Living The Lifestyle, Monday, November 2, 2020

88olds

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 -
Wednesday -
Thursday -
Friday -


Today's Topic: Compromises, Acceptance and Limitations.

What do you do when you encounter the immovable object on your weight loss journey? Do you keep banging up against it, determined that you will push it out of the way, even though you get no results?
Or do you try to find a middle ground? Do you feel like you are giving in? Or do you eventually shrug it off and keep going? How do you find the middle ground sweet spot?

88olds

I think I made goal because somehow I was able to make a series of deals and compromises with myself. How did I get there?

About the time I started WW I read the book The Art And Science Of Rational Eating by Albert Ellis. I think it’s a 1970s book. Been a long time since I’ve looked at it so I can’t quote it. But I think that’s where I got my problem solving approach to weight loss. My character was no longer at stake. It wasn’t a matter of my willpower or discipline. My setbacks weren’t the result of me being lazy or stupid. My success was going to come from an effective plan.

Sometime later, Charlie (I always give credit when I mention this) stated in a post that he viewed the weight loss big picture as a matter of trying to live within some reasonable limits. This went hand in glove with the problem solving approach. It wasn’t a matter of an iron will march to goal. Weight loss was a matter of muddling though.

Some examples- My #1 weight loss muddle of all time is ice cream. I eat ice cream nearly every day. Did it slow my rate of loss when losing? Yes. Is it clean eating? No. Healthy? I doubt it. What about those chemical sweeteners in that stuff you currently prefer? Probably not good.

Flatbread pizza. I recently discovered something called Joseph’s Lavash Bread. I can make a decent flatbread pizza with some sauce and 2% mozzarella for 150-160 calories. Calling this pizza is a great example of the old WW tool for living of reframing. No way is that pizza, but its pizza like enough to fool my pizza starved brain.

So have I found healthy diet perfection? Definitely not. But I think what I normally eat is pretty healthy.
But I was sort of funneled into it by my shrinking WW points as I got closer to goal. I didn’t plan to eat like this. It’s just the deals I kept making to keep my plan working. Just how it is.