Comments on: Changing http://recluse.me/2008/08/changing/ The great paradox of the writer's life is how much time he spends alone trying to connect with other people. ~ Betsy Lerner Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:35:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: tim maguire http://recluse.me/2008/08/changing/comment-page-1/#comment-4085 tim maguire Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:20:03 +0000 http://recluse.me/?p=1416#comment-4085 I'd agree with Dale that the first step is accepting yourself for who you are. That's also the hardest step but I think it's the most important. I don't think a person can successfully shed pounds if what they are really trying to shed is self-hatred. After that I have no great suggestions--find an activity you love doing because that's the easiest thing to maintain. Or set a goal--running a marathon, for instance--where weight loss is a side effect rather than the purpose. One approach to life that I like that can be applied to many things is the concept of "controlled extravagence". Instead of trying to eat a small amount of something you love (because, obviously, that approach isn't working for you), instead give yourself permission to indulge guilt free every once in a while. The occasional bad food choice won't hurt you and knowing that you can have that ice cream in a couple days without consequence might make it easier to not have it today with a sense of failure. I’d agree with Dale that the first step is accepting yourself for who you are. That’s also the hardest step but I think it’s the most important. I don’t think a person can successfully shed pounds if what they are really trying to shed is self-hatred. After that I have no great suggestions–find an activity you love doing because that’s the easiest thing to maintain. Or set a goal–running a marathon, for instance–where weight loss is a side effect rather than the purpose.

One approach to life that I like that can be applied to many things is the concept of “controlled extravagence”. Instead of trying to eat a small amount of something you love (because, obviously, that approach isn’t working for you), instead give yourself permission to indulge guilt free every once in a while. The occasional bad food choice won’t hurt you and knowing that you can have that ice cream in a couple days without consequence might make it easier to not have it today with a sense of failure.

]]> By: B7 http://recluse.me/2008/08/changing/comment-page-1/#comment-4042 B7 Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:40:44 +0000 http://recluse.me/?p=1416#comment-4042 I've lost 8 pounds in the last month since I discovered a website called sparkpeople.com. It's totally FREE (paid for by ads, you just have to ignore them--there are no pop-ups)! And they have all the same resources that expensive programs have. You can enter your own recipes and it will tell you exactly how many calories and all other nutrients are in your recipe. You can track your food and exercise online--so much easier than writing on paper. You tell them your basic stats, like height, weight, gender and age, and then they tell you how many calories you should eat per day, and what percent should be fat, carbs, protein, etc. You have the option of choosing from a variety of food plans they give you, or not using any of them, and just tracking what you normally eat. It makes it impossible to lie to yourself. They have hundreds of hugely helpful articles and free online exercise videos. You can create your own "Sparkpage" where you can track your weight loss, upload pictures, blog, track friends and teams, etc. Oh, yeah, they have spark teams which are groups you can join based on common interests or lifestyles. My city had its own spark team, and I met with a group of people in person last week, and we hiked a mile around a park together. I can honestly say that finding Sparkpeople was the single most lifechanging event I've ever experienced outside of getting married and becoming a mom. Go for it! I also agree with the person who said your lifestyle changes have to be permanent. Spark people helps you do that. They have a huge section for maintainers. I’ve lost 8 pounds in the last month since I discovered a website called sparkpeople.com. It’s totally FREE (paid for by ads, you just have to ignore them–there are no pop-ups)! And they have all the same resources that expensive programs have. You can enter your own recipes and it will tell you exactly how many calories and all other nutrients are in your recipe. You can track your food and exercise online–so much easier than writing on paper. You tell them your basic stats, like height, weight, gender and age, and then they tell you how many calories you should eat per day, and what percent should be fat, carbs, protein, etc. You have the option of choosing from a variety of food plans they give you, or not using any of them, and just tracking what you normally eat. It makes it impossible to lie to yourself. They have hundreds of hugely helpful articles and free online exercise videos. You can create your own “Sparkpage” where you can track your weight loss, upload pictures, blog, track friends and teams, etc. Oh, yeah, they have spark teams which are groups you can join based on common interests or lifestyles. My city had its own spark team, and I met with a group of people in person last week, and we hiked a mile around a park together. I can honestly say that finding Sparkpeople was the single most lifechanging event I’ve ever experienced outside of getting married and becoming a mom. Go for it! I also agree with the person who said your lifestyle changes have to be permanent. Spark people helps you do that. They have a huge section for maintainers.

]]> By: PJ http://recluse.me/2008/08/changing/comment-page-1/#comment-4035 PJ Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:15:28 +0000 http://recluse.me/?p=1416#comment-4035 Hi Kathryn, thanks so much for your comment. Well done on losing so much weight. I'm not planning to do one of those diets, but just trying to eat more healthily and exercise regularly. And I'll take it one day at a time. Regretting the past and worrying about the future haven't helped me so far. Hi Kathryn, thanks so much for your comment. Well done on losing so much weight. I’m not planning to do one of those diets, but just trying to eat more healthily and exercise regularly. And I’ll take it one day at a time. Regretting the past and worrying about the future haven’t helped me so far.

]]> By: Kathryn http://recluse.me/2008/08/changing/comment-page-1/#comment-4034 Kathryn Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:30:40 +0000 http://recluse.me/?p=1416#comment-4034 I lost sixty pounds over the course of two years, and the advice I have is that your lifestyle changes have to be permanent - apparently it takes two weeks to form a habit, by the way. I know that's a lot easier said than done, but stop thinking about Monday's diet and start thinking about the next decision. The "new day" is this moment, not tomorrow's. It's helped me resist the urge to walk over to Dairy Queen for a blizzard. And if it doesn't do that, it's made me satisfied with a dipped cone instead. I lost sixty pounds over the course of two years, and the advice I have is that your lifestyle changes have to be permanent – apparently it takes two weeks to form a habit, by the way. I know that’s a lot easier said than done, but stop thinking about Monday’s diet and start thinking about the next decision. The “new day” is this moment, not tomorrow’s.

It’s helped me resist the urge to walk over to Dairy Queen for a blizzard. And if it doesn’t do that, it’s made me satisfied with a dipped cone instead.

]]> By: PJ http://recluse.me/2008/08/changing/comment-page-1/#comment-4025 PJ Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:26:54 +0000 http://recluse.me/?p=1416#comment-4025 I am thinking of going back to the gym. I can exercise here but it's awkward sometimes. Thanks, Dale. I am thinking of going back to the gym. I can exercise here but it’s awkward sometimes. Thanks, Dale.

]]> By: Dale http://recluse.me/2008/08/changing/comment-page-1/#comment-4019 Dale Sun, 31 Aug 2008 15:20:05 +0000 http://recluse.me/?p=1416#comment-4019 Seems like you've tried a lot of the usual things to start. Everyone else has their own issues so stay with the being yourself thing. Have you considered getting back into the gym? It often helps if you have someone to buddy up with and motivate each other too. Or save your money and get a Wii Fit, then it seems like more fun. Love, a non-expert. Seems like you’ve tried a lot of the usual things to start. Everyone else has their own issues so stay with the being yourself thing.

Have you considered getting back into the gym? It often helps if you have someone to buddy up with and motivate each other too. Or save your money and get a Wii Fit, then it seems like more fun. Love, a non-expert.

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