So how does it happen? I have so many questions as I look around and see the number of overweight and obese people in the community? When did it become ok to buy bigger size shirts & pants instead of trying to lose weight?Do they find it uncomfortable to do every day tasks such as putting on shoes, walking down stairs, rolling over in bed?

Do their knees, ankles & back hurt carrying that extra weight? But of course these are questions that I think about but will probably never ask for fear of upsetting someone. As I look around and see these people all I want to do is go up and introduce myself and see if I could help them in any way and of course tell them about Xndo. To let them know how important it is for normal bodily function to remain at a healthy weight for their lifetime. I want to just help and give advice. But then I ask myself - would they want to be helped?

Would they like to hear about having to change their diet, how to exercise correctly, why it’s important to reduce the amount of sugar and salt they consume, why having deep fried snacks are unhealthy for them?? And the answer I believe is correct is that people probably would like to hear it…. but think it’s all too hard to actually do.

Studies have shown that people don’t try to improve their health and change their lifestyles until after their first catastrophic health event. i.e. their first heart attack or stoke. But unfortunately by that stage it’s almost too late. How do I travel back through time to that same person and 20 years earlier intervene in their diet, exercise and lifestyle so they never have that heart attack or stroke. What are the words I can say to them to help them… to make them realise that it can happen to them? And for that….I still don’t have an answer.

For me personally, ‘that moment’ came for me at a young age. At 14 years old, visiting my grandfather in intensive care at a hospital after his surgery to have 7 bypasses in his heart. Seeing him so sick and in pain. And the doctor immediately ordered him to change his diet and of course implemented exercise into his life making him do a 1 hour walk every day. From that moment on, I knew with no uncertain fact, that I was never going to let the same thing happen to me. Not only that, I was going to form a career in the health industry. Still to this day, more than 15 years later - that vision of my grandfather in hospital is my main motivation to lead a healthy lifestyle and promote the importance of a healthy lifestyle to anyone that will listen. But I’m one of the lucky ones, I’ve started young.

In the meantime, I’ll keep promoting loud and clear that weight is a matter of health, not just a matter of vanity. It’s important to look good & feel great on the outside- but more importantly ensure that your body function is normal on the inside too. And if anyone has any tips on how to create ‘that moment’ for people please let me know.