"One must not put a loaded rifle on the stage if no one is thinking of firing it."  -Anton Chekov  

Chekhov's gun is the literary technique whereby an element is introduced early in the story, but whose significance does not become clear until later on. In our society, we tend to view body weight in very different terms; obesity is a problem to be remedied, when in reality, it is a solution to a problem that often does not become clear until later on.

In the story of my life, my weight was a rifle fired early on. At 28, the shell casings are no longer poised in my shoes, but the smoke continues to emanate along with the sweat that teems from my forehead as I ride the elliptical machine. Weight is a loaded rifle in all of our lives; without retiring it, we invariably turn the gun on ourselves and watch the aftermath in slow motion. The choice to get on the elliptical is the lesser of two evils – and it is just that – a choice. Just like Chekov’s loaded rifle – we may not always be aware of our choices and intentions – but we ought to be reminded.

Obesity marks a departure from the living. It is the election to separate from that which is socially acceptable, sexually acceptable, and medically acceptable. Obesity is a major restriction, and yet, somehow, we view being put on a diet as a restriction. Lifestyle changes represent shackles. We have been sold on the quick fix, and frame our lives within the windows of television sets, magazine dimensions, and sample sizes. It’s a setup; the loaded rifles in our society are well staged and covertly packaged. Be smarter; be yourself.

Fire it. Retire it. Move on.

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