"Coaching Yourself Thin" - The book, ever ready it?

drivenheart85

I just bought this and am about 1/2 way through and I gotta say it's been so very helpful. Even though I've lost 57 pounds without using the common sense laid out in the book, it really is how I should've started from the beginning. Had I read the book back then, I really wouldn't have taken ANY of it to heart because it's all about going slowly and rationally and I was gonna have NONE of that. Not that the way I was going wasn't healthy, I was just completely on fire about getting the pounds off ASAP. But the problem was that when my FIRE went out, I couldn't stay in line anymore with my eating and I've been bingeing and being a lazy madwoman. But this books points out all of my thinking that just has brought me to yo-yo-dum. Like being obsessed with the number on the scale, with intense workouts, calorie restrictions, expecting happiness when I got thin, basing my worth on my weight...some of this stuff I didn't even know I was doing (quizzes included...genius). Essentially the last 2 months of my "dieting life" have been me derailing and getting back on track again...I've probably gained maybe 3 pounds...nothing life threatening but trust me I've been bee-lining it for binge land and anymore time on this track and I can gain it all back.

Essentially I'm going back to square one now...where all the "rational people" live. The focus should be on healthy food and healthy workouts. The focus should not be the number on the scale and not all about getting skinny. I know you're thinking, "Well duh." But I'm not the personality type that EVER accepted advice like that. So I'm proud that I can see that unless I go back to healthy eating, the weight is going to come back....whether it's this month or 5 years from now. I HAVE to find a healthy, balanced way of eating if I'm ever going to permanently put my weight issue to bed. It's really not that terrifying either...the book describes that you should take an 80/20 approach. And explains that once a week you should have a treat ranging from 400-600 calories. This is something I can handle...the perfectionism and control freak that I turned into after 6 months of dieting needs to take a chill pill. I still have 15 pounds I'd like to see leave my body...but it's only gonna happen if I adapt a new outlook. One that includes an emphasis on the problem itself (my food and fitness choices), not the symptom (being a chubster).

Anyway, wanted to vent/write about this new turn of events in my journey and if you've ever read the book, let me know what you thought!