Reality Check

I have been obsessing about the forum for weeks now, reading this one and that one. Commenting on some of them. But here is what I have noticed.

I recently saw a post about how thin people don't look at what they are eating and they don't count calories. Good for them. That in NOOOO way means you should be comparing yourself to those people. They aren't the same as you. Hell, no two bigger people are the same either and how they lose weight will never be identical.

I equate thin people/big people eating and exercise habits to studying. Thin people who have never been fat are just naturally good at staying thin. The same way that some people are naturally good at learning and never have to crack a book to get straight A's. Meanwhile, bigger people have to struggle with what they eat and pay A LOT more attention to food and exercise than we would sometimes like to achieve what thin people do without trying. . Just like all those people who have to study their @ss's off to get a good grade.

We all got this way because we didn't pay attention to our diets and we weren't as exercise inclined as we probably should have been. Now we are trying and that's awesome! But don't use excuses to cheat or quit. And stop enabling people with cheat days - that is annoying. Its like a drug addict in recovery being told he can have a cheat day - it ruins everything you have been trying to accomplish. If you want a piece of cake or a night out of binge drinking, then you need to do the exercise to make sure you can cover your indulgence. Cheating never got anyone anywhere. (except politicians)

And if you have been at this a month and the scale isn't moving, stop whining about it and think its OK to quit. Your just looking for an excuse to do that. Consider that either your not really trying that hard, or what your trying doesn't work for YOU (just because 100 people on the forums says its great doesn't mean its great for you). Try something different. Take a really hard look at what your doing and be realistic - are you being honest about what your eating and how much activity you are actually getting?

This is a place for people who are trying to get healthy and I love it. But people need to be realistic. You cant continue to enable those who want to eat McDonald everyday, tell them its OK, you will do better next time. All you end up with is another post about how they aren't losing any weight. Clearly that doesn't work. You also cant tell people that they need to just stick with what they have been doing if that is clearly not working for them. If you are really serious then you should consider talking to a nutritionist (MFP forum stalkers are not experts (this includes me) on what YOU should and shouldn't be eating) and ask your doctor and/or an exercise expert what your level of activity should be and what might work for you.

:explode: :mad: :huh:
Disclaimer: This has been my rant for the week. Yes, I am a hypocrite as I will continue to encourage those who complain about all of the above, including myself. Do not expect that encouragement to be free of sarcasm, opinions and/or advice (that will probably not work for you).