Who's to blame??

Are you accountable?

Well known fitness professional and my very good friend Ryan Lee, sent out an email last week. It was a video clip of him blowing apart some common fitness myths as well as promoting his newest product, Body Bot.

While I was listening he said a something that really caught my attention.

He said 'I'm not saying that these myths are to blame for you being overweight, that is your fault.'

It hit me how this is something you just don't ever hear anyone say and for several reasons that I can think of. You don't want to make someone feel bad or offend them for being the biggest reason.

But I thought about it and realized that this should not be offensive. Our weight and fitness level is a direct reflection of the choices we make and it's that simple. Why blame misinformation, or work, or the kids, or stress or being tired, or not having time to cook or any of the other things we blame.

It can be a very positive thing, I think, to put the responsibility on ourselves. It is empowering. When we blame things outside of ourselves we are giving up our power to take action and change things. That should be more offensive than hearing someone say 'it's your fault'.

Being accountable for our health and fitness, instead of looking outward for answers (or excuses), is the best thing we can do for ourselves.

What do you think?