Why nobody should listen to anybody's n=1 "advice": an essay

sollyn23l2
sollyn23l2 Posts: 1,755 Member
edited January 29 in Health and Weight Loss
Here's the thing... we all need to figure out what works for us, as individuals. The problem is really when we become too dogmatic and stuck on a certain thing... because "well, it worked for them". Allow me to give a personal example. I did intermittent fasting, for around a year. It worked great. I loved it. Skipped breakfast and ate a big lunch and dinner, and I maintained my weight as normal and everything was great. Until it wasn't. Until I woke up one day and started massively binging every evening to the point of almost throwing up. And I only stopped the binging by walking away from intermittent fasting. But before I walked away from it... I went through all the self recriminations. Why am I so weak? Why can't I control this? Why can't I just walk away when I'm full?" I had to come to the realization, that it didn't matter why. It worked for me for a year, but then it didn't. And that was it. But it was hard to come to that realization... because "they" said it's amazing, "they" said it works. Point being, don't be afraid to try something, but don't be afraid to walk away from it if it doesn't work for you anymore. There's more than one way to skin a cat, and there's more than one way to lose weight.

Replies

  • paulaperryrun
    paulaperryrun Posts: 1 Member
    I wholeheartedly agree!
  • mtaratoot
    mtaratoot Posts: 14,259 Member
    Please don't skin cats. Certainly not *kittens*.

    And aside from that - you got THAT right! Well, there is one way to lose fat - be in deficit. But aside from that, there's for sure many many approaches that work better or worse for different individuals.

    For sure there is no magic powder or incantation. There is no quick fix. There is building habits, paying attention, and STICKING TO IT.

    Thank you for sharing your experience. I bet a bagel you're not alone.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,223 Member
    Yes. IMO, personalization of tactics is a key success factor. We all have different preferences, strengths, challenges lifestyles, so we're going to need methods compatible with those. And yes, what works best will change over time.

    Good essay. :flowerforyou:
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,252 Member
    The only way to win the game is to be in the game

    And to be in the game you have to be able to stay in the game.

    And to stay in the game you have to be willing to adjust.

    Some of my earlier posts were talking about losing weight doing the same things you will do forever

    Most of my later ones changed that to saying doing things you can see yourself doing long-term.

    The whole blame thing though is a real impediment. Accepting what is it with the least amount of baggage probably allows for the best decisions and most flexibility moving forward.

    I still enjoy reading about n=1 experiences. It allows me to consider things I may or may not choose to implement!

    And they did help free me from the idea that I had to eat in specific way in order to lose weight!
  • chris_in_cal
    chris_in_cal Posts: 2,520 Member
    sollyn23l2 wrote: »
    It worked for me for a year, but then it didn't. And that was it. But it was hard to come to that realization
    This is a very important subject, sorry for you path getting rocked, and what you went through. You are writing about something I've been thinking a lot about, I think of 'Psychological Resilience.'
    I want to do stuff and have successes or failures and continue to be learning and striving. I tend to get gobsmacked and stop for a long time. I want to "come to the realizing" more and more easily, because that's how I can move on and maybe grow. Good luck.

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