am not naive enough to suggest that training alone will solve all your health and weight issues. There were other things that were affecting my stress levels, sleep etc that I needed to address.

Stress, lack of sleep and different lifestyles can have a negative effect on trying to lose weight. It can screw up our metabolism, have us binge eating or make poor choices like a chicken fillet roll for breakfast most mornings (college life!). Depression can play a huge part in our activity levels, decision making, health and size as well.

So losing fat can be very complicated when you look at setting up a routine for it. But, you also have to acknowledge that for the vast majority of us, at the end of the day, calories in vs calories out will determine your weight (body fat percentage) over time!

Proper nutrition plays a vital role! But you have to get yourself in the right routine and mindset to tackle it. Take little steps towards it. That's why I recommend finding the activity you enjoy doing, having a common goal with others.

As well as that, for those that are on a particular diet that they feel is sustainable in working towards long term goals, that's great too! I am not against diets, as long as it's working towards something sustainable in the long term. So these diets do not include your shake diets, your stupidly low amount of calories a day that has you constantly starving or anything that attempts to immediately overhaul your approach to nutrition for your entire life until this point, straight away!

My point in all of this? You need to find what works for you! 'Change your world'. Change your approach. Change your attitude.

If you're struggling with weight and feel nothing has worked. Try to find an activity you enjoy doing first. Forget about everything else. Just one change to get moving more. That's it for the next 4-6 weeks. Then re-assess. Long term problems require long term solutions, not quick fixes.

If you're motivated with the turn of a new year, enjoy Operation Transformation and feel that it has a positive effect on you, both with your mental and physical health, then keep going with that!

If you're currently on a New Years diet or are about to embark on one, best of luck with it. Take it slow. Enjoy the journey. Remember that one good meal or one slip up will not define the diet you are on and best of luck in chasing your long term goals for 2022 and beyond!

Sorry for the long-winded newsletter this week. It will probably result in a few unsubscribes but I wanted to get my thoughts on the matter out for those that I work with on my opinions on 'diet culture' and approaches to fat loss.

I'm off to get a few beers and sit at the edge of my seat for the win and get into the playoffs for my 49ers tonight and then do something that truly scares me in the morning. More on that next week and apologies in advance for anyone who follows me on Instagram for the stories tonight!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Seán