Whats wrong with this picture??????

[dragonflyjess]

What if these people are actually in the process of being fitter because of their titles? Maybe they both have already lost 10, 20, 30 pounds and are still going strong with their loss? We don't know, pictures may say 1,000 words, but they don't tell us what happened in the past or present.....just a thought

[Erika]

I don't think they have an excuse. I just don't see a reason to point it out.

[Mark57]

Originally Posted by RedLefty

Would you go to a marriage counselor who's been divorced three times? How about a career and time management coach who is always late and misses deadlines?

Maybe we would, maybe we wouldn't. But can we at least recognize the irony of trusting an expert who apparently doesn't follow their own advice? That's all I see going on here -- no value judgments on whether these are good people.

Agree with this 100%, I laughed at the irony, not the individuals involved. If I went to a dentist who's teeth were rotting I'd look for a new dentist. Same as I wouldn't hire a carpenter who's house is falling apart, or a mechanic who's car doesn't run.

Would the people who pay me to do IT support be happy if I couldn't help them because my computer was down? My boss looks like he's about 8 1/2 months along, when he starts trying to give me diet and nutrition advice I reply that if I ever want to look like a pregnant old man I'll come talk to him.

[Jean-Paul]

Have to side with my wife (Erika) on this one... Although there are some articulate and sympathetic replies on this post, the original intention was to get a snicker at someone who is overweight.

Let's reflect for a second on why this forum exists in the first place. Our core values at this forum are to inspire, to teach, and to learn. This does none of those things. It simply hurts the very people that we are trying to attract. This isn't a clique for fit people... It's a dynamic learning environment, and showing respect to others is the single greatest act that I demand from any member of this community.

I am debating taking this thread down. It is hurtful, but at the same time, I want it to serve as an example of how seemingly innocent posts mocking someone can hurt a lot of other people. I doubt Yerac would have put it up if he had known it would truly upset a few people, who by virtue of the fact that they are in here, are doing their best to get in shape, even if they are not there yet.

Let's lift people up, not knock them down!

[Kaiser]

On the topic brought up about trainers being in shape, there was an interesting discussion about it in this thread in the Personal Trainer's subforum: Overweight health professionals

[yerac]

Originally Posted by Jean-Paul

Let's reflect for a second on why this forum exists in the first place. Our core values at this forum are to inspire, to teach, and to learn. This does none of those things. It simply hurts the very people that we are trying to attract. This isn't a clique for fit people... It's a dynamic learning environment, and showing respect to others is the single greatest act that I demand from any member of this community.

I am debating taking this thread down. It is hurtful, but at the same time, I want it to serve as an example of how seemingly innocent posts mocking someone can hurt a lot of other people. I doubt Yerac would have put it up if he had known it would truly upset a few people, who by virtue of the fact that they are in here, are doing their best to get in shape, even if they are not there yet.

Let's lift people up, not knock them down!

I would like to apologize to anyone who was/is offended by the original post. JP is correct.....my intention was not to hurt anyone, and I would support removing this thread.

[ninja]

I bet they went and had cake and cookies afterwards

[laxcdn]

LOL

[ZachL]

For what its worth - I used to be very overweight and I think this is hilarious. Irony is funny.

[nanook]

Here is a question that I think is pertinent. What if this person posted nutritional advice on this board that was generally championed by the majority? Now, if this person then posted their picture and were overweight, would that change the value of that advice?

[Mahler]

Okay, my two cents worth. I looked at the picture and found it ironic that both (not just the woman) were overweight and in a role that had them advising people on proper nutrition. Yes, I laughed. Does it mean that they know nothing about nutrition? NO. Does it make them any less overweight? Sorry, no to that too. It is called irony for a reason.

I am not ashamed to say that I found the picture amusing, and trying to put me on a guilt trip for doing so is not going to work. I've been there and did something about it without the benefit of being in the feild of nutrition. How ironic? Hell, there are plenty of things I do that people surely must laugh at. Sometimes laughter can be a brutal dose of the truth that gets me moving in the right direction.

There are plenty of things that are said, done, posted on this or any forum at which someone might take offense. The big difference is, that when people, like the two pictured in that post, come to this forum, they DO get good advice and they DO get help and they DO get encouragement. They are NOT laughed at, but applauded for wanting to do things that will change their lives. And, very often, they, themselves look back and laugh at the person that they were and how foolish they have been. I do quite often.

[missjane]

I've been reading this with interest and wasn't quite sure how to word my response and then Mahler and Mark summed up exactly the way I feel (and said it better than I probably would have!).

[Lost Dog]

Originally Posted by shark

What HAS bothered me about this is "they have no excuse for being fat" etc,

So, let's hear some good excuses for being fat.

I had plenty of excuses, but none were particularly good.

1. I ate too much food.
2. I ate bad food.
3. I didn't exercise.

I chose to start with 1, moved on to 2, then added 3. 3 is really the only one that took time. The others took the desire to change.

We don't need to mock them, but we don't need to forgive them and let it be ok, either.

I realize that it's not 100% within their conscious control. Extra weight can creep up on you. But, at some point, you know you need to stop and do something about it. If you choose not to, then you've chosen to remain fat.

No one here expects these people to be ripped. I don't even have a problem with them being in those jobs and being given awards, but to not recognize that they create their own barriers to performing their jobs is wrong, too. They need to instill confidence in people who need their help.

In this case, it seems like they are doing it in a hospital situation. In which case, their "clients" may not even have a choice in who they get at their bedside, dishing out nutrition advice. If a recovering patient thinks their nutritionist doesn't know what they are doing, how comforting is that?

[I. Kay]

YouTube - leave britney alone!!!!

[BeachHead]

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

In this case, it seems like they are doing it in a hospital situation. In which case, their "clients" may not even have a choice in who they get at their bedside, dishing out nutrition advice. If a recovering patient thinks their nutritionist doesn't know what they are doing, how comforting is that?

I'm not sure I have sympathy for that patient's feeling of being uncomfortable. What does it say about us as a society when we can't look past a person's physical appearance long enough to receive the educated information and advice they have?

[I. Kay]

"The connection between irony and humour is somewhat revealed when an expected result of an action [knowing a lot about nutrition - being in shape] does not occur but is instead a surprise [she is overweight] that startles us into laughter."

Irony - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Plain and simple.

[sg516]

i still think that some ppl lack a sense of irony and took way too much personal offense to this but i have had a some time to reflect on it.

and it goes back to that old cliche 'those who can, do. those who can't, teach.' (and those that can't teach, teach phys ed. sorry i had to )

yes the fact that this woman is heavy does not in any way mean she is bad at her job. in fact the picture pretty much tells us she is very good at her job. but the credibility she conveys is the issue. sure its a bit hypocritical to dole out dietary advice and not follow it, but i'd be a liar if i every tried to say her hypocrasies are any better or worse than my own.

but i still contend that no one here has yet made fun of them or picked on them. its simply the irony of the photo.

[K-Court]

Originally Posted by Mahler

Okay, my two cents worth. I looked at the picture and found it ironic that both (not just the woman) were overweight and in a role that had them advising people on proper nutrition. Yes, I laughed. Does it mean that they know nothing about nutrition? NO. Does it make them any less overweight? Sorry, no to that too. It is called irony for a reason.

I am not ashamed to say that I found the picture amusing, and trying to put me on a guilt trip for doing so is not going to work. I've been there and did something about it without the benefit of being in the feild of nutrition. How ironic? Hell, there are plenty of things I do that people surely must laugh at. Sometimes laughter can be a brutal dose of the truth that gets me moving in the right direction.

There are plenty of things that are said, done, posted on this or any forum at which someone might take offense. The big difference is, that when people, like the two pictured in that post, come to this forum, they DO get good advice and they DO get help and they DO get encouragement. They are NOT laughed at, but applauded for wanting to do things that will change their lives. And, very often, they, themselves look back and laugh at the person that they were and how foolish they have been. I do quite often.

Nice post, John. Well put.