The Journey...

Designer20698
Designer20698 Posts: 23 Member
edited November 2024 in Getting Started
At first I thought this would be a lifestyle change, then life happens and it's a downhill slide. I pick myself up, dust off my britches and start again. That seems to be my MO. Here's my pearls of wisdom, for what it's worth. I've decided that this is a journey that has no end. I have to take it a day at a time to move forward, or backward...my choice. My daily choices have to have mindful thinking about my relationship with food. I find myself asking questions like, "Is this food item worthy of me?", "Will this move me toward or away from my goal?". Some days I just don't care and totally pig out, then lay in bed that night wallowing in regret. Then there's a little voice that asks, "Was it worth it?"

So as with any good journey I've also decided to journal. Just tracking caloric and exercise daily doesn't seem to be enough to satisfy my soul. I will take pen to paper and write how I felt that day, what happened to make me do what I did? I believe if I get to know who I am on a personal level (as strange as that may sound) I will have a better understanding of how I handle various situations...boredom, anger, sadness, etc. I already know I have a tendency to "eat" my feelings so I have to work to find other ways to satisfy that that is not related to destroying an entire gallon of ice cream.

I'm interested in knowing if anyone else does this? And if so, how has it helped you on your journey?

Namaste,
Bridget

Replies

  • MarvinsFitLife
    MarvinsFitLife Posts: 874 Member
    All the best here for support
  • RichardM1047
    RichardM1047 Posts: 61 Member
    Designer20698 wrote: »
    At first I thought this would be a lifestyle change, then life happens and it's a downhill slide. I pick myself up, dust off my britches and start again. That seems to be my MO. Here's my pearls of wisdom, for what it's worth. I've decided that this is a journey that has no end. I have to take it a day at a time to move forward, or backward...my choice. My daily choices have to have mindful thinking about my relationship with food. I find myself asking questions like, "Is this food item worthy of me?", "Will this move me toward or away from my goal?". Some days I just don't care and totally pig out, then lay in bed that night wallowing in regret. Then there's a little voice that asks, "Was it worth it?"

    So as with any good journey I've also decided to journal. Just tracking caloric and exercise daily doesn't seem to be enough to satisfy my soul. I will take pen to paper and write how I felt that day, what happened to make me do what I did? I believe if I get to know who I am on a personal level (as strange as that may sound) I will have a better understanding of how I handle various situations...boredom, anger, sadness, etc. I already know I have a tendency to "eat" my feelings so I have to work to find other ways to satisfy that that is not related to destroying an entire gallon of ice cream.

    I'm interested in knowing if anyone else does this? And if so, how has it helped you on your journey?

    Namaste,
    Bridget

    Your story hits home with me as foods are very important to me and always has been, not so much in junk foods, but my regular meals.

    Over the years I have trimmed off some weight, but I have not learned how to keep it off. So therefore per the suggestion of my new doctor to join this website and so far it's been helpful, so I keep coming back and logging in daily watching my calories and making a daily attempt to stay at or just below my calories intake per day.
    I have trimed off thirty pounds and immediately put ten pounds back on, before joining this helpful site, it's ongoing daily most likely for the rest of my life.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,458 Member
    edited July 2017
    I started on MFP in 2007. I also had to do quite a bit of soul-searching to get my food wrangled to a manageable level.

    In my case I read a lot of threads here, and I have an ongoing Excel spreadsheet with one column for comments. Sometimes the comments are lengthy, describing *why* I was over by 2000 calories. In the beginning I had a journal and lengthy posts about all kinds of things - my world had crumbled and there were a lot of things on which I had to work. It does help, and it is a One Day At A Time thing.

    Every day I get to face the world as a new person. I spend a few minutes in the early morning setting my intentions. I find that helps a lot.
  • GettinFitInMN
    GettinFitInMN Posts: 24 Member
    Designer20698 wrote: "My daily choices have to have mindful thinking about my relationship with food. I find myself asking questions like, "Is this food item worthy of me?", "Will this move me toward or away from my goal?". Some days I just don't care and totally pig out, then lay in bed that night wallowing in regret. Then there's a little voice that asks, "Was it worth it?""

    Designer, I can totally relate to your comments. It's true, mindfulness is key in dieting. It's funny (not funny) how regret can linger so long after eating a terrible choice. I also agree it's a great idea to journal. I'm now into motivational memes. Feel free to friend me. I'm beginning my journey AGAIN this week. I've lost 10 lbs and back to finish off the next 30. I enjoy encouraging others and ask for encouragement in return. It's so much more enjoyable to have others along to share the journey!
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    The road goes on forever and the journey never ends.
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    Designer20698 wrote: »

    I'm interested in knowing if anyone else does this? And if so, how has it helped you on your journey?

    Namaste,
    Bridget

    Several people do use the blog tool for just that purpose.
  • Designer20698
    Designer20698 Posts: 23 Member
    JeromeBerry1, I saw they had a blog section, but I enjoy putting the old pen to paper method. There's a certain satisfaction I get from writing it out. And I like that my journal is more "diary" like in that I'm not sharing it with the world. I know on FB there's enough "sharing". LOL! But that's just me. Everyone is different.
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