I was approached recently by a rather aggressive sales rep for a well-known international supplements company that supposedly helps people to lose weight. She had seen my name on the Vancouver Mom list of Top Bloggers. When she discovered that I am a Fit 4 Two ® fitness trainer and a personal stylist she thought I would make an ideal sales rep for her multi-level marketing company.
Our conversation about weight loss went something like this:
Her: “Our products will help you lose weight”
Me: “But I’m not trying to lose weight.”
Her: “It will help your postnatal fitness clients to shed their pregnancy pounds.”
Me: “I don’t assume that’s their top goal. I train my clients so they can  rehab after childbirth, become stronger and have more energy for parenting. Exercise also helps de-stress and improve their overall health. Some of my clients would like to run another marathon down the road. Some just want to be able to get down and up off the floor to play with their kid. If their goal is to drop pounds, I promote healthy eating vs weight loss using supplements.”
Her: “Um. Ok. What about your personal styling clients? They want to look better in their clothes, right?”
Me: “Yes, but that’s why we find them clothes that fit well and make them feel great in the body they have now, not a few pounds from now.”
Her: “Wow! You’re really positive!”
Me: “Thanks, but that’s just the way I feel.”
Her: “So…could I interest you in a 30 day cleanse?”
Me: Â (Shaking my head) “Yeah, I don’t think so.”
I was annoyed and disturbed that she could not seem to get her head around my objections to promoting her products. She even made a follow-up call a few days later to offer me a free membership! An additional stream of income? Sure that might be nice, but not if it means going against my core values.
Yes, I can help you lose weight if that’s what you want, but I will never assume you do. Don’t believe for a second that you are not already fabulous and deserving of all good things just as you are.
Let’s hang out! Follow me on on  Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Sandra Vander Schaaf
May 18, 2016 at 10:23 amA few more reasons to love you and how you do what you do, dear Dee!
Sandra Boyd
September 15, 2016 at 10:27 pmAmazing Dee! You are so awesome! Thank you for not buying into the bullshit that we all want/have to be thin. Health, fitness and mobility is where it’s at!
Dee Clarke
September 16, 2016 at 5:21 amThanks for your encouraging comment, Sandra. I am thrilled to know so many others feel the same way. Together we are being the change.
Salma
May 14, 2018 at 7:51 amHow annoying! But I love your viewpoint Dee. For me when I stopped looking at the number on the scale, it was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders
Reg Lok
May 14, 2018 at 1:07 pmWOW. I would find that conversation very offensive. Can’t believe it’s still happening in 2018! It’s so great that you encourage your participants to feel great rather than focus SOLELY on aesthetic goals. Glad you shared this.
Dee Clarke
May 14, 2018 at 4:41 pmThanks, Reg. I know you’re on the same page with your clients too.
Michael Kwan
May 14, 2018 at 2:04 pmPerfectly on point. Losing weight isn’t always the goal and, truth be told, it very rarely is. Two people could weigh exactly the same and look totally different. For my part, I’m far less interested in dropping pounds as I am in re-shaping what pounds I have.
Dee Clarke
May 15, 2018 at 8:03 amPrecisely! Everyone’s goals are different and it is incredibly offensive to think everyone wants to lose weight.
Kristyl
May 14, 2018 at 4:30 pmThank you for posting this. I have been getting these messages lately too and find them so bothersome.
Dee Clarke
May 14, 2018 at 4:38 pmI find them even more irritating when it’s a woman pushing weight loss.
Jennifer
May 14, 2018 at 6:46 pmYou are amazing. I love this post, so right on.
Dee Clarke
May 15, 2018 at 8:01 amThanks so much, Jennifer. Who’s got time for that???
Heydy Lopez
May 15, 2018 at 10:32 amThanks for posting this! I get reached out to ALL the time for things like this and it just really grinds my gears. It’s not about losing weight to everyone and sometimes it just about being healthy and comfortable in your own skin.