LTL Wildcard Wednesday (#1; feel free to start another if you want, too!), 3-27-2019
steve0mania
Posts: 3,112 Member
The chicken or the egg?
For someone starting out in a serious weight-loss effort, which do you think is more important, initial motivation or initial success?
Imagine two people starting out in their weight loss effort:
Person #1: This person is highly motivated, they read all of their WW materials, they start calculating points, calories, whatever. They weight and measure everything. They start exercising. However, over the first 3-4 weeks, their weight stays exactly the same.
vs.
Person #2: This person started WW on the spur of the moment without thinking too deeply about it. They flipped through the materials once, they kinda "eyeball" their portions, they put a couple of their meals into the computer, but find it kind of hard to remember to do. They went out for a walk one day as "exercise," but have no interest in sweating a lot. Over the first 3-4 weeks they lose 10 pounds.
Which person is more likely to stick with it for the long-term? Why?
For someone starting out in a serious weight-loss effort, which do you think is more important, initial motivation or initial success?
Imagine two people starting out in their weight loss effort:
Person #1: This person is highly motivated, they read all of their WW materials, they start calculating points, calories, whatever. They weight and measure everything. They start exercising. However, over the first 3-4 weeks, their weight stays exactly the same.
vs.
Person #2: This person started WW on the spur of the moment without thinking too deeply about it. They flipped through the materials once, they kinda "eyeball" their portions, they put a couple of their meals into the computer, but find it kind of hard to remember to do. They went out for a walk one day as "exercise," but have no interest in sweating a lot. Over the first 3-4 weeks they lose 10 pounds.
Which person is more likely to stick with it for the long-term? Why?
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Replies
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I was probably more like person #2.
I was successful because I didn't have to (or want to) think about the WW plan too much.
However, I tracked and attended weekly meetings, rarely missing any during my lose phase.
7 years and counting at goal.
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I don't see it as either/or.
You need the motivation to get out of the blocks. But, you do need the success to reinforce your motivation.
However, as we all know very well, the motivation is going to wax and wane, which can affect success.
Therefore, you need commitment and tenacity - which tied to both.
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I've been thinking about this question in other facets of my life, particularly around my work life. I have a research lab, and struggle with the best way to start new trainees in the lab. Should I give them earth-shattering exciting projects that are not likely to bear fruit for a long time, or should I start them with low-hanging fruit and let them experience early success? I don't know what the answer is.
In the weight-loss realm, I was highly-motivated when I started WW, but if I had a few weeks without a loss? I dunno, I think that may have supported my old point-of-view: "I'm fat and that's just who I am now. There's nothing I can do that will change that."
Those early quick losses were a major symbol that the process was working, and likely to work over the long time. At least for me.0 -
For someone starting out in a serious weight-loss effort, which do you think is more important, initial motivation or initial success?
Imagine two people starting out in their weight loss effort:
Person #1: This person is highly motivated, they read all of their WW materials, they start calculating points, calories, whatever. They weight and measure everything. They start exercising. However, over the first 3-4 weeks, their weight stays exactly the same.
vs.
Person #2: This person started WW on the spur of the moment without thinking too deeply about it. They flipped through the materials once, they kinda "eyeball" their portions, they put a couple of their meals into the computer, but find it kind of hard to remember to do. They went out for a walk one day as "exercise," but have no interest in sweating a lot. Over the first 3-4 weeks they lose 10 pounds.
Which person is more likely to stick with it for the long-term? Why?
Just staying within the confines of the scenario presented, I think Person #2 is more likely to stick with it--for two reasons. Not only have they already experienced success, but they did so with relatively little "program bump" from their pre-weight loss life. They didn't have to make a big deal of the program or significant changes to their day-to-day life to see results.
I'm some sense I kinda was that person. Not entirely, because five years later and I'm still tracking. However, I made a bit of a vow to myself early on I wasn't going to make---I was not going to CHOOSE to make---weight loss a 'major deal' in my life. I wanted to do it on the side, so to speak. Caveat: my partner does all the food prep. I've said this before but I know part of the reason I can cavalierly state I didn't make a big deal of weight loss is because someone else did--on my behalf (hers too--but that's another story).
It seems I've heard and sensed more incidents of people going "all-in" with complete upheaval and change to their lifestyle only to find it's often not sustainable for them. I didn't want to be that person. I've certainly got more I could do to be healthier, but I think my approach has been just what I needed to enjoy the benefits I have thus far.0 -
I'm the kind of person who would be highly motivated, read all my material, and jump in with both feet, and back in the day, I did. I'm thinking a few weeks of no loss would have killed my motivation completely!
In reality, I had a small gain week 3 (working the program perfectly)after losing the first two. If not for having an amazing leader, I don't think I could have weathered the disappointment. She talked me through it, and I learned a valuable lesson, my body DOES NOT reward me, in a linear manner, for my work. It was a lesson that would be reinforced often!0
