Doing one thing different

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-26-2003
Doing one thing different
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Sun, 04-25-2004 - 1:25pm
I am so frustrated with myself lately. I just don't know what the hell is wrong with me. I'm one of those people who has everything under control. I've been successful at everything I've ever tried-except managing my weight. I know it's not because I'm dumb or don't have willpower or don't understand nutrition. There's more to it than that. That's part of why I get so mad at thin people who make stupid remarks to overweight people like "why don't you try counting calories." Ugh.

Anyway, I've been counting calories and it is NOT working. I do well and get obsessive, then I get bingey and in the end (as with every diet) I end up gaining weight. So, I know I need to take a more behavioral strategy. So, I am hereby vowing to do only one thing different. From now on I am vowing to only eat when I am truly rumbly-tummy hungry. I know that making this one change will make a big difference to me. Even when I count calories or do ww or atkins I find myself eating when I'm not hungry because I have the calories or points or whatever. This behavior needs to end. So, I'm coming out here and stating that this is my new goal. Y'all can feel free to ask me how it's going because I probably need it.

Anyone else have one thing they really need to focus on?

Erin

http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics
Mom

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 04-27-2004 - 9:36pm
LOL really?

  Shawna-- Proud Cl for 100 Pounds or More to Go 

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-26-2003
Tue, 04-27-2004 - 9:38pm
Yup,

It's lots of fun. My favorite class, too!

Erin
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics
Mom
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-29-2004
Thu, 04-29-2004 - 6:05pm
I hear you about watching out for hunger. I know I eat all the time when I shouldn't. I'm definiely working on changing that, along with a lot of other things.

Charlotte

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 04-29-2004 - 7:14pm
I am surprised that you would agree that alcoholism and smoking count as "addictions"! Since the answer to weight loss is simply counting calories, then I'm sure that the answer to alcoholism is putting down the bottle and the answer to smoking is throwing away the cigarettes. What's the difference? Certainly , I can drink and not become an alcoholic, and I've never smoked at all - see how easy it is? Either we acknowledge that ALL these habits have powerful psychological components, or that NONE do. In fact, I'd hazard a guess that the pyschological issues with food are HARDER to break because of the constant exposure. An alcoholic can avoid ever being around liquor - a smoker can avoid ever being around cigarettes - but EVERYONE must eat, so those with food issues are facing constant exposure with the pressure to know when to stop. I know from research that the physical addictions to alcohol and nicotine disappear within a week - so why do ex-addicts still wrestle with longing for a drink or a smoke for the rest of their lives? The psychological addiction of course - just as food is for many overweight people. Nobodies perfect, Hippolytes - I'm sure even you have issues that you must struggle with.

edited for a ridiculous spelling mistake :-) "wait loss"!


Edited 4/29/2004 7:42 pm ET ET by mom2morgan

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 04-29-2004 - 7:31pm
VERY well said =)

  Shawna-- Proud Cl for 100 Pounds or More to Go 

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-26-2003
Thu, 04-29-2004 - 7:45pm
I agree. My husband quit smoking a few years ago. He doesn't really understand what it is like to be overweight (he eats with abandon, never exercises and has six-pack abs). One time I asked him to imagine needing to smoke 3 times a day in order to stay alive. Then I asked him if he thought he could smoke just those three times a day, and he said he would lose control and smoke more than those three.

That's how I feel about food sometimes.

I'm not sure if that story makes sense, but it sticks in my head. It would be nice to just not need to eat at all. That sounds a lot easier sometimes.

Erin

http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics
Mom
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-04-2004
Thu, 04-29-2004 - 7:54pm
That story made perfect sense! I know exactly what you mean. And mom2morgan, thanks for posting what you did. I think those things needed to be said. You hit the nail on the head.

~~Linda

~~Linda

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2004
Sat, 05-01-2004 - 11:08am
I didn't say "simple" calorie counting. A person can lose weight no matter whether the calories come from snickers or healthy food but, obviously, people should work on eating what's good for them and not what's expedient.

But it is true, for every living animal (and people are animals) it's all a matter of calories. Eat more calories than your body needs for fuel, and you gain weight. Eat less, and lose it. There's nothing magical about it. And nothing *hard* either.

And planning, far from taking away *enjoyment*, can ensure success in ANY endeavor. Whether we're talking about saving for retirement or counting calories or getting some academic degree. Success takes planning.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2004
Sat, 05-01-2004 - 11:15am
I didn't tell her she *had* to do anything. She asked what everyone thinks, and I told her what I think about it.

It's a matter of eat right to feel better about yourself. Measure success not by pounds lost but by the number of healthful behavioral changes one makes. It just a matter of, aim for new habits you can live with for the rest of your life. Weight loss will be a wonderful bonus for work well done. I think, don't worry about the number so much. Focus on how many things you can do right today. One thing anyone can do right is to journal and plan meals, don't just let unnecessary calories and bad food choices sneak up: have a plan and execute it. And do that every day and, like a byproduct of good living, the weight comes off and health is right there!

Simply do three healthy things today. For example, drink 8 glasses of water, go for a 10 minute walk, don't clean your plate. Challenge yourself to repeat those behaviors tomorrow. Add three more healthy things tomorrow to that list. Etc. Etc. It's not about *hard* or *unattainable.* I think it's all about making conscious choices, every single day, to live well and to do well. It's just that simple.

Good health to you.

Forte

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2004
Sat, 05-01-2004 - 11:19am
Naia,

Yes, absolutely. I agree with you, totally. And most important, is to love yourself today. Don't postone the life you deserve today until you reach a certain dress size. Most important, today you're the same person you will be when you achieve your goals. You'll be a little older and a little wise, that's all.

Nice meeting you.

Forte

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