Loosen up to lose weight

Ratna Raman

It is increasingly true that urban Indians  with  long work hours and less time to fix themselves wholesome meals are “piling on the pounds” (putting on weight) by consuming  foods  full of  unhealthy oils, sugars and processed flour.  

 Sedentary (involving little physical activity) lifestyles and the increased consumption of   empty calories in “convenience foods” (packaged foods, readily available at shops) are also playing havoc with people’s health. “Couch potatoes” (slang, person seated on a sofa, couch, play-station, or watching TV) lead lives of “repose” (rest).  When human bodies, dynamos of energy are subjected to minimal limb movement, adipose (fat) tends to accumulate.  Un-stretched limbs “pose” (present) their own set of hazards. It is better to walk, jog, run, do Pilates, visit the gym or adopt yoga poses, because physical activity always “counter-poses” (is in opposition to) the piling up of fat.

 The anxiety to lose weight on the part of the obese is matched by the eagerness of the weight-loss industry to help people lose extra pounds.  This energy is manifested in personal weight loss manifestoes and advertisements offering weight loss programmes.

 Popular weight loss programmes advertising miracle cures or diets, offer advice on how to “loose weight.” While supporting the cause of weight-loss for reasons of health, fitness and well-being, I stridently oppose the assault on language perpetrated by people mindful of the extra weight they are struggling with. Yes, sometimes there could be a need to lose a lot of weight. Adding an extra ‘o’ to the verb ‘lose’ is incorrect use of language and does not really help matters.

The verb “lose” is present tense. Weight can be “lost” (past tense) and “losing” (present continuous) weight is a possibility for most people most of the time. To lose weight may be difficult, but “loss” (noun) is always traumatic. The “oss” (noun) of a dear one, a pet, a favourite object generates grief in varying measure.  Material objects can be replaced or sometimes even found  at “lost and found” counters at schools and public offices . 

This does not hold true for living beings or for abstract  human  values such as love, faith, trust, innocence,  The expression “throwing your weight around” (abusing a position of power) has very little to do with either “weight loss” or “loose weights”.

The adjective “loose” is the opposite of tight. So you can wear a shirt that is “loose-fitting” or a pair of trousers that are “loose” at the waist. You may want to “loosen” a tie that your corporate job forces you to don on a hot summer’s day or “let loose” a volley of invectives (swear  continuously) because you jammed your thumb in the door. “Loose” is a word with an entirely different playing field.    It can be quite liberating to let chained or caged creatures or even words loose.  Such action usually generates freedom and well-being.  

“Free weights” are dumbells, barbells and kettebells found at gyms and training centres. Singular weights of specific value are used on a range of weighing scales by countless sellers of wares. Seldom attached, the value of every gram or milligram is inscribed on the surface of the weight itself. Perhaps, the incorrect usage “loose weight” originated because quantities of free weights exist visually, everywhere around us.   Health “Heavy-weights” (experts) recommend  that we  “loosen up” (relax), laugh, eat sensibly, exercise  and get a good night’s rest to knock off the pounds.