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Posted by Pam T on 8/6/2009, 11:55 am
Message modified by board administrator 8/8/2009, 8:55 am
Over the years of running this board and dealing with my own weight issues I have seen many common themes. The most common is how to muster up the ability to remain consistent on the diet until at goal.
Many of you have been here multiple times over the years, starting...and then starting again. Believe me, if I was not the person running this board I would have come and gone too! This isn't easy for anyone, overcoming a lifetime of conditioning and behaviors and habits, not easy at all. None of us is immune to the struggle. We could spend some time examining what it is that makes us all so ready to throw away our future health and happiness for a fast food meal or a bad of chips, but I really don't think that's productive. Knowing the problem does not solve the problem where overeating or incorrect eating is concerned. We are all smart people and could probably easily identify our own core issues and still not be able to make sense of our behavior.
We may all be coming from very different backgrounds and cultures, but this is one thing that brings us all to the same level, the same beginning. Being on this board together helps us realize we are not alone in this, it gives us hope, inspires us, comforts us when we feel down, and celebrates our victories, but it can not give us the magic key to success, because there isn't one.
So how do we tackle this monster, slay this dragon, climb this mountain? Here's a hint...if that is how you see this process, then you are already setting yourself up to fail. How? Because you are already creating stress. You can not heal this with stress. Stress is probably a lot of the reason you are here, correct? None of us got obese because we were hungry. There is a strong and powerful emotional component to this and for most, stress is the catalyst.
The opposite of stress is peace. I decided a while back that if I could somehow find a peaceful beginning to weight loss I just might be able to prevent the emotional highs and lows that go along with dieting. There is already a heightened level of anxiety when you begin a diet, or re-begin a diet. You are afraid of failure, maybe even success. So much is depending on not screwing up. Your health, your appearance, your relationships, your happiness...a big whopping serving of stress anyone?
I have mentioned this before, but this time around I decided I would do something different. I needed to find some way to stay focused on the task at hand, but not focused on me. Hopefully I can make sense with this as I do believe it was the key to my long sought after success. What I did this time was chart. The night before my first day I got a spiral notebook and made up a chart beginning with that day clear on to my projected date of reaching my goal. I had weekly goals in the margins that I aimed for and made a note of any major numbers that appeared. I had columns for weight, blood sugar,and blood pressure. These were my main concerns at that time so I wanted to keep record of them. I made a commitment to myself to chart EVERYDAY no matter what! My notebook became my focus instead of the scale. By weighing and measuring everything first thing in the morning and entering it in to my notes I was able to then release it and move forward. It became my daily ritual and in some way relieved any stress I had in the past. If I had a slow week or even a slow month I would review my previous entries and reassure myself that I was making progress.
You may need to find some other method of keeping yourself at peace and on track, but find it. The emotions are what will trip you up. Find a way to quiet your mind of all the typical self talk and bargaining that we are all guilty of when dieting. Come up with some phrases you can tell yourself when you feel the stress building. Make a plan.
There is nothing you can ever do for yourself that will have this much impact. Regaining my health and fitness has enhanced my life more then I ever could have imagined. There are no words to describe what it feels like to no longer be “trying to lose weight” or “waiting to lose weight”. It's lost! It's done. Ahhh..peace!
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