Living the Lifestyle, Thursday, August 20, 2020

MASSRUNNER_FRANK

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.


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 - 88olds (George)
Tuesday - whathapnd (Emmie)
Wednesday - misterhub (Greg)
Thursday - MASSRUNNER_FRANK
Friday - imastar2 (Derrick)

Today’s Topic: 20/20 Vision in regards to -

Serenity to accept the things I cannot change.
Courage to change the things I can.
Wisdom to know the difference.

Any relevance to your weight loss program? Applications?
Discuss.

linmueller

I love this!

Serenity to accept the things I cannot change... I can't change the world, the restrictions, closing, upset to my life that covid has rained down on me.

Courage to change the things I can ... my environment (food in the house), my menu, my portions, my activity, my use of free time.

Wisdom to know the difference ... stop focusing on the things I can't change, using them as an excuse, letting them get me down, wallowing in disappointments. And start, and continue where I've made progress, focusing on what I can change and accomplish. Be motivated, encouraged, inspired as I do what I can!

steve0mania

I get the mantra, but I don't think I agree with it. Instead, I prefer the similar mantra of "the only thing I can control is myself." With this latter mindset in place, it's easier to recognize my own responsibility in my weight, and to try my best not to blame "the situation" as something that causes me to gain weight.

For example, (at least in theory), I can control what I put into my stomach. Whether I'm at home where the available foods are generally healthier, or if I'm at some outside place where I am not in control of the food options that are presented, I can decide for myself what to eat. To be honest, I am not always as good at it as I'd like, but nevertheless, that part is on me.

The GOAD board used to have discussions about "food-pushers." Yeah, I recognize the phenotype. But, regardless of how much someone "pushes" us to take a dessert, it's still on us whether we capitulate.

That "I can only control myself" mantra is very helpful for the rest of my life too. There are lots of things at work where I can decide how to proceed, even if the situation is not how I would like it to be. By recognizing my role in things, it helps me feel like I'm more in-control, too!

MASSRUNNER_FRANK

I am learning this mantra prayer and relearning it’s lessons periodically. My vision apparently deviates from 20/20 frequently..

Serenity to accept the things I cannot change...aside from much of normal daily life, I cannot change that the foods I love most are high point items. I cannot change that without strict adherence to the Plan I will regain every ounce I lost. I cannot change or perhaps better said go back to believing some of the weight loss myths GoaD deprived me of.

Courage to change the things I can....YES, I CAN eat in moderation, I can plan a daily diet and be in a ballpark range of points, I can weigh in daily and use that as a metric not a tyrant, I can be an adult without deprivation or rigidity.

Wisdom to know the difference...by remembering many lessons GoaD taught me, by going gently yet purposefully through this weight loss journey one meal at a time,.

imastar2

I've been thinking about this serenity prayer last evening and this morning. As far as what to post.

It's so deep in meaning yet so simplistic in words. I personally for a long time have known there are things I have no control over and can't change but that doesn't mean they don't effect me. So in my mind I've had to figure out that it is how I think about the things I can't change so it's boiled down to this. If I can't change it ignore it, let the thought pass through and forget it.

Courage to change? That's the key. In my mind I have to strive for those things I know I can change about myself. What I eat, what I put in my mind, and yes who I hang around with. To strive in a positive constructive manner to help me arrive at where I want to be.

Seeking the wisdom to know the difference is an ongoing project. Searching for the right combination that's right for me. Wisdom to choose the path which will take me to where I feel is best for me. Easy? Not on your life. Making daily decisions for me requires wisdom education and yes some trial and error. In the end my prayer is for the wisdom to make the right choice.

misterhub

Viktor Frankl wrote a marvelous book called Man's Search for Meaning. The first half of the book is accessible on a lay perspective, while the second-half of the book shows how to implement psychological techniques with what he says in the first half of the book. I highly recommend the first half of the book to EVERYONE.

In the first half, Frankl's narrative describes his experience as a prisoner in a German concentration camp. During this time, he was subjected to the well-documented cruelty we all know occurred. But, also during this time, he came to realize that - regardless what the prison administration and guards did to him, he still could determine how he responded to those actions. No matter how they tortured him psychologically and physically, there was this little corner of his mind and soul they could not touch - where he was totally in control - how he responded. They could not take that away from him.

The point here is, while none of us have experienced such cruelty and hardship, we also share that same capacity - how we respond to our situation. No matter if we are subject to the whims of others, we can choose how we respond to that activity. Regardless how many food temptations we face, we can choose how we respond to those temptations. We can even choose how we respond to health issues that crop up as the result of age and previous decisions we may have made.

We always have that ability - to choose how we respond. For me, that is a very powerful ability. YMMV.