Self-inflicted disabilities

A dictionary definition of disabled is "crippled, injured, incapacitated". Wikipedia has a more extensive definition that incorporates multiple factors:

A disability in humans may be physical, cognitive/mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.

An impairment is a problem in body function or structure; an activity limitation is a difficulty encountered by an individual in executing a task or action; while a participation restriction is a problem experienced by an individual in involvement in life situations. Thus disability is a complex phenomenon, reflecting an interaction between features of a person’s body and features of the society in which he or she lives.

An individual may also qualify as disabled if he/she has had an impairment in the past or is seen as disabled based on a personal or group standard or norm. Such impairments may include physical, sensory, and cognitive or developmental disabilities. Mental disorders (also known as psychiatric or psychosocial disability) and various types of chronic disease may also qualify as disabilities.

A disability may occur during a person's lifetime or may be present from birth.

It's one thing to have a birth defect or disability as the result of injury or accident; it is quite another to have a self-inflicted disability that prevents you from enjoying so much that life has to offer.

I'm so used to mingling with sporty friends who have full range of motion and if they want to go on a four-hour run/walk, they are perfectly able to do so. Over the festive season I encountered many overweight people - not obese, but certainly carrying a good too many kilograms - including young, young children.

Aside from the associated health risks (heart disease, diabetes, hypertension), movement and mobility is severely restricted. Walking up stairs leaves them huffing and puffing, they're unable to trim their toenails (belly in the way), getting out of a car is awkward, a quick walk to the top of a hill to see the beautiful view is out of the question, playing run-around games like catchers and stuck-in-the-mud is uncomfortable (chubby children avoid these fun games), airline seats are a squeeze, backs give problems (yours would give you problems too if you carried a 20kg backpack all day, every day), picking a dropped item from the ground is challenging and even walking becomes a problem.

Take a good look at shoppers in your local mall and you'll see many weight-induced 'deformities' - legs that splay because thighs get in the way and feet that turn outwards; bad posture from large bellies...

Although an extra two to five kilos is probably better than being a too-thin waif, it is way too easy to gain excessive weight (good cooking, tasty treats, yummy large meals, too little exercise, convenient snacks). The carrying of too much weight is incredibly restrictive to activities and mobility... I'm especially distressed to see so many young children disabled in this way.

Weightloss must be the #1 New Year resolution; people vow to lose weight by giving up food items and going to gym regularly. It rarely works because the mechanisms are all wrong.

Giving up junk food completely is silly; restricting yourself to four chocolates a month (instead of 4 a week) and an occasional burger when you really feel like it (not just because it is convenient) is more realistic. Ditto with reducing the number of times you eat out (take out included) in a month and instead saving these outings for special occasions. What's the fun in completely cutting out foods you like? It isn't sustainable.

As for going to gym - gym isn't for everyone. It's more important to find an activity you enjoy - dancing, walking/running in social groups, martial arts, mountain biking. If you didn't like gym before, you won't like it now.

One thing I've found from pole dance fitness is that the women (from 18 to 50's in my class) inevitably lose weight - steadily - over time. And it isn't just because they're exercising regularly and firming up. When you've got to wear little shorts (skin grips on the pole, fabric doesn't) and the room has large mirrors on the walls... Large tees and loose trackpants have no place in my studio. In pole dance fitness we lift our own body weight constantly - it is far easier to lift 60kg than 80kg. And if your movement is restricted by unnecessary mass, there's a lot you can't do. And the 'girls' want to learn more and do more - so the weight sheds.

The human body is an amazing thing - it can be so able and agile and strong. We don't wish disabilities through injury, accidents or illness on ourselves or others - so why do we disable ourselves through self-inflicted abuse?

This year, aim to change your perspective on weightloss and gain. See too much weight as a disability that prevents you from doing so many wonderful activities (everyday activities too) instead of just fat around your midrif. Maybe this will help to get you to where you would like to be.