Living The Lifestyle, Monday, August 17, 2020
88olds
Posts: 4,613 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.
Monday - 88olds (George)
Tuesday - whathapnd (Emmie)
Wednesday - misterhub (Greg)
Thursday - MASSRUNNER_FRANK
Friday - imastar2 (Derrick)
Today’s Topic: GOAD The Book, Part II
Last week we started outlining the GOAD diet book. And most responses started with our heads. We are all here because at some point we decided something. And what we each decided must be similar enough to what others decided to keep us together. What did we each decide? How? What do we say to someone starting out to get them off on the right foot? A firm enough initial step that they will take a second and a third step- what is it that we tell them?
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.
Monday - 88olds (George)
Tuesday - whathapnd (Emmie)
Wednesday - misterhub (Greg)
Thursday - MASSRUNNER_FRANK
Friday - imastar2 (Derrick)
Today’s Topic: GOAD The Book, Part II
Last week we started outlining the GOAD diet book. And most responses started with our heads. We are all here because at some point we decided something. And what we each decided must be similar enough to what others decided to keep us together. What did we each decide? How? What do we say to someone starting out to get them off on the right foot? A firm enough initial step that they will take a second and a third step- what is it that we tell them?
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We all have our reasons but I don’t think we can take a single step without hope. I had the nagging voice. That went on for several years. I kept getting on the scale thinking that at some point the slow and steady march up would somehow stop on its own. It never did.
But it wasn’t until I came up with my childish fantasy of being stranded in the north woods with just enough food to last the winter if properly rationed, that I thought that losing weight was something I could actually do. Nutty as it seemed, I found it helpful. The problem wasn’t losing weight, CICO would see to that. The problem was living my life while I did it.
So I think GOAD The Book needs a lot about the mechanics of WL, but to begin with it has to be about living. We’re just trying to live our lives. A weight loss plan we can’t live with isn’t a good enough plan.0 -
What did we each decide? How?
My decision almost dealt with life or death. I had done I thought my best to lose weight but severe sleep apnea prevented me from losing weight. I had an insatiable appetite. Once the sleep deprevation was solved and therapy began then I began to lose weight. I tracked my points did my best to stay within them and because my daily points at first were so high I rarely got into my weekly points. And so it went till I lost a hundred lbs.
What do we say to someone starting out to get them off on the right foot?
First beleve in yourself that you can lose weight. If others can do it so can I. Now I might have to work at it a little harder or work with my foid choices but just make the decision first that you can do it. One statement posted often was eat less than you burn and the weight would come off. We're now pretty far time wise beyond the Newbie post which was on the GoaD board every week. Lot's of great info came out of that thread.
Begin to track all foods is good advice and one of the best places to start along with getting a decent food scale. Keep score if you will. This may be blunt but if you don't keep up with what's being consumed you'll not get anywhere fast.
A firm enough initial step that they will take a second and a third step- what is it that we tell them?
Join in on day and weekly thread post. Might seem boring if there's no decision on your part but then stick around long enough and you'll find people here really take an interest in you and want to help those trying to lose weight.
Finally as we have all heard there is no finish line. I know for me there isn't and will never be.0 -
I don't think there was anything anyone could have said to me to have motivated me to get started with WW. Instead, it had to come from inside. Wishing that I was thinner hadn't worked, but I was loathe to "admit" that I had a problem.
The kick in the rear was a feeling that I had hit "rock-bottom" (actually, "rock-top") of my weight. An objective measure of my weight and height demonstrated that I had managed to become obese. I wasn't able to fool myself into thinking I was just a little heavy, and carried it well. Nope, I was a loser who was obese and couldn't control what I put into my mouth. I felt out of control. I felt complete and utter despair. That feeling made me recognize that I needed to get some help. (I've often thought that this feeling must be similar to folks with alcoholism who hit "rock-bottom" and then seek out alcoholics anonymous).
Anyway, when I made the decision to get help (in the form of signing up for WW), I felt surprisingly empowered by the decision, and walked into my first WW meeting completely gung-ho to do whatever they told me to do. I read my little booklets, I started eating breakfast, I started exercising regularly, I kept within my points, etc., etc., etc.
As many of you have experienced, I had a good loss in the first week (it was probably just 3-4 pounds, but it was a loss), and that provided key positive feedback that the whole thing might be doable. Indeed, I got through 50 pounds off loss based on that initial feeling of taking control of my life and the positive weight-loss feedback I was receiving on the scale.
So, to try to relate this stuff back to the question of the day, I think all we can do is be supportive of folks trying to start the weight loss process. It is indeed do-able. Frankly, it's a simple calculation (as George said, CICO). But, it's impossible unless you're ready to do it. I think we can point at the door, but a person has to walk themselves through it. Once they get started, the initial stages are just mechanics.
Past that initial step, I think that weight-loss remains a major mind-game and you have to be in the right frame of mind to stick with it. I'm not sure I really know what to say about that except that (probably) everyone stumbles along the way. The successful ones pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and start walking again. So maybe the message is to remember, that everyone has the capability to do difficult things.1 -
What did we each decide? How?
I decided it was finally time to do SOMETHING about my weight gain. It wasn’t going to go away on its own. I knew WW worked and was more of a balanced Plan than others.
What do we say to someone starting out to get them off on the right foot?
Are you ready to start? Now? No is an answer.
When you’re ready, you will find it easier to do.
A firm enough initial step that they will take a second and a third step- what is it that we tell them?
Long Range View.
Don’t expect instant or non stop results.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint.1 -
@imastar2 Derrick don’t recall if we’ve discussed this but as far as I’m concerned CPAP saved my life. Kinda forgot when I was answering this.
Not sure I had coherent thought in 5+ years before I got the CPAP. I was just going day to day trying to get by. Changing anything never occurred to me. Then I finally got some sleep.2 -
@imastar2 Derrick don’t recall if we’ve discussed this but as far as I’m concerned CPAP saved my life. Kinda forgot when I was answering this.
Not sure I had coherent thought in 5+ years before I got the CPAP. I was just going day to day trying to get by. Changing anything never occurred to me. Then I finally got some sleep.
Dot sure Cpap was that life saving for me, but might've saved my marriage.
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@88olds and @AL_HOWARD
We know now as cpap and in my case bi/pap therapy does save lives and we also know that sleep deprevation definitely effects weigh/appetite and the like.
And yes the marriage. 🙂1 -
Sleep deprivation is a big barrier, to be sure. I joined WW in 2013 and at about the same time had a sleep study. It turned out that I didn't have sleep apnea, but did have restless leg syndrome. I've been taking medication since, which has made life much better.0
This discussion has been closed.