Living The Lifestyle Tuesday, February 27, 2018
88olds
Posts: 4,555 Member
We meet here to explore, share, celebrate, and (sometimes) agonize over how we do (or don't) incorporate weight loss guidelines into our daily lives. "It's a lifestyle, not a diet" is easily and often said, but sometimes not so simply put into practice.
This is a thread for everyone. If you're new to GoaD, or to weight loss, your questions and comments are always welcome. If you're maintaining, or a long-term loser, your thoughts on the topic may be just what someone else needs to hear. If you're reading this, join in the discussion!
Each weekday, a new topic is offered up for discussion. Thread starters for February are:
Monday - whathapnd (Emmie)
Tuesday - 88olds (George)
Wednesday - minimyzeme (Kim)
Thursday - misterhub (Greg)
Friday - jasper60103 (Jasper)
Topic: The New Normal
Confession- this bugs me. Do you ever give any consideration to whether the things you do pursuing weight loss are “normal?” My last ML seemed very concerned about this. It also pops up on the other boards I look at. Sometime I can tell it’s the concern of a young person trying to fit in. But some folks seem to have the notion that most people are going around mindlessly always eating dessert and never gaining weight. Where do you think you fit in? Do you care?
This is a thread for everyone. If you're new to GoaD, or to weight loss, your questions and comments are always welcome. If you're maintaining, or a long-term loser, your thoughts on the topic may be just what someone else needs to hear. If you're reading this, join in the discussion!
Each weekday, a new topic is offered up for discussion. Thread starters for February are:
Monday - whathapnd (Emmie)
Tuesday - 88olds (George)
Wednesday - minimyzeme (Kim)
Thursday - misterhub (Greg)
Friday - jasper60103 (Jasper)
Topic: The New Normal
Confession- this bugs me. Do you ever give any consideration to whether the things you do pursuing weight loss are “normal?” My last ML seemed very concerned about this. It also pops up on the other boards I look at. Sometime I can tell it’s the concern of a young person trying to fit in. But some folks seem to have the notion that most people are going around mindlessly always eating dessert and never gaining weight. Where do you think you fit in? Do you care?
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Normal?
Seemed pretty clear that normal at around age 50 was trending toward overweight and obese. I had to go my own way.
Where do you think you fit in?
Starting Pickleball last year was a big help. Not all aged Pickleballers are in shape, but many are. It’s a chance to hang with some like minded people. I’ve even got a couple of comments about how I look to be in “pretty good shape.”
:-)
Do you care?
I don’t care about normal. Because, like I said, normal does seem to be all that healthy. I don’t care that I’ve done whacky things pursuing weight loss. Only care about whether they work.
BTW, my ML- at least once she took her food scale to a restaurant to settle a dispute with her DH about the size of a chicken breast. A line I’ve never crossed.
But I do like being noticed for the effort I put in.0 -
Normal?
Seems like the SAD is a recipe for obesity and chronic disease. I'm sure there are people who think I'm completely obsessive for tracking my food intake, tracking my weight, and regularly exercising.
Where do I fit in?
I march to the beat of a different drummer.
Do you care?
Not any more. In my younger years I was way more susceptible to peer pressure. Now I don't give a damn. I'm a healthy weight, I enjoy the activities I do, and I enjoy the things I eat.1 -
I don't fit in. I care, but I do it anyway.
I gave up eating red meat/pork and fried foods 30+ years ago. I have really bad family history regarding heart disease. It also helps on the weight front. It creates a problem sometimes when eating over at friends houses. I try to eat around it if there is just a little bit in the food.
We don't have deserts or chips in the house. When friends come to visit for a few days, they bring some along, which is fine with me. We ask them to take the rest of it with them when they leave, if there is any left over.
Restaurants have gotten better about healthier choices so that helps when eating out. I'm one of those people that says light on the cheese, no sauce, dry toast, dressing on the side and so on.
I know I'm being a little difficult, but I've made my choice to strive for being healthier.0 -
@GoRun2
Reading your post I just remembered how much fun it was to go to lunch with the work crowd. They knew I was working at losing. For a while I turned down lunch invitations. But they persisted. I went. They were pleased. Then came my time to order. Soon they were fidgeting in their chairs and rolling their eyes. Lots of fun.
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Other than on a Bell Curve, I am not sure "normal" exists.
We've all got things we do that are different from the defined "norm."
I came to peace with that a very long time ago.
OTOH, people often overly emphasize deviations from the norm - both looking at themselves and at others. That, at least to me, is where real damage can be done. It's important to examine our life actions, but the key is to focus on the motivation and ensure it is pure. If it is pure, then the "norm" really has no bearing.
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I'm not sure if I know what "normal" is. What I do know is that, after paying attention to some of my "naturally thin" friends, people who APPEAR to be naturally thin seem to pay attention to what they eat. They don't eat a whole pizza by themselves -- they eat a slice. They don't eat an entire chocolate cake (as I have) -- they eat a slice (or heaven forbid a bite!).
As I lost weight, I think I became more "normal". Nothing is off-limits in my house. I have chips. I have ice cream. I eat red meat. I eat fried foods. The difference is I don't eat a BAG of chips. I don't eat a HALF GALLON of ice cream. I don't eat red meat and/or fried foods every day. I know myself well enough to know that I have to pay attention to what I'm eating.
I got out of the habit of weighing/measuring things and, in retrospect, that's when I started gaining weight. I "somehow" managed to lose track of what a "serving" size was. BUT...I can honestly say that I've NEVER taken measuring cups/spoons or a food scale to a restaurant. In fact, I told a friend of mine (also a WWer) that if she ever saw me doing that, to please slap me!2 -
Other than on a Bell Curve, I am not sure "normal" exists.
We've all got things we do that are different from the defined "norm."
I came to peace with that a very long time ago.
OTOH, people often overly emphasize deviations from the norm - both looking at themselves and at others. That, at least to me, is where real damage can be done. It's important to examine our life actions, but the key is to focus on the motivation and ensure it is pure. If it is pure, then the "norm" really has no bearing.
Amen Brother!!0 -
Gosh not sure how to answer this. I do eat in a similar pattern every day so in that sense a "new normal" which includes smaller portions and a lot less items like pizza and ice cream for example. I am fine with that. I do what works for me and honest to betsy I would never take a weight scale to a restaurant. Not now, not ever. By weighing at home and training my eyes I am close enough. I just divide their idea of a serving/entree by at least two people and sometimes up to four people.
I have never witnessed persons of normal weight (ok maybe one or two) mindlessly eating dessert and not gaining weight. I know one person who had that issue where I worked due to some illness.1 -
Do you ever give any consideration to whether the things you do pursuing weight loss are “normal?” Where do you think you fit in? Do you care?
I really don't. The things I do pursuing weight are normal! What I was doing before was less so I think. Now I eat healthier food and less of it--by a long shot. I make a point to walk a few miles most days. There's certainly more that I could do but I think I've really scaled back on my old behaviors to the point that I am maintaining my weight. Friends and family support my efforts and encourage me but realistically, I think most of them perceive me as normal so the topic doesn't surface much.0 -
Do you ever give any consideration to whether the things you do pursuing weight loss are “normal?
I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Mainly I've been thinking it isn't normal to try to eat inside a fairly narrow range of calories each day in order to average around 1200. It's artificial and may achieve nutrition and satiety goals but it's not really based on hunger. (There have been a few days where I could easily have eaten maybe 600 calories and been satisfied.) I believe a more "normal" way of eating to lose (just as in eating in maintenance) would be to allow for a natural ebb and flow based on hunger and circumstances, so that some days are considerably higher in calories and some days are considerably lower. I'm not yet ready to allow myself to experiment with this thought.0
This discussion has been closed.