Living the Lifestyle (LTL) - Wednesday, 6/7/17
minimyzeme
Posts: 2,708 Member
Everyone says it, but just how do you do it? How do you take the guidelines of the WW program and turn them into a lifestyle you can live every day...from now on? That is what we are here to explore. Each weekday, a new topic is offered up for discussion. Newbie? Join in! Veteran? Join in! Your thoughts may be just what someone else needs to hear.
Monday -- whathapnd (Emmie)
Tuesday -- RedSassyPants
Wednesday -- minimyzeme (Kim)
Thursday -- Wild Card Day--open to anyone who grabs it!
Friday -- Tripaway
Today's topic: "It's not weight-related, but..."
I read this opening often on various message boards, Connect, etc. Most often, the sentence ends with some description of a wide range of circumstances. By that I mean anything from a loved one being very sick to a long-anticipated celebration and really, anything in-between. In summary, they are the things of life--the good, the bad and the ugly--that may bring great joy or utter sadness.
Can you easliy relate to the phrase above? Alternatively, is there little in your life that doesn't relate to your weight, whether it's directly related or not? Does your perspective influence your approach or ability to / for weight loss? Discuss!
Monday -- whathapnd (Emmie)
Tuesday -- RedSassyPants
Wednesday -- minimyzeme (Kim)
Thursday -- Wild Card Day--open to anyone who grabs it!
Friday -- Tripaway
Today's topic: "It's not weight-related, but..."
I read this opening often on various message boards, Connect, etc. Most often, the sentence ends with some description of a wide range of circumstances. By that I mean anything from a loved one being very sick to a long-anticipated celebration and really, anything in-between. In summary, they are the things of life--the good, the bad and the ugly--that may bring great joy or utter sadness.
Can you easliy relate to the phrase above? Alternatively, is there little in your life that doesn't relate to your weight, whether it's directly related or not? Does your perspective influence your approach or ability to / for weight loss? Discuss!
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I probably didn't phrase this question well but for me, there's really nothing in my life (now that I'm paying closer attention) that ISN'T weight-related! I tend to eat according to my emotions and in the past that meant using life's ups and downs as an excuse to eat and drink, excessively.
In a larger context though, as a hydrologist, I'm also very much a 'systems person'. By that I mean there's little to nothing that exists in isolation, not connected to something else. I see a large role for things that can influence dynamics both directly and indirectly. Though it may take a little more scrutiny to see how an indirect situation interacts and has bearing on a situation, for me, I'm often amazed that it is in fact the case. This can be in reference to stream erosion or... the trigger to eat or drink mindlessly.
As applied to today's LTL, there's not much that goes on in my orbit that doesn't feed into my eating habits. Certainly any stressful situation immediately triggers my response to eat or drink. How of if I follow through on that now is entirely different than pre-WW when I started paying more attention to my triggers. Ironically perhaps, a celebration results in that same initial response, also tempered these days by being more mindful.
In my life, I really can't think of much that isn't weight-related, even if it isn't directly about food, exercise, etc. Anything that affects my mood has the potential to affect my weight. It is being more aware and mindful that has helped me recognize that pattern and do something different that has helped me to achieve my weight loss goals to date.1 -
Just yesterday I was reading a MFP post on the Motivation/Support board about how difficult it is to stay on track through injury, illness & unemployment aka life. I decided a long time ago that losing weight wasn't much of a problem, the problem was losing while living my life. This was before Biggest Loser hit TV.
I've been at this long enough to know that when I'm feeling glum I'm better served by a walk than a bag of M&Ms. Seems more and more that activity is the key to my wellbeing. I started with the mindset that exercise would cause me to lose weight. Now I view it as I need to maintain my weight to stay active. Been reading about how activity/exercise helps regulate brain chemistry. I feel more in control when I'm more active.
PS Dreading a kids BD party because there's going to be cake is a bad way to be. But I think every person trying to lose has been there. I always try to keep in mind that special occasions are "special." Today is Friday, is not special.
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When I struggled more with emotional eating, everything influenced my weight loss.
While I still binge a few times a year, it is very rare so there are a lot of life events and situations that no longer tie to weight loss in my brain. A crappy work day no longer leads me to the cupboard, family stress doesn't have me diving into cake, etc. It's actually quite freeing to realize how food no longer influences my life events. It literally took me 6 months of therapy to get to this point, but I am glad I'm here!1 -
My weight status certainly affected both my mood and my self confidence, especially when I was morbidly obese.
My self confidence is much improved now even though I still get anxiety, especially the first day of teaching during the summer semester (tonight at 6pm!). Once class gets going, I will be fine. But the feelings of anxiety do lead to thoughts of food to quell them. I'm better than I used to be at utilizing portion control as well as utilizing other techniques, such as deep breathing, to reduce the anxiety.
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Yeah -- everything's connected for me, too.
At meetings, they like to say that nothing changes when you lose weight -- you still have to live your life, and whatever you were unhappy about before will still be there, you'll just be thinner.
But my experience of losing 150# has been the opposite. Everything changed. I mean, EVERYTHING. I didn't realize it, but apparently I was invisible at 350#. Now I'm very visible -- meaning, random people talk to me all the time. In the elevator. In the line at the grocery store. Clerks in clothing stores. Men in bars. The homeless guy who tells me to smile. Its a constant barrage of the world wanting something from me, where I used to move through the world unhampered by all that crap.
My friends don't recognize me; my family jokes about "who are you and what have you done with the real Murple". That's how much *I* have changed too.
I'm definitely happier, more confident, and better looking than I ever was. There are studies that show how other people treat thin/attractive people better, including in the workplace. New job opportunities are coming my way, and that's probably a combination of looks & confidence. I don't think my actual ABILITIES have improved, but people are more receptive to my ideas.
I really can't think of a single thing in my life that hasn't been affected by weight loss. Of course my family still loves me and my friends still love me. But the relationships have changed, too. Because I have changed.
Murple4 -
Great topic. I guess everything is connected but I wish that it was as simple as eat less, move more...repeat. I tend to agree with 88olds that activity is the sun that my success revolves around. The more activity, the better I feel, the more I can eat, the healthier I am ETC, ETC, ETC. I try not to overthink the weight loss portion of a healthy lifestyle with so many studies, opinions, and WL programs out there. GOAD is helpful because people who have achieved success and offer advice as to what has/has not worked for them. I've learned that there is not one program that fits all and that it is truly an individual journey of figuring out what works for you.1
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Can you easliy relate to the phrase above? Alternatively, is there little in your life that doesn't relate to your weight, whether it's directly related or not? Does your perspective influence your approach or ability to / for weight loss?
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After four years and five months on my own personal WLJ I guess EVERYTHING is connected to my new Lifestyle.
I know I will never go back to my old bad eating habits and I plan to keep exercise as a part of my lifestyle.
The new perspectives I learned here on GoaD help me handle things that come up in life.
1. There is no Finish Line.
2. Nothing changes when you reach goal.
3. There are ALWAYS reasons to go off plan, BDs, anniversary, holidays feeling happy/sad/mad/glad. You either decide you are in control or not.
Knowing how easy it is to gain weight vs how hard/long it takes to lose it (again) is a constant reminder to me of how everything I eat and what I physically do will affect my WI.
After losing -164# and still trying to lose more to get below 200, have my BMI in the overweight range and set/meet a goal weight.....yeah everything is weight related in some way.
Probably saved my life and may add years to enjoy my me Lifestyle.
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Unfortunately I have dealt with injury, illness but as you say that's "life". DW brought hot sauce to me in the hospital and I had some good foods to choose from. For me being a caregiver or staying by loved ones woùld be harder especially with constant changes. Ì have sometimes added too much extra food for me visiting my DD in the hospital. Long term doing ok but do need to pay attention.
Never expected a "cure" or endline and felt I had the tools in sickness and in health.1
This discussion has been closed.