Fat people quit easily.

Fat people lack hope.

Fat people see themselves as victims.

Fat people see themselves as failures.

Fat people are mentally unorganized.

Are you offended by Siebold's statements? Well, that's just what he wants - in other words, to give you a swift kick in the pants. No political correctness here. He thinks we Americans have coddled ourselves for far too long, to the point where we are literally digging our own graves with a fork.

Siebold is a motivational speaker, a self-described "mental toughness coach" and author of the new book, "Die Fat or Get Tough: 101 Differences in Thinking Between Fat People and Fit People."

I know what you're thinking . . . not another diet book. Well, "Die Fat or Get Tough" is not a diet book. Diets are not Siebold's game. His game is mind over platter: A lack of mental toughness, he says, is the real reason fat people are fat.

Now, before you get your panties in a bunch and shred this article, hear him out. Perhaps Siebold is just the medicine we need.

Haven't we been too easy on ourselves? Aren't we always pointing the finger of blame at someone else? Siebold's bottom line is that it's high time we took the bitter pill of truth and stopped fooling ourselves.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) has found a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States during the past 20 years.

Adult obesity rates increased in 23 states and didn't decrease in any state last year, according to a new report, "F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America 2009," released last week by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The report also found that the percentage of obese or overweight children is at or above 30 percent in 30 states.

In case you're wondering, Pennsylvania ranked 22nd for the highest percentage of obese adults and 32nd highest for obese/overweight children. So, Pennsylvania, like most of the nation, has much work to do.

"Fat people cannot blame society, the fast food industry, their neighbor or their spouse for 'making' them fat," says Siebold. "It is just this type of delusional thinking that separates the mindset of the masses from the mindset of the world-class."

Now, before you throw more hateration on Siebold, consider this. Siebold, once an elite athlete, boasted he could run a five-minute mile. Then 40 pounds crept up on him and he became, in his own words, "a fat tub of lard."

He was horrified when he attended a wedding and none of his friends recognized him. He decided then to use his own mental toughness principles to lose the weight. Twelve weeks later, Siebold had shed those 40 pounds.

From 2003 to 2008, Siebold says he interviewed hundreds of fat and thin people before concluding that what separates the two is not the right gym, workout, diet or supplements, but the way they think. That's what he writes about in his book (read a five-chapter preview at www.diefatbook.com).

If you're ready to start taking responsibility for why you're fat, then you may want to make "Die Fat or Get Tough" part of your summer reading list.

'Biggest Loser,'

family-style

NBC's "The Biggest Loser" will hold a casting call for family teams of two from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 18 at NBC 10, 10 Monument Road, Bala Cynwyd.

An outgoing personality is a plus for this plus-sized competition to lose weight and win $250,000. Your spouse, sibling, in-law, cousin - whichever relative is joining you - doesn't have to be at the open call. Show runners hope to see the first 500 people in line July 18 but request you not start lining up until 7 a.m. that morning. If you can't attend, you also may apply at thebiggestlosercasting.com. *

Kimberly Garrison is a certified personal trainer and owner of One on One Ultimate Fitness in Philadelphia (www.1on1ultimatefitness.com). E-mail her at

kimberly@1on1ultimatefitness.com. Her column appears each Thursday in Yo!