What propels an industry towards having a net gross of 20
billion per year? Probably the 108 million different people who are clawing
into their savings to find a quick fix to their health and aesthetic dilemma. The
weight loss industry isn’t keeping all of that money to themselves though. In
fact, they pay celebrity endorsers an average of 33,000 dollars per pound they
say their product helped them lose. Of course, if none of this works you can
spend 26,000 dollars on bariatric surgery and just shrink your stomach.
It’s a shame when the numbers on a stat sheet are more
impressive than the numbers on a scale. But I guess that’s what happens when
people make goals that they don’t want to work for. I’m not saying that these
people don’t work, don’t misunderstand me. How else could they afford to buy
into the weight loss industry? In fact, most people probably work very hard as
they sacrifice health for a paycheck; only to spend said paycheck back on their
health. It’s a vicious cycle that has turned two thirds of the country into
obese “weight watchers.” Watching their weight go up.
But now we have a problem. Diet pills and meal shakes will
never compensate for a full blown lifestyle change. Taking a xenadren and then
chasing it with a twinky and diet coke won’t cut it. I hope they make a lot of
money, because this attempt at watered down dieting will get you nowhere but a
wasted paycheck. But then what happens when their just as far away from their
goals as when they spent the first dime? Spend more dimes right? That’s what
Jessica Simpson might try and sell you, but truth lies elsewhere.
A goal is an object of ambition that a person chases. Goals
are meant to be chased; not lollygagged towards with the hope of easy success.
When a wolf chases its prey, it doesn’t sloth around hoping to get what it
wants. Not a chance. The wolf attacks its goal and brings it to its knees. It
will clamp its canines down as hard as possible and subdue the prey. It’s a
ferocious and admirable ordeal. Does spending 45.95 on a bottle of pills sound
like a chase? It sounds more like a waddle to me.
Sometimes, having a goal means having two choices. You
either change your life to reach that goal, or you realize you don’t have what
it takes and you change that goal. It’s a harsh statement, especially when you
hold true to the thought that America is the land of possibilities, but it’s
painfully true. You can’t have you cake and eat it too; no pun intended. I
firmly believe that most goals can be reached, but the sacrifice necessary to
reach these goals is far outside the threshold that most people are willing to
go.
“I want to be skinny,
but food tastes so good. Why should I be hungry?”
“I want to more
muscular, but I hate chicken and rice.”
“I want to be stronger, but I don’t want to do this workout.”
Reaching a goal cannot always be bought with money. Sure,
you have to spend something on it, but not something green. Goals cost effort,
heart, and sacrifice. No matter how much money you throw at them, a goal will
always require you to change something about yourself.
Rich Froning is an intense crossfit competitor who devotes
up to 2 and a half hours to his goal every day, putting in nearly 15 hours a
week on workouts alone. During this year’s Crossfit Games Rich slumped far from
first place after the first couple days competition, however, by the end of the
Crossfit games Rich came home as the champion. He has now won 4 times in a row. If he had done just a little
less, or didn’t change his life for his goal, I don’t think Rich would be able
to win like he has.
We set goals for glorious things. I want to be a nationally
ranked powerlifter. I want Endu to become a household name. I want a steak
sandwich. I want my garden to flourish so I can give out fresh organic produce.
These things are seen as honorable because they are hard to achieve. Not
everyone can do this, because it takes a lot of dedication, effort, and
sacrifice; okay maybe not the sandwich, but you know what I mean. The point is that people recognize it as an achievement because it takes something extra.
In summary, you can either make a less monetary investment
in your goals, or you can change your goals. Unless your goal is to spend lots
of money. Then I guess you probably need to spend money to reach that goal.
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