Expectations: lessons from a cat
csoderstrom
Posts: 25 Member
So, I follow a cat on Instagram who was terribly obese. 33lbs. His people adopted him this way and have been getting him more exercise and adjusting his food type and caloric intake. After 1 year he has lost 8 lbs which is 25% of his original weight.
So, I was thinking about it… A CAT TOOK ONE YEAR TO LOSE 25% OF HIS WEIGHT.
He has all day to run around and exercise, has people strictly controlling his caloric intake--he can't run out for ice cream or a burger. His people tell him when it’s time to exercise and a vet advises his people every step of the way.
Really listen....A CAT TOOK ONE YEAR TO LOSE 25% OF HIS WEIGHT.
Why am I expecting myself to be able to lose 25% in just a few months?!
I am the master of what goes in my mouth. I am in control of my exercise habits, water consumption, how many goodies I get from the breakroom. I have free will, a complicated set of emotions, and I WILL faulter.
It took me years to get to this weight. I can certainly give myself a year (or more if needed) to lose it, right? And I don’t have to do it alone. I recently went to a great dietitian to help guide me in figuring out how to do this in a sensible way.
A cat took one year to lose 25% of his weight; I think we humans can give ourselves a break and realize that THIS CAN BE A LONGER PROCESS than the “Lose 30 lbs in 60 days” crap we’re always buying into AND THAT IS COMPLETELY OKAY!
picture borrowed from Bronson's FB page: https://www.facebook.com/IAmBronsonCat/
So, I was thinking about it… A CAT TOOK ONE YEAR TO LOSE 25% OF HIS WEIGHT.
He has all day to run around and exercise, has people strictly controlling his caloric intake--he can't run out for ice cream or a burger. His people tell him when it’s time to exercise and a vet advises his people every step of the way.
Really listen....A CAT TOOK ONE YEAR TO LOSE 25% OF HIS WEIGHT.
Why am I expecting myself to be able to lose 25% in just a few months?!
I am the master of what goes in my mouth. I am in control of my exercise habits, water consumption, how many goodies I get from the breakroom. I have free will, a complicated set of emotions, and I WILL faulter.
It took me years to get to this weight. I can certainly give myself a year (or more if needed) to lose it, right? And I don’t have to do it alone. I recently went to a great dietitian to help guide me in figuring out how to do this in a sensible way.
A cat took one year to lose 25% of his weight; I think we humans can give ourselves a break and realize that THIS CAN BE A LONGER PROCESS than the “Lose 30 lbs in 60 days” crap we’re always buying into AND THAT IS COMPLETELY OKAY!
picture borrowed from Bronson's FB page: https://www.facebook.com/IAmBronsonCat/
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Replies
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Where's Bronson's "after" pic?
And yeah, time takes time.6 -
Light bulb moment, for sure!2
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Great observation and thought process!
I can't get past those cute paws. Looks like he has mittens on.2 -
Yes, he's a polydactyl cat. Great paws!I can't get past those cute paws. Looks like he has mittens on.
Again, I do not own these pictures they're from Bronson's FB pagecmriverside wrote: »Where's Bronson's "after" pic?
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Go Bronson!!
:flowerforyou:1 -
..and you know he grumbles at that tiny bowl of food.
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i can spend a month REALLY meeting my calorie goal, exercising, choosing healthy foods, etc., and only lose one pound. i had to learn not to beat myself up about it.
... and i just want to reach in and pet Bronson's soft little head. adorable.6 -
that's inspiring both to me and because my boycat needs to lose 2 lbs (is 19 lbs should be 17 lbs. He's a big boy! Seriously. His head is almost twice the size of my 9 lb girlcat's).
Vet says it's kibble that makes them fat. It has...too many carbs....So I think that's a lesson too.
PS: I wish we could hit more than one button...I'd like to hit insightful, inspiring, and like!1 -
I adopted 2 dogs that were morbidly obese, it took about 2 years to get them down to a healthy weight...they got there healthy with no physical issues due to malnutrition...so definitely don't rush the process...healthy is a journey, not a destination.5
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This is a great perspective!cmriverside wrote: »..and you know he grumbles at that tiny bowl of food.
And stomps around all day saying he is STAAAARRVVING and nobody EVER feeds him!4 -
cmriverside wrote: »..and you know he grumbles at that tiny bowl of food.
And stomps around all day saying he is STAAAARRVVING and nobody EVER feeds him!
I imagine him h-angrily swatting at his cat siblings. "Get way from me or I'll eat you!"
I feel him. I think I'm finally getting past that part where I'm angry at my husband that there aren't cookies in the house, even though that's MY choice.
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What a handsome cat!1
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Love this post! go Bronson :-)
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What a cutie! I've heard before that cats are naturally hypothyroid- low thyroid function which is why they are sleepy/hungry all the time and gain weight easily/slow to lose weight. Might just be a myth though0
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forknitsandgiggles91 wrote: »What a cutie! I've heard before that cats are naturally hypothyroid- low thyroid function which is why they are sleepy/hungry all the time and gain weight easily/slow to lose weight. Might just be a myth though
I think they seem more sleepy and hungry because we see them during the day and they are naturally nocturnal.
Me on the other hand I am sleepy and hungry most of the day, but can't blame that on thyroid haha0 -
I love this post!0
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tinkerbellang83 wrote: »forknitsandgiggles91 wrote: »What a cutie! I've heard before that cats are naturally hypothyroid- low thyroid function which is why they are sleepy/hungry all the time and gain weight easily/slow to lose weight. Might just be a myth though
I think they seem more sleepy and hungry because we see them during the day and they are naturally nocturnal.
Me on the other hand I am sleepy and hungry most of the day, but can't blame that on thyroid haha
Actually, they're crepuscular. Most active at dawn and twilight.3 -
that's inspiring both to me and because my boycat needs to lose 2 lbs (is 19 lbs should be 17 lbs. He's a big boy! Seriously. His head is almost twice the size of my 9 lb girlcat's).
Vet says it's kibble that makes them fat. It has...too many carbs....So I think that's a lesson too.
PS: I wish we could hit more than one button...I'd like to hit insightful, inspiring, and like!
Why do they put carbs in food formulated for an obligate carnivore?0 -
lynn_glenmont wrote: »that's inspiring both to me and because my boycat needs to lose 2 lbs (is 19 lbs should be 17 lbs. He's a big boy! Seriously. His head is almost twice the size of my 9 lb girlcat's).
Vet says it's kibble that makes them fat. It has...too many carbs....So I think that's a lesson too.
PS: I wish we could hit more than one button...I'd like to hit insightful, inspiring, and like!
Why do they put carbs in food formulated for an obligate carnivore?
It's not uncommon for weight loss, actually. Not sure how it achieves the reverse, but if you check the ingredients on the "healthy weight" cat foods, you'll find grain is usually one of them.0 -
estherdragonbat wrote: »tinkerbellang83 wrote: »forknitsandgiggles91 wrote: »What a cutie! I've heard before that cats are naturally hypothyroid- low thyroid function which is why they are sleepy/hungry all the time and gain weight easily/slow to lose weight. Might just be a myth though
I think they seem more sleepy and hungry because we see them during the day and they are naturally nocturnal.
Me on the other hand I am sleepy and hungry most of the day, but can't blame that on thyroid haha
Actually, they're crepuscular. Most active at dawn and twilight.
House cats are crepuscular because they don't need to hunt, but I think naturally, outdoor cats tend more towards nocturnal? Could be wrong though.0 -
csoderstrom wrote: »
Yes, he's a polydactyl cat. Great paws!I can't get past those cute paws. Looks like he has mittens on.
Again, I do not own these pictures they're from Bronson's FB pagecmriverside wrote: »Where's Bronson's "after" pic?
Oh wow! Way to go Bronson!1
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