I keep thinking I'm going to get serious about losing weight. Sometimes I even think I am serious about it, but then my efforts are so easily derailed. Right now I am not doing anything about it, unless you count bemoaning the fact that I am still fat. In an effort to muster up some willpower, I've decided to do a pro/con list of sorts.
Reasons for losing weight:- clothes shopping would be fun again
- to be more healthy
- to not despise my body
- to have more self-confidence
- to be able to be active
- to be a better example for my children
- to have more self-control
- freedom from the obsession
Reasons for staying fat:- exercise is hard
- cookies are delicious
- ditto M&Ms
- to stay in my comfort zone
- eating is such a social thing
- there’s always something to celebrate
- I don’t know if I can do it
- laziness
Hmm... even though I can see that the reasons for losing weight are good and the reasons for staying fat are pretty bad, I'm still not feeling much motivation. Have you got anything to add to either list? Help a girl out.
14 comments:
I have such an emotional relationship with food, really no matter what the number on the scale, the relationship is the same, and its so hard to navigate it. I think a reason to stay where one is, is , for me, it avoid dealing with that relationship, or to be able keep using food as comfort, payment, soothing,punishmenet etc. To get out of that cycle is to essentially break up with something, and we all know that breakin up is hard to do.
Nothing to add to the list but all sorts of support for sticking with luxurious, comforting, social, emotional, delightful eating! Why does food have to be so good AND exercise so hard?
for me exercise has become my way of just getting the stress out. I need it now. I also have to say for me it is my antidepressant. I know that I am lucky in the fact that I can use exercise for it, there are times I wonder if I really do need something else though. The energy I have for just working out is great. I won't ever be a tiny size, but for me I think it is more important you have energy and you feel great than looking great. Cause I gotta say, you are one beautiful women.
Not to lose would be than you would have to go shopping, oh wait that might be good.
Oh, and lots of support from me. I will tell you this, find a group of women who are willing to walk with you the same time every week, and that will make you successful. And don't worry where they might be, just the support is key
Exercising and eating right are a lot like reading scriptures and doing visiting teaching. When I do them diligently I love it and my life is blessed! When I'm in this mode, I can't imagine ever NOT doing them.
But, it's so easy to get off track and not do what you're supposed to. Then it seems even harder to get back on. WHY? Life is hard and I feel your pain.
I share your pros and cons and seem to really love the cons list. Fat it is.
Boy did I relate to both lists. And I agree, while I would like to be thinner, it's so hard to do. But my mom just went on a diet and has lost 10 pounds, so I am supporting her by working out with her twice a week on my Yoga balls. Perhaps I will decide I like it and make it a regular occurence. HA!
I ditto tasha and jill's comments. I do love food and don't want to change that but boy would I love to have my same body from when I was 21 and yet here I sit.
So- compromise. It might take you longer to shed the pounds, but you will be more likely to stick to it. Cut out sweets during the week and let yourself have one on the weekend.
You will be so much happier down the rode (in terms of other issues weight can cause) if you start now.
I know it is a total nightmare, but I do have to say.. the times that I make it to Yoga and workout I am a much happier person and mom.
Good luck. I'm rooting for you.
I definitely agree that your reasons for losing weight are better than your reasons for staying fat. Something I try to do to maintain a good balance is to eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full. You can do it! Like Mom said about reading the scriptures, I think a healthy lifestyle is something many of us need to consistently work on because it doesn't come so easily. Healthy living will probably take a lifetime of commitment and dedication, but I have no doubt it's possible!
hm, this may not sound so great as the other comments, but for the pro side: knowing that you have lost weight feels really good. I lost weight and I felt so skinny (even though I was still overweight)and great. It was a blissful feeling. For me at least, it made me want to keep loosing wieght or at least keep off the weight that I had already lost. I think that if you can get the ball rolling, it may get easier and you may have more motivation to keep on going.
Yeah, it's just hard.
But the thing I've learned with much experience on both sides of the issue, is that if I can just gain the momentum, or inertia of good habits, I am so pleased. I feel so much better in every way. That's why I think you should make a commitment to yourself (and others) to stick with it for a given period of time- even a week, because that's hard enough. And then REALLY stick to it for that amount of time. You can do it, and when you do, you will feel better for having done it. Then challenge yourself again after that.. it really helps. If you can gain the momentum you will start to see results and realize that it really is the better alternative. The longer you stick to it, the easier it becomes.
Remember how great it felt when you lost 30 pounds? You can do that again! Look at is as a journey, not a destination!
"You can do it!"
I am reading "french women don't get fat" and it is such and intersting book, specially since my mom has always been the perfect model for that book! so all I can add, is that I too! have all the good reasons for doing it and just plainly have thought "it is ridiculous to go through life feeling like you are never there..."so all I suggest is that if you don't want to give up on all your goodies...you have to start moving more to deserve them more heartedly. So if you are not doing exercise "walking is a pretty good exercise you can do" what I have started doing is "cutting my portions" and it is really really helping. Although it was hard at the beginning I just cut it by half and think of my goal as short steps...but it is not easy!
Michelle - I am right there with you. It makes me mad that I don't stick to anything long enough for results. I know everyone wishes I would quit talking about it but I really think that everytime I am REALLY going to do it. I am obsessed and obese and SICK of it. I am actually thinking of going public to the blog world...I need to do it to be a better example to my kids and just be healthier. Skinny isn't really even the goal but I can tell a huge difference in the last 20 pounds and need to quit climbing UP the scale. I love the pro and con list. I wonder if it would be too obnoxious to have a blogger check in day our diet woes and hopefully successes!
Okay, Ihave a REALLY good reason for you! When I get thinner, I get colder!!! Being on the thin side (I don't really consider myself thin most of the time) is better than ALL the reason you listed to stay fat. I try to remind myself every day that I like (LOVE) the feeling of being thin better than any of the things I like about eating yummy things! I am way less self absorbed when I am thinner. I know you would love the whole process when you begin to have su cess--and you have Jessie to be your diet "pogner", what could bet better??! Never the less, thou mayest chose for yourself. I love you either way.
Post a Comment