Becoming FAT reduces your chances to succeed in career?

with Covid duration and ongoing stress in workplace - I think my clothes are now tighter... feel like starting to age quickly.


anyone else feel same ?

( mid career - exhausted now - used to be top performer 3 years in row ) 
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27
1nbatopshotfan
Politicker
17
Sales
I think the focus on weight is a generalization. Take care of the mental health and physical health to get where you need to be.

mental and physical go hand in hand.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
8
🦊
I schedule time on my calendar for a daily walk. The time away from a screen helps my brain too.
TennisandSales
Politicker
7
Head Of Sales
they probs are.

super important to take car of yourself.

you gotta make sure you are finding time for solid exercise how ever you like to do it. it will help with mental health and physical health.
SaaSyBee
Politicker
5
Founder
I'm fat and I'm successful. Although people do judge fat people harshly so I'd probably be more successful if my body were more aligned to the beauty standard.

Think it's more about how you feel so try to focus on what you can control. It sounds like your exhaustion may be only partially due to your weight gain and more about unhealthy habits.

Feel like you're aging faster? Take on more healthy habits. Go for a walk. Join a recreational sports team. Sleep more. Find a great therapist.

Feel like your clothes are tighter? Buy bigger clothes. (No, really.)
jefe
Arsonist
2
🍁
Even just getting some nicer ones let out at the tailor is also an option.
jefe
Arsonist
5
🍁
Unfortunately pretty true...

People suck.

I realized I was at my biggest around Christmas 2020 when I tried putting on nice clothes for the first time in awhile.

BUT I was doing well at my job and had settled in nicely to a new relationship (with my now wife), so it was more fat and happy than fat and depressed.
jefe
Arsonist
4
🍁
However not being able to button suit jackets was a bit depressing...
TheIncarceration
Politicker
4
SDR Manager
I have a pretty sad story related to this. One of my close friends was a killer SDR and his manager kept promising that his AE promotion was coming soon.

He's a little hefty and would occasionally talk about different diets he was trying. Eventually, he found out that his manager never had any intentions of helping him get promoted and the reason for it was because "if he can't stick to a diet, there's no way he'd make it as an AE".

That completely broke the guy...
Pachacuti
Politicker
3
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
That’s what we in the business call “an asshole”. Appearance has a level of importance in Sales, but not on ability to sell.
UserNotFound
Politicker
2
Account Executive
Jesus. This has big “I only hire athletes” vibes.
TheIncarceration
Politicker
1
SDR Manager
The irony is that the manager isn't in great shape themselves
UserNotFound
Politicker
0
Account Executive
If they are- they live on redbull and canned tuna.
MeowMeow
Politicker
3
Senior Enterprise Account Executive
I’m exhausted, still committed to working out 5-6 days a week, but creepin closer to 40 now so so weight loss is nearly impossible unless I starve myself. Welcome to the chonk club.

I joined Found (an RX app program) and I found it to be helpful. I got put on this combo of antidepressants and naltrexone and basically I stopped drinking and kinda got my shit together. I lost a bit of weight but it really helped address my mental state. It’s not for everyone.

Get therapy, commit to making healthier choices, and don’t beat yourself up over bad days. We might be CHONKY but we can be happy damn it.

It’s never been the weight that got in my way to succeed. It’s the confidence I lack when I’m heavier.
KB_FarmerType
Opinionated
0
Strategic Sales
Found? URL?
MeowMeow
Politicker
1
Senior Enterprise Account Executive
joinfound.com
KB_FarmerType
Opinionated
0
Strategic Sales
No side effects?
MeowMeow
Politicker
0
Senior Enterprise Account Executive
I’ve been through a couple different meds so far to find the right one or combo that works.
NotCreativeEnough
Big Shot
2
Professional Day Ruiner
health/fitness and success in sales are pretty directly correlated in my mind. When I'm taking care of myself, eating correctly, and working out, I tend to feel more confident and perform better. When I'm eating like crap, not getting in the gym regularly, and not on a good sleep schedule, my performance slips.

I doubt there's been any actual studies done on this. It's just what I've observed from myself and colleagues.
SADNES5
Politicker
1
down voters are marketing spies
Honestly, it's a commitment thing for me. If you can train that will power you can do anything.
antiASKHOLE
Tycoon
2
Bravado's Resident Asshole
I feel that when I do gain weight, I move slower and have less energy, which in return causes me to be in my head more. I am back on the weight loss journey and feel better each day and it reflects in almost everything that I do.
sketchysales
Politicker
2
Sales Manager
I wouldnt call myself fat but i definitely put on weight during covid and probably am in the overweight category for my age and height and it bugs me.

I travel an insane amount for work, tend to be on the road 3 out of 4 weeks at the moment (is going to decrease a little bit with changing responsibility) but staying healthy in terms of eating and exercise is incredibly difficult when you spend more time away from home than at home and where days often end at midnight and start at 5am.

I would love it if i could find some solid advice for travellers in terms of eating and staying healthy, everything i find is not achievable or doable with my lifestyle.
punishedlad
Tycoon
0
🧙‍♂️
I'm three weeks into a pretty travel intensive role (three days a week on the road at least, but sometimes locally so I can actually come home to my family and bed). These hotel gyms are just not cutting it for my normal lifting routine.
Gasty
Notable Contributor
2
War Room Community Manager
;
DungeonsNDemos
Big Shot
2
Rolling 20's all day
Gotta stay on top of the gym. I'm a hypocrite in this as I've been lazy this month. You have my support to get back to it!
The question is: Are new clothes cheaper than a gym membership?
Pachacuti
Politicker
2
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
Is diabetes cheaper than a gym membership?
KB_FarmerType
Opinionated
1
Strategic Sales
Ha ha
fidelcashflow
Catalyst
2
Account Executive
I don't think there is a direct correlation. I think being fat or out of shape means you may live a certain way. It is like those studies they do on heavy marijuana smokers and say that X% of them have X health related issues but it is not the Marijuana that is causing that. It is is the lifestyle that most heavy marijuana users live.

I go up and down but I know for a fact when I am out of shape, that it affects my work. Which then affects my work>performance>success. Makes sense?

Right now I am not at my worst but I am kinda close. I stress out at night when I sleep because I know I am out of shape and I can feel it in my body. I might walk around work and know that I don't look as good as I should so that can lower my self esteem (this doesn't actually happen to me but I am giving examples). What I am getting at is, being out of shape is not cool and will not help you. This will mess with your mental well-being. Your mental needs to be on point in order to eventually perform at work.

"If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you play good. If you play good, they pay good"
-Deion Sanders
hh456
Celebrated Contributor
2
sales
am fat, disagree
Kirby
Politicker
2
Sales Representative
Nah man. Lack of movement, self-hatred, and mental health issues will affect your success in sales far more than being overweight. I’m a big guy but I go for walks everyday, go to the gym a few times a week, and not to be corny, but I love who I am, and I do well in sales. You got this.

It’s fine to want to get in better shape. But no amount of self pity will get you there. You gotta be happy with yourself now to get even better IMO
FinanceEngineer
Politicker
1
Sr Director, sales and partnerships
Remember, perception is reality. Also, how people view you is how you perform. So it sucks but yes
SADNESSLieutenant
Politicker
1
Officer of ♥️
Theirs plenty of skinny people who suck at their job, theirs plenty of fat people who run successful companies. What's important is your mental. How you perceive how others view you is how you view yourself. Are you putting yourself in a 'im fat so therefore im unsuccessful' bubble? or are you unsuccessful because you think being fat makes you so? Theirs plenty of skinny people with multiple diseases. Being fat used to mean you were wealthy now it's reversed but I call bullshit. As long as you are eating good, and feel good, that's all that matters. More importantly don't let others determine how you feel. Buy clothes you are comfortable in.
UserNotFound
Politicker
1
Account Executive
I’m pushing to the biggest I’ve ever been. Although, admittedly, it’s not *that* big. I’m carrying an extra 20lbs. That said, I’m also the most confident I’ve ever been. Mentally, Im in a place that allows me to not really give a shot about the extra weight. Im trying to get it off, but not desperately as I would have in years past.

It’s true what everyone here is saying. Take care of the mental, and the physical will follow. I found that small bit sustainable diet changes compound overtime and make a huge difference. I started with cutting out soda. Once that wasn’t a struggle anymore, I moved on to something else. This is less diet advice than mindset- just look at it like sales. The small wins affect your mentality and help keep you positive and on track.
666ABC
Good Citizen
1
RM (Relationship Manager) Director of Sales
Doubtful you know anything about what it’s like to be heavier than most naturally. Weight is not simply “calories in, calories out”, in fact that is a very archaic way of thinking about it. Human have a variety natural body shapes and places that fat is stored can have a major say in how you are perceived and also how you might see yourself. Metabolic rates also have a huge place in one’s ability to burn calories when compared to others humans. So your efforts at the gym may yield wildly different results when others. You are confirmation because you can count easily master your weight, mean it works so simply for the rest of us. Consider my situation, I have sever sleep apnea, and yes it is worsened by my weight, however I’ve had since I was in the best shape of my life. Sleep apnea is linked to poor quality of sleep and weight gain. It is not as clear cut as you presume.
SADNES5
Politicker
0
down voters are marketing spies
To be honest. Yes. Go to the gym. It's better for your mental and physical health.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
0
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Get up, stretch, take a walk, get away from the computer for a bit.

Make time for yourself, and you'll be better for it. A few pounds is no big deal if you are mentally well, and happy with yourself. Stress is a real challenge and a simple step of taking time for yourself daily (walk, bike ride, trip to the gym if that floats your boat) should help you feel a bit more in control.

On other threads, people have also discussed and recommended therapy to help with managing stress, and how it's been beneficial for them.

You're not alone.
bassinshaps
Politicker
0
Territory Sales Manager
Do I think there’s a correlation between physical fitness and mental performance? Absolutely. I don’t think, in most circumstances at least, that a fat salesperson would sell less than a fit one. But being good looking never hurts.
Do I think that same fat salesperson would probably feel better, less tired, more confident, and more motivated?
Absolutely.
I’m also speaking from experience here as I’ve been trying to get back on track with my pre-Covid health and I find I’m so much more successful when I have a regular workout routine.
TheOverTaker
Politicker
0
Senior Account Executive
Its all tied to your mentality. If you feel gross you'll probably perform grossly. If you feel great you'll probably perform....greatly(?). Whether that is tied to your level of physical fitness is on the individual. I know for me it is
Allisce
Tycoon
0
Account Executive
I'm fat and a woman and I'm a top performer in the company who continually gets promoted. I think if the skills are there the size doesn't matter. Now, I do dress nice for client meetings and sales summits, p club, etc so I don't come across as a slob
Pachacuti
Politicker
-4
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
Weight is easily managed fatty- quit eating like crap and go to the gym. Solved.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
0
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Totes not true.

Hit middle age and your body fights you, depending on a lot of factors. Not everyone sheds pounds easily.
Pachacuti
Politicker
-1
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
Weight loss is "calories in, calories out". that's it. Its not complicated. And the better quality of calories in means you'll feel better in nearly every way.
Going to gym/exercise helps with the calories out and will help you physically and mentally.
As someone who's older than the average SDR here and has an enviable list of athletic accomplishments, this is one area I know.
666ABC
Good Citizen
2
RM (Relationship Manager) Director of Sales
Doubtful you know anything about what it’s like to be heavier than most naturally. Weight is not simply “calories in, calories out”, in fact that is a very archaic way of thinking about it. Human have a variety natural body shapes and places that fat is stored can have a major say in how you are perceived and also how you might see yourself. Metabolic rates also have a huge place in one’s ability to burn calories when compared to others humans. So your efforts at the gym may yield wildly different results when others. You are confirmation because you can count easily master your weight, mean it works so simply for the rest of us. Consider my situation, I have sever sleep apnea, and yes it is worsened by my weight, however I’ve had since I was in the best shape of my life. Sleep apnea is linked to poor quality of sleep and weight gain. It is not as clear cut as you presume.
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