Living the Lifestyle -Wednesday February 5th

podkey

We meet here to explore, share, celebrate and (sometimes) agonize over how we do (or don't) incorporate weight loss guidelines into our daily lives. "It's a lifestyle, not a diet" is easily and often said, but sometimes not so simply put into practice.nn

This is a thread for everyone. If you're new to GoaD, or to weight loss, your questions and comments are always welcome. If you're maintaining, or a long-term loser, your thoughts on the topic may be just what someone else needs to hear. If you're reading this, join in the discussion!

Each weekday, a new topic is offered up for discussion.

Monday-imastar 2 (Derrick)
Tuesday- myallforjcbill (Bill)
Wednesday- Podkey (Bob)
Thursday-Jimb376mfp (Jim)
Friday-misterhub (Greg)

Topic: The Thrill of Victory or the Habit Trail?
How do we develop the habit trail or do we to stay the course long term?

Alternative: how long does it take to make this a lifestyle or is it?

misterhub

A lifestyle is how you live, based on the choices you make. Each individual choice contributes to that lifestyle. Lifestyle is composed of habits.

Habits are those routines comprised of choices we repeatedly make to the point they just become how we do things. Some habits are healthy habits. Some habits are not healthy habits.

Theoretically, habits are easy to establish: Consciously make a choice until it is no longer a choice, but is simply what is done. Pragmatically, habits are bit more difficult to establish.

All habits are hard to break. Breaking a habit requires changing how things are done. Humans notoriously don't like change. Humans fight change. Even when a change is desired, and constantly striven for, humans fight it because routines/habits are the easier path - they are familiar.

To make a change in one's routine, it is necessary to make conscious choices to do so. That means it is necessary to: 1) Understand clearly the "why" of making the change; 2) Make a plan to make the change; 3) Follow through on that plan - even when the mind screams to return to the familiar routine.

On paper, this is all quite easy. In practice, it is more difficult, usually requiring some specific motivation - which contributes to the "why" of what is desired.

Just my nickle's worth.

imastar2

I believe a Lifestyle change can take place pretty quickly once you have formulated your why as to weight loss or maintenance. For example when I decided to lose weight I cut out most fried foods. I'm a southern boy and raised on southern deep fried chicken. This was not easy to walk away from but once the decision was made then it became a habit within a very short period of time. I'd say less than a month. Forming a habit is merely doing something regularly long enough for it to be come a habit. The time frame seems to be documented at 21 days. I have tested this and believe it to be true.

Weight loss became a lifestyle for me way back there however sticking to the plan becomes another discussion. There are many bumps along the way and many ups and downs so in the end it's a journey not a destination. It seems those of us who have this weight gene problem know from experience there is no finish line. So there really isn't much of a choice to make this anything other than a lifestyle and turn it into a habit.

myallforjcbill

I think a lifestyle habit change can be easier to start than to maintain. How long before it sticks depends on whose book you read. But I have noticed for me it can depend on the noise of life that competes for emotional energy and focus. I also think an oft undiscussed related issue is unlearning old habits, the ones that tend to creep back. I think the two are somewhat related but new habits do not always purge the old since they remain in out memory. I like what @misterhub said a lot but I don't think it is easy. Next week I will take advantage of my supplemental insurance offer of a health coach who will set goals with me and call to check in, strategize etc. I have used this method in the past when I was having trouble making consistent progress.

podkey

I don't dwell on the "why". I suppose that is because I am a science guy. I dwell more on the "do". I try not to beat myself up or get mired in the why why why. WW likes talking about the "why" a lot. I just ignore it when they ask. That's the rationale for me to repeat the good habit trail until some of it sticks. As Steve-O says weight loss is "simple" but not "easy". Some recent research has pointed out that it may be more difficult than before to lose and maintain than in previous decades. The exact reason is simply not known. Sure plenty of of speculation about this, that, and the other thing but truly unknown.

podkey

I know WW use to give out a 16 week clapping hands award. It does take time to get some semblance of a new habit.

88olds

Doesn’t come up much anymore but I used to think in terms of defending habits. I’d go to the gym just because it was gym time. Otherwise that time ends up filled with couch sitting.

How long? A couple of years ago, in year 11 of maintaining, I finally started thinking that if I don’t lose my mind, I’m not gaining it back.
So I might gain it back but I won’t know it.

podkey

Oh I like that idea of defending habits 88olds! I do drag myself to the gym for upper body stuff. Some days it is drag myself out of bed for a walk. I have been fortunate to not being "off the reservation" for extended periods of time.