Daily Challenge 17/09/2013 Mental Inventory
m23prime
Posts: 358 Member
As people here are learning, only a small minority of the challenges associated with weight loss are physical, tangible, and objectively measurable.
Poundage shed, inches lost, muscles shred-- these are not so much the challenges as they are the results of a good mental game.
Today I challenge you not only to review your short, medium, and long term weight loss and fitness goals, but also take note, and perhaps share, the positive changes you have seen in your attitude and approach, as well as some of the problems you are having establishing new, for the lack of a better phrase, "healthy person habits".
For example, I thought my long term goal was to be thin and fit. But now my long term goal is to be healthy and happy and able to DO cool stuff. I am not AS interested in thinness or muscle for their own sakes. I want to get well so I can try things I don't feel comfortable doing at my current size.
To do this I am developing new habits and getting rid of old ones.
I have broken my "Scarf a GIANT bag of Kettle chips before bedtime habit". Now I nibble at fruit if I snack at all; or a temperate bowl of buttered popcorn if I need to really get my munchie on.
Sorry if you are not a fan of the softer challenges--if that's case, or you don't have time anything that has a whiff of amateur psychology--Call it Water day again and drink! Or sodium day. Or Potassium day! We haven't done that one yet.
Have a great Tuesday no matter what you challenge yourself to.
Discuss below...
Poundage shed, inches lost, muscles shred-- these are not so much the challenges as they are the results of a good mental game.
Today I challenge you not only to review your short, medium, and long term weight loss and fitness goals, but also take note, and perhaps share, the positive changes you have seen in your attitude and approach, as well as some of the problems you are having establishing new, for the lack of a better phrase, "healthy person habits".
For example, I thought my long term goal was to be thin and fit. But now my long term goal is to be healthy and happy and able to DO cool stuff. I am not AS interested in thinness or muscle for their own sakes. I want to get well so I can try things I don't feel comfortable doing at my current size.
To do this I am developing new habits and getting rid of old ones.
I have broken my "Scarf a GIANT bag of Kettle chips before bedtime habit". Now I nibble at fruit if I snack at all; or a temperate bowl of buttered popcorn if I need to really get my munchie on.
Sorry if you are not a fan of the softer challenges--if that's case, or you don't have time anything that has a whiff of amateur psychology--Call it Water day again and drink! Or sodium day. Or Potassium day! We haven't done that one yet.
Have a great Tuesday no matter what you challenge yourself to.
Discuss below...
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Replies
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That Mark is I think our biggest challenge even if we don't admit it! I think we all have to beat our mental games we play with ourselves!
I decided to take this path because I'm embarrassed most of the time with myself! Unfortunately that goes with a whole basket full of other mental health issues like anxiety and depression. I don't know anyone fat skinny or otherwise who doesn't have to battle their own self.
I believe that over all that all behaviours can be changed, and essentially we are just behaving badly when we devour our emotions, good times and bad times and all the times in between. Sadly for most of us these behaviours were set into play before we even understood them!
I think I am off topic, what i am trying to say is:
My goals although in the later goals are because I want to for once be physically really healthy and off all meds the short term goals are all because I don't want to be embarrassed to run in public or go to a show and have chub spilling over the side of the seat, and I really hate being the fattest girl at work! But since I know how to loose weight logically most of this battle is mental for me, to push each day to get out of bed and go to work, to push each day to walk past the row of sweets for snack and had some carrot sticks, especially on those bad days when I want to go to a burger joint instead of home to my chicken to challenge my emotions every day, and mostly to learn to forgive myself when I mess up!
I posted my success not that long ago about coming here instead of to my fridge for emotional support. One time I changed that behaviour and next time I hope I can too!0 -
Mark, I think that the mental aspect of this is much like life itself. There are going to be ups and downs along the way. We have to adjust to deal with the downs, even if it is by doing no more than keeping in mind that another upswing is bound to come.
I find that when I start losing, I feel good. As I lose more I feel great, my optimism climbs, I smile more, I become more active, all great things. When the losses slow, I can lose some of that. Then is the time to really step up the game. This is very much true with exercise for me.
The funny thing about exercise is the longer you have done it, the more you have to do to keep improving. The lighter you get, the more exercise you have to do to get the same calorie burn. This really is a good thing, but in our time crunched crazy world, it can get easy to slide into an "I'm just too busy" mode and let the exercise slide; especially when you aren't earning all those dazzlingly high numbers any longer.
I have to admit though, that I love the endorphin kick I get from working out, it really helps with the positive outlook, and I (and the people around me) can easily tell when I haven't been getting the exercise time in.
Now for the really great changes! I've been on this round of weight loss for just under a year (a couple days before Thanksgiving start.) In that time yes I have lost a lot of weight, but the biggest changes are in lifestyle. My wife and I get out and DO things. A year ago it was a struggle to stand up from the easy chair where my butt rested hour after hour watching television. Now, the DVR is filling with shows that I don't have time to watch any longer (and -gasp- am starting not to care) while we go out and walk at the Zoo, the Botanic Gardens, or do short hikes in the local National Park units. I've bought a new DSLR camera and I'm rediscovering the love I used to have for amature photography while doing this walking. We are planning vacations; Alaska, Hawaii, Canada of course, Europe, who knows where else we will head while we are still young and healthy enough. Being HEALTHY enough is the real key and it just excites me that we are working on that and have these great things to look forward to enjoying.
OK, too much data spillage. More of a blog post than a DC response, but there you go.0 -
Thanks Dan. Your insights are very valuable.
As our group's Incredible Melting Man, I know that I look to your experience and respect the work you have done to date.
And it is good for everyone to know that even you have your bad days.
And even better for them to know that you can overcome those bad days when they happen.0 -
I posted my success not that long ago about coming here instead of to my fridge for emotional support. One time I changed that behaviour and next time I hope I can too!
Holly--this battle is always going to be fought one craving at a time. YOU CAN DO IT!0 -
Wow Mental Inventory! This is the hardest thing for me to do on a daily basis. Mentally I understand what I need to do to get healthy, but still find myself reaching for that comfort food when I'm stressed.
One positive change I have made is cooking healthy versions of that comfort food. Thanks for the challenge!0 -
All you guys/gals are so inspiring!
Great challenge!
My challenge is ditto what Mark said. I want to be healthy and fit into a regular roller coaster seat, an airplane seat, go hiking in Washington State with my family, even go through a haunted house without fear of getting stuck in a tight space.
I just started 6 weeks ago but I have made activity of some kind a daily habit.
I REALLY read labels on foods now too.
Have a great day!0
