Living the Lifestyle: Wednesday, 08/07/2024
misterhub
Posts: 6,662 Member
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 - crewahl (Charlie)
Tuesday – Wildcard
Wednesday-misterhub (Greg)
Thursday -imastar2 (Derrick)
Friday - Wildcard
Today's Topic: What is success?
In terms of the "lifestyle" efforts that we pursue, what is success?
Tangible, hard numbers? A general sense of accomplishment? A little bit of woo-woo? A combination of any/all? Something else?
How do you know when you've succeeded at this effort?
Each weekday, a new topic is offered up for discussion.
Monday - crewahl (Charlie)
Tuesday – Wildcard
Wednesday-misterhub (Greg)
Thursday -imastar2 (Derrick)
Friday - Wildcard
Today's Topic: What is success?
In terms of the "lifestyle" efforts that we pursue, what is success?
Tangible, hard numbers? A general sense of accomplishment? A little bit of woo-woo? A combination of any/all? Something else?
How do you know when you've succeeded at this effort?
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Replies
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Well, First: (tongue firmly in cheek) is I don't have to pay my monthly WW fee.
Second: TOL is off my butt.
Third is I feel I "done did it".2 -
Sometimes I feel like "success" is whatever is just past what I've achieved! It always seems like there's a few more pounds to drop, a few more miles to run, another set of blood tests to get through, another doctor's appointment, etc.
At some level I know that I've been successful based on numbers. I've been at/below goal for 15 years I think. I don't feel like I'm always "dieting," and all of my numbers (labs, cardiac, etc.) are pretty good.
Mentally, I know that's success.
But, maybe it's because I've been doing this for so long that it doesn't really feel like success. Instead, it just feels like a life that I'm used to? But, maybe that is actually success (without "feeling like" success)?
The take-home message is probably that there is no sitting back and just enjoying...it's an active process.3 -
I’m aligned with Steve on this . I think success is an aspiration rather than a location we arrive at. Success is doing well tomorrow, and keeping on with our efforts, and continung to overcome obstacles. Greg said it well when he described it as “the 'lifestyle' efforts that we pursue”.
There is, I’ll admit, a bit of Maslow's Hierarchy in play here. The peak of the pyramid of success is probably a long, active and healthy life, ending only when struck down by a meteor. One step down the pyramid is managing one's health and fitness in such a way as to minimize or delay the normal effects of aging. Another step down, and I think we’re talking about the guilty pleasures of being able to do things that most of our contemporaries can’t or won’t do. Still further down the pyramid of success are what I’ll call the vanity-related benefits of being at a socially acceptable weight, where people don’t judge you adversely because of your weight.
But that model, regardless of where you feel you are at this point, to me remains all about aspiring to a higher place on the pyramid - the pursuit, in other words - rather than being content with where you are at the moment,
(Apparently today for me is International “Latch On To One Phrase” Day. 🤷🏻♂️)2 -
"Success" is one of those baggy-pants words that is hard to pin down. At my age, health is a measure of success. My lifestyle choices revolve around this and my anchors are good sleep, stress management, exercise and diet, all in equal measure.
I also count family as a success in my "contentment index". I consider myself lucky. I'm happily married to my dearly beloved, I have two great kids and two delightful grandchildren in elementary school.
In the meantime, I keep chugging along, and celebrate small successes in whatever form. That includes being able to slip my pants on in the morning without falling down.2 -
I'm gonna stick with weight loss or lack there of as a measure of success.
The scale for me is the score and success for me would be 200 lbs. Will I see that score before the clock runs out? right now the scale is saying actually being lighted digitally screaming at me. Some days not so good, some days it's better.
This is like looking up at the scoreboard but not knowing when the clock will run out.
So it is what it is and it's a marker at that point and time in my life but success for me is in the journey, the struggle and staying happy without quitting.1
