"Why the Skinny Guy Wants to Lose Weight"

(And what hidden key about that is crucial to you becoming a Wealthy Soul?)

My whole life, since I'm a kid, whenever I see a friend or a relative who I haven't seen for awhile, the first thing they ask me is if I've lost weight.

If I had, in fact, lost weight each and every time I had been asked that question, there wouldn't be anything left at this point to be asking about.

The truth is, I've weighed between 160 to 170 lbs my entire life and have rarely strayed more than a few pounds from that level. Standing over 6 feet tall, "skinny" definitely can be applied when I fall south of that point, which is usually when I've gone prolonged periods working too hard and not sleeping enough.

The once when I went over 170, when I was living abroad, not working hard, eating a lot of rich Middle-Eastern food, and lifting weights a few times a week, I felt like a hunk. I loved it!

I suppose now in my mid-forties I should be happy that I don't have the challenge most people have with their weight. But as any skinny guy can tell you, where the average person would do anything to be a few pounds thinner, we'd do anything to be 10 to 20 pounds heavier.

It certainly has something to do with the "macho" thing along with being asked that dreaded question by visiting Aunt Esther and Uncle Harry just one too many times - "Sweetie, have you lost weight?"

What I and my fellow slim and trim brothers (it's never, of course, the women who want to gain weight) haven't quite ever gotten is how that question actually may be a compliment. All we know is that we want to gain some more of those coveted pounds!

Though we all prefer the term "trim" and "wiry" to the charge-filled word "skinny," the only time I have felt really good about being so cursed or blessed (depending upon who you are) is when my dentist friend Eddy once said:

"I wish I could borrow your body for just one day, Michael. Then I could eat whatever I'd like!"

I do think about that whenever I'm being treated to a delicious home-cooked meal as a guest somewhere, or when I'm at a really good restaurant, particularly one where it's all you can eat. Because, without doubt, I can pack it away.

But other than on these occasions, though I am more accepting of my weight at this point of life - and even "gloat" when I look in the mirror and see that I have developed the slightest of love handles! - I more often than not dream of being back in that 170 to 180 pound range, with 180 to 190 just too glorious and out-of-reach for me to even consider.

       So, here's the big question, my friend -

Why in the world would I suddenly want to lose weight?

That's right. You heard correct.

I want to lose weight.

And it has nothing to do with my physical health, which, after all I've been through with my family (as you've read in my story, "The 9 Insights of the Wealthy Soul" at http://wealthysoul.com ) I thank God everyday is so good.

Rather it has to do with another reason.

More of an emotional/spiritual one, which may sound like a strange thing to say after I've just told you so much about my liflong desire to gain weight.

But regarding what I'm talking about, it even has a lot to do with financial health, this concept is so far-reaching.

Kindly go to the bottom of this page to post your comments regarding if you can guess what I'm talking about here. See if you can guess why I suddenly want to "lose" weight.

     Here's a clue for you -

It has to do with why you haven't heard from me for more than two months - much longer than usual considering that I sometimes send you newsletters once or twice a week. (Believe it or not, my prolonged absence is another clue. Hmmm).

As you can tell, the answer why I want to lose weight may not be easy to guess. In fact I'd be surprised if any one of the thousands of Wealthy Souls receiving this newsletter does get it.

But I'll give the first person who does guess it a complimentary 40 minute coaching session, which otherwise goes for $200+.

Again, the question is, why in the world would I, skinny guy, Michael Norwood, after a lifetime of wishing to gain 10 to 20 pounds, suddenly be spending time LOSING weight?

Your own well-being, my friend, will unequivocally, 100%, downright to the hungry dog bone be affected by your ability to understand what I'm talking about here.

A big ol' "beefy" bear hug,
Michael

   ***    Here's another clue. This is all about "change." So, c'mon, and participate here. The Wealthy Soul Newsletter is all about Your Change, after all. And it starts right here, right now, with your active participation firing those 100 billion cerebral neurons of yours by guessing at the answer to the important riddle posed in this newletter.

Share your comments with me and thousands of others below -

Comments

[Jim]

Dear Michael,

You're not skinny, you are my brother!

Jim

[Joe]

Dear Michael: I have learned "not to look at appearances" for they can be deceiving. I have found that one can learn so much more by "rising above" appearances and everything else. Even rising above love is greater than just seeking to be "in love" so to speak.
Have a great, joyous, prosperous day,
Joe

[Norah]

My dear Michael,
you are not skinny, you have a great big heart and you are so full of love for everyone that the only way for you to lose weight is to give more of your love to us all, and we will accept it very humbly and gratefully, thank you for trying to lose weight this way.

God bless you, keep up with your very special diet......

Norah.

[Michele Regine]

You want to lose weight because, if you did, it would mean you are feverishly working on something, not eating right, not sleeping enough????

[Loretta]

Dear Michael,
Maybe the weight you want to lose is some old "emotional" baggage?
Something you might be hanging on to, that is dragging you down, that needs to leave so that you can move forward, feel lighter?

[lynne]

michael..
do you want to lose weight as in to lighten or raise your vibration? :o)

[Jim Hankes]

Michael:
At age 56 and working persistently to get to a weight I feel is healthier for me (lost 18 through Lent)I think your theme has nothing to do with weight. I think it has to do with shedding the "stuff" we've accumulated over the "acquiring years". We have too much of it and it merely serves as a reminder that; we don't need so much, that it does little more than complicate our hectic lives and that unless something will help me remain healthy, enhance my relationships or bring me closer to
God...then I probably don't need it. Thus the "loss" theme.
Jim

[Stephen]

Michael

All your life you wanted to gain weight because you were not accepting of yourself or your body.

Now it seems you have finally accepted who you are, (Micheal)and your desire to lose weight is an emotional fulfullment for you at this point.

It's a Good Life!

[Patricia Sherman]

Perhaps you want to know what it's like to get outside your comfort zone, although I imagine you've already done that numerous times in the past. Another possibility is that you want to practice self-discipline in a different area of your life. A third possibility is that you want to experience hunger to identify with those in the world who never are able to get enough to eat.

[Catherine Otondo]

Michael,

I know this has to do with either physical,emotional,or spiritual improvement. Could your body fat be higher than you thought? Do you feel a need to fast/cleanse ?

Whatever it is I'm looking forward to hearing about it in my two hour session!

God's continuous blessings Michael

Warm regards,

Catherine

[Marie Michaelson]

Hi Michael..after reading other comments posted they pretty much covered some of my own thoughts on your loss/gain situation. Acutally I feel we must lose before one can gain...but more weight can mean more overload in many areas. Sometimes we all need to shed the weight of some stresses..burdens..etc..even bad feelings. Easter is a time of new BEGININGS...gaining and losing. Hopefully this Easter season those of us that need to gain find the right knowledge and means to do that....and those who need to lose...shed those unwanted emotions, feelings, and burdens.

[Patricia Leonaitis]

Mike, I think these people are probably right who think it is not physical weight you are talking about but an emotional weight-perhaps even a Mental weight you are wanting to lose. I think maybe, you have some mental or emotional problem that has been hanging around-gaining "weight" for some reason making you want to "shed" the weight of it. Thanks for the insight. I have some of those things bugging me, also. (Hugs) Pat L.

[Mona]

The weight you want to lose is not on the physical level, but it is the weight of any negative feeling/emotion you may be carrying that you want to lose and get rid of.

[Anupama]

Dear Michael,
Whether skinny or not,you can accept it and love yourself too.

[Paula Rich]

Michael: I agree with Catherine Otando--I believe you have been on a 2 month sabbatical taking the time to lose the weights and burdens that hinder our souls in so many areas of our lives. Hebrews 12:1 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."

[Sandy]

Good Morning Michael,
I'm trying to lose weight but mine is physically for health reasons and to look and feel better. I think you look great but I also think you have something blocking your relationship with your "higher power" so you're trying to break those chains that have you bound and are keeping you distant from this "being." Good Luck! There will be so much freedom when you are finally able to achieve this in your life. I'm still working on this,too, but I feel I'm getting closer each day.
Smiles and hugs,
Sandy

[Carolyn Bailey]

I believe we all hold onto "stuff" whether emotional or physical. Those who learn to "let it go" are the ones who deal with their
"stuff." I think that even though you were lucky not to gain weight all through you life it is only through your spiritual side that your were able to finally come to terms with yourself. You have realized acceptance of self. When you took time off to nurture your spirit you were able to accept the way you truly are. You have gained acceptance of yourself through meditaing and just "be." Michael you have been and are a great person giving inspiration to others.

[Mariah]

Hello Micheal

Would you like to let go of some heavy emotional/belief issues that are weighing you down that once let go of will leave you feeling lighter and happier?

[David]

Michael,

What you really mean is that you want to lose wait. In other words, you need to stop waiting to do the things you want to do with your life. You have been procrastinating. YOU NEED TO LOSE WAIT.

[Diane]

Hello Michael,

Perhaps this is more about shedding limiting
beliefs that are not resourceful for you anymore. To pull off the layers of some belief and emotion that you are now ready to release
to become lighter.
Whatever it is, know that you already are
everything.
Diane

[Sherry]

My guess is that you are talking about negative emotions. Out negative emotions "weigh" us down. If we throw them overboard "lose them" we can fly higher.

[Charlene]

Hi Michael,
Those of us in the West are the late-comers in responding to you. I believe "losing weight", in this case, relates more to emotional/Spiritual issues. I could say that in the past year and a half I've been going through the process of "losing" the weight of sadness, grief. I'll never completely lose all of its weight, but I will feel "lighter" as time goes on. Perhaps this is what you're referring to. My thoughts are with you.

[Mindy Koch]

Could it be due to the studies that show that people/animals with lower caloric intakes lead to a longer lifespan?

Mindy

dear doc it is good to hear from you,(I thought you had taken up snow boarding and hanging out with the tomatoe)a good way to lose wieght,i suppose we all need to lose a few pounds on the metaPHYSICAL treadmill to unburden are souls,"you aint heavy your my brother",a big Enlish headlock to you david

[Lora Young]

Mike my intuition tells me that you are overweight in spiritual wealth and love.(not a bad thing)With that kind of overweight one is compelled to release (or loose,so to speak some of the weight)as it is difficult if not impossible to keep to oneself. It can be so heavy that one feels they want or need to share or give this wealth to everyone in the universe.

[Alicia]

Dear Michael: As a 57 years old female, battling weight since I had my last child 25 years ago, I cannot really understand why would you like to lose more pounds when it seems to me that you are at your ideal weight for your age and height. But I know that besides feeling healthy, physically and emotionally, losing weight has something to do with very deep issues, self-esteem, self-approval, the image we portrait to others, etc., and I do not think any of these relate to you. You are an Enlightened Soul, you do not need the approval of others, nor need to look better for others, for you already have the Love of God in you, and you do not need anything else. When you have the love of God in you, with you and by you, you have it ALL. So, it hardly answers the question, but unless you are talking metaphorically, as "weight" like emotional issues, beliefs, attachments, old behaviors and habits, and the drama that many people represent in our lives, Yeah, all those things weight a TON.
Love always
Alicia

You are who you are Michael and who you are is up to you to decide. Well, if you already knew who you are, would you then see yourself as skinny, fat, yes whatever. You wouldn't ask but just be the one you are, wouldn't you? Create a happy day

[Bob]

Michael, A cleansing of the mind, body and soul and as a bonus you will finally be able to say "Yes, I have lost weight!"

[Ruth Ann Harnisch]

How about losing the weight of your physical possessions?
Sometimes we don't own things; they own us. One of my personal mottoes is, "Big House, Big Problems."
The more stuff you have, the more you may be weighed down in the care and feeding of the stuff.
So much to organize, to clean, to store, to maintain, to repair, to insure, to deal with until the ultimate disposition..reuse, recycle, re-gift, return, or landfill.
When you can pack your entire life in a couple of suitcases, you are "light" enough to go anywhere, anytime, and do anything you are called to do without being "weighed down" by possessions and the responsibilities that they entail.

[Gene]

You are probably working at losing the weight of the "problems" in your life.

Once a person has lifted the weight of life's problems from their shoulders, they do indeed feel lighter, freer, and happier.

[T.Reddy]

WHAT? WHY DO YOU WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT? WHERE DO I FIND THE ANSWER?, the rest of the comments I am reading are too abstract for me.

[Anita]

Michael,
A biblical fast is a sure fire way to lose weight! One could be fasting for your personal problems or for the "weight" of the world! There is such a need and a hunger for the Lord's Truths and not enough people to let go of their own issues "weights". I beleive we all need to get back to the serious issues of reaching out to lift the burdens of others, to step out of our comfort zone!Whatever God has laid on your heart may you feel his everloving guidance and presence!

[beth]

i think you have been taking some time over the past 2 months to connect with the overall big world "picture" and maybe you are wantint to lose weight in honor or earth day (today) so you can make the world a little lighter???

[Mary Andrews]

Dear Michael,
My husband has a similar body type to yours,which works great for him because he is a runner. When he thinks he's too thin, I tell him he has the "Kevin Costner body type" - thin but strong, and it sure works for Kevin Costner.
Anyway, a lot of great theories have been posted. Taking a stab here - Maybe you gained weight on purpose for something, and now you want to lose it. Like the documentary "Super Size Me."
Doesn't really sound like you, but that's what came to mind! Good luck with what you're doing.
Love Mary

[JH]

It's about denying physical needs to gain higher spirituality. It's all about faith, trust and discipline to achieve the point of knowing that all of your needs will be met. Resting in the assurance and knowledge that you are truly loved and being cared for. For our creator clothes the lilies of the field and the birds of the air, so why should he not also take care of us. Sometimes sacrifice and fasting is necessary to reach the point where worries and burdens of this life no longer plague you.

[Marcia]

Most of us have too much "stuff": too many material things. If we are fortunate to have the financial means, we look to accumulate until there is just too much and we then need to find creative ways to organize it, store it, donate it, or even sell it (Ebay?). We get tired of it and then want to replace it with more stuff. Then we need bigger houses for all of it and then of course, we can go buy even MORE stuff. I think we fwwl an emptiness deep in our souls, and we are trying to fill it. I think what Michael has figured out and is sharing with all of us is that a Wealthy Soul has no need for anything else. My guess, Michael is that you have spent the last two months reviewing your life and deciding to "purge." Which reminds me, I need to go and clean my house now. Thanks.

[Mary Martha Pazos]

Dear Michael,

Many of us have a tendancy to overbook ourselves and to take on too many projects and commitments at the same time. Our lives become so busy that we don't have enough time or space left to listen to the quiet murmurings of the soul. Not only that, when we try to do too much, or invest too much time in empty activities, we short-change other things that are worth more dedication and development.

So the "weight" that you so wisely wish to get rid of probably refers to all of the non-essentials that are bogging you down. To keep the metaphor of diet, too many rich foods (read here the excess of projects, etc.) are not healthy because the body doesn't have the opportunity to digest them properly. And JUNK FOOD (that is, negative time-killers) bloat our "bodies" without nourishing us.

Congratulations and cheers,

Mary Martha

[Emery]

Dear Micheal,
My best guess is that it something like a Fung Shui exercise and you want to lose weight the way I do when the airlines tell me that I have too much luggage. Losing weight like excess clothing or other material belongings clears up your energies to move on to bigger and better things. I have to lose the weight of all my unread emails to make room for new messages, so my answer is you are losing the weight of material possessions or excess files on your computer.

Thanks for the challenge,
e

[E.M.]

First, you are wrong that women never want to gain weight. I have been trying to gain weight for years. I always appreciate the word slender.
I believe you might be trying to write and/or feel something that would be easier for you to accomplish and identify with if you were to lose weight as those less fortunate because they have no choice.

[Eileen]

Michael, All the above comments are the first things that came to mind but they don't go far enough. In order to make room for the new there has to be a cleansing, if you will, of the old. If there is no room because the old is taking up too much room, there will NEVER be any room for the new to come in to replace the old. Things wear out and we outgrow them, and so don't our attitudes and beliefs and we need to purge ourselves of these before we can affect any change. That's all I got!!! Eileen

[Rachel]

I think this has to do with adopting an ascetic lifestyle that is conducive to seeing higher visions, acquiring better insights, and delving deeper into your spirituality. Freeing yourself from what binds you here and keeps you earthbound. Shedding the needs. Establishing a connection to the higher spheres that is pure and unhindered by the ego...

[Rosemary]

Hi Michael,
I agree with the people who said you want to lose wait. That was my first guess.
Blessings,
Rosemary

[E]

I have a different thought about this question. You have been working on a whole new way for so many people to lose the weight that is making them so unhappy and unhealthy in so many ways. You are planning to write a unique way that will help them lose weight without the usual difficult and depressive struggle, while bringing them to a new emotional and higher level of life and perhaps with a method of keeping them there without the yo-yo effect of most dieters. You must lose the weight yourself to be able to see how this will work and to help others. Is that not what you have done for us all? Try to give us the loving and caring help that seems to be your calling, and you do it so well for so many. Thank you, Michael.

[gerry miles]

When you stopped sending emails I felt that you had run into some form of energy blockage (I am a healer) of either a physical or emotional basis. It was more obvious because you were in the middle of direct communication with all of your friends.
Some changes were required in your life and you have chosen to use losing weight as a signpost for this change.
This is as far as I can go at this point. If I come up with more I will let you know.

gerry miles

[Connie Williamson]

Hello Michael, First I just wanted to tell you that I just couldn't put your Wealthy Soul book down! I reread many parts of it, especially the parts that reminded me of my dad, who died from bone marrow cancer almost 5 years ago. I wanted thank you for writing about your experiences as it has helped me deal with some "dead weight" issues that surrounded our relationship. As to your "weight" problem, I believe you have been writing another book! A book which will help many people put their various financial lives into perspective and even reveal ways to "enlighten" our financial woes/worries. While I don't have even the slightest money available for dabbling in the stock market, even after all the wonderful advice from your dad, I believe you have been writing a book about money. How to make more of it? How to invest? How to look past the physical "need" for money, to what real issues lie underneath that we are possibly mistaking for the need. Maybe, you've been researching/testing techniques that the average person can use to "gain", while you "lose" from the enlightenment that you have helped us. Whatever you've been doing these past two months, hurry back, we miss hearing from you!.

[julie]

I, too feel that you are speaking of "emotional" weight. We weigh ourselves down with a mountain of emotional weight that we tend to carry around with us, simply because we choose to "stuff" ourselves with issues that we prefer to not deal with.

[Ken]

You now want to lose weight because the desire to gain weight was based on ego driven fear---and the weight you want to lose is not the physical weight but the weight of your own fear of not being enough just way you were.

[Helen]

Hello - The comments are great - This issue has been a challenge all of my life. Aside from these comments may I suggest relanguishing your vocabulary - there are many subtle beliefs under and around the words one uses. When something is lost subsconciously one looks, searches etc until you find it again - I choose to now say I relinquish my body mass - my body has held onto the body mass for all sorts of issues either not known nor dealt with; clutter, shackles, injuries, being unloved etc - I accept my body as it is and am grateful that it serves me well.

Helen

[Connie Williamson]

Michael, In your email that announced this page and your challange to us, in the title the "W" was separated from the "eight" with an asterick. My guess is as I've said before that you are writing a book, but, does that book have anything to do with "eight" steps to changing how we look at or perceive things, money in particular? And your absence would be explained by your developing a way to help us look at our current way of dealing with money and changing our perceptions so that we may acquire more of it, but for entirely different reasons/motives. Perhaps, with you being a chiropractor (which I greatly appreciate the value of the benefits of) you have seen how money effects our health to such severe levels, that you've come up with a way to help us with the money issues we have, so it doesn't effect our health so adversely? Would love it if you had!!! Best of everything to you, my friend.

[Bryan]

Hi Michael great to hear from you again I missed your email and didnt realise it was so long welcome back. great to to hear you have lost some wieght now when people say to you have you los tweight you can say I sure have.
Bryan