Stupidity Science and Healthcare

Regular readers of this blog already know that I am somewhat of a contrarian in the way I think and in the way I look at the world in general. 

Having written a book about the wonderful uses of stupidity, well, stupidity is of course infinite, so I limited that book’s subject matter to the realm of the mind.

But with all the talk these days about health care, etc., I was wondering if there was a way to apply stupidity science to that debate.  So:

One of the biggest threats to American health these days is having more fat cells than perhaps one really needs.  This is not news, but, just to repeat, being “overweight” is believed to cause heart problems and diabetes, not to mention depression and all the other emotional things that stem from it.  In the latter, I speak from experience, having been a “chubby kid.”

As I look at all of the products and advertisements for various weight-loss programs, one consistent characteristic comes to light: people who sell these products and programs speak about fat cells as being an evil, shameful (stupid) thing.  It doesn’t end there; if one’s muscles are not “toned” to a severe degree, one’s muscles are treated as an evil, shameful thing as well.  (And of course, the calcium supplement people are very critical of your bones, and let’s not even get started with the hair and skin product people.)

So, stupidity science to the rescue: I have absolutely no research to back this up, but here is a fun little experiment that I would recommend for you to try:

Start thinking of fat as a good thing. 

Also, start thinking of your muscles, what ever their current state of size or elasticity, as a good thing too. 

A fat cell is the most remarkable invention of nature.  To be able to store so much energy in such a small space is a wonderful thing.  The fat cells are wonderfully obedient; they are completely at your command.  Without them, you would be dead.  They serve to insulate you and keep you warm on winter nights.  They will give up their precious energy stores anytime you ask them. 

As for the rest of your body, including your muscles, instead of unfavorably comparing your current muscle tone to some highly exaggerated comic book ideal (which, by the way, is consciously designed to make you feel inferior), just take a moment to consider how fabulous it is that you can walk around on two legs.  Your stomach muscles are holding up your entire upper body, six pack or no.  They are a wonder of engineering. 

Again, I have no real science to offer here, except stupidity science.  And what stupidity science tells me is, if you start telling your spiritual self that you accept and approve of your body, as is, without preconditions of super conditioning, you just might find that you have less desire to eat.  This is because it could be that the reason your spirit reaches for potato chips is because it sees them as a substitute for something it isn’t getting from you, which is some basic appreciation and approval.  

Again, no guarantees can be offered, but I invite you to take just five minutes every day to take a moment to dwell on how utterly unfathomably wonderful even the most basic human body is.  Yes, even yours.

© Justin Locke