BALLISTIC STRENGTH RADIO - Ep. 24: HAES Roundtable Discussion, Part 2

Ballistic Strength Radio - Kettlebell Sport Podcast

******ATTENTION!

EVENT: Grip Strength Kettlebell Sport Competition

WHEN: Sept. 10, Nanaimo, BC

WHERE: Island Optimal Health & Performance

HOST: Ballistic Strength Kettlebell Gym & Nanaimo Kettlebell Club

WEBSITE: http://www.gripstrength.ca

In this episode we examine the Health At Every Size (HAES) philosophy and offer a variety of perspectives on it. Our roundtable consists of:

Solomon Macys - lifestyle & strength coach, former BMI of 34.7 (Obese, stage II) at 12 years old, current BMI of 25.5 (Overweight)

Rachel Robertson - kinesiologist, personal trainer, former BMI of 34.8 (Obese, stage II) in 2009, current BMI 25.2 (Overweight)

Ahron Francis Balatti - 20 years old, olympic weightlifter, history of extreme dieting with generally negative outcomes, former BMI of 34.8 (Obese, stage II) in 2015, current BMI of 28.6 (Overweight)

Quinlan Jager - competitive olympic weightlifter, considers himself slightly bigorexic, holds a BA in Media Studies from Vancouver Island University

My main questions regarding the HAES philosophy include:

1. How is what HAES preaches any different from what lifestyle coaches already do. Did HAES just put a label on it? If so, has the label become a pejorative for principles or positive self-talk that most coaches and athletes already practice?

2. Does HAES incorrectly attribute self-efficacy and self-esteem to how large or small a person is? Are these not separate issues? If HAES is more interested in helping people become comfortable with who they are on a psychological level, why is the campaign so focused on "SIZE", much as the name suggests?