The Biggest Difference in Building a Smaller Me
Selma asked: What made you successful, when so many of us aren't? Did you have any sort of revelation early on?
Thanks for the question, Selma! I appreciate the compliment and your interest. I've blogged this before, but I welcome the opportunity to harp on it some more. :)
I'm no expert on weight loss or weight management, obviously, but I do think I've uncovered a fairly large clue on how to make a lasting lifestyle change. At least, I hope it will be a lasting change. Time will tell, I suppose. Entering the fourth trimester of this rebirthing process, it still feels like it's taking.
But to your question, there have been lots of tools that have aided my success (having friends and co-workers who make up a brilliant support network, hiring a personal trainer, logging food consumption on sparkpeople, blogging, etc.), but the fundamental difference was that I decided to forget about losing weight and focus on being healthy, and I gave myself time to adapt to the changes that would require. I guess with age comes a certain amount of wisdom, because I finally "got" that overturning a lifetime of bad habits would be a lot easier if I undid them one by one. Or sometimes a couple at a time, depending on the level of complexity. :)
Here's why I recommend that people at least try this approach: in ten months (or so) of changing, I can honestly report that I have had four full-out feasts--birthday, Thanksgiving and two at Christmas. They were planned and they were spectacular! No binges, no food meltdowns, not a single recrimination. Add to that the fact that I haven't missed a single workout other than when I had surgery on my feet and then when I had the flu (me, for pity's sake! Former Queen of the Couch Potatoes!), and you'll see why I so fervently believe in the process of small, healthy changes over time.
Again, I'm certainly no expert and God forbid I ever come across as some sort of obnoxious know-it-all. My diet is not perfect, nor is my form when I exercise. (Oh, Lord, I hope they don't have anything on videotape!) But it's all so very much better than it was, and I'm still fully committed to improving myself even further. In fact, I'm looking forward to it!
Labels: lifestyle steps
14 Comments:
I did the same thing, Cammy, except that being the all-or-nothing person that I am, I made all of the changes immediately. But I knew I couldn't diet again. I knew I had to make a lifestyle change and I am still tweaking things. I think it is a lifelong journey. Congrats on doing this for 10 months! That is awesome. I'm right behind you at seven months down now. Keep up the fantastic work!
You know what? That's about the most sensible, down to earth, easy to believe explanation I think I've ever read about what really works. You're right: It's almost a given we have to do it slowly to make it last...at least to give our heads time to catch up with our bodies.
You're an amazing, inspiring example I hope to emmulate. Thanks so much for sharing and for caring enough about the rest of us to keep plugging away with your powerful testimony.
Thanks for this entry! It's so simple, but so often we just refuse to acknowledge that this is how it has to be--slow and steady and permanent.
You really are an inspiration! Congratulations on figuring out what works and thanks for sharing your ideas. :)
~briy
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Cammy. Thank you. You are so great with common sense, the type of advise that does work. I appreciate you answering my question. I had another "wow" moment when I was reading this blog. You have had only 4 feasts since you started this diet. (even then, the feast were well planned out so you didn't pig out.) I've been dieting a much shorter time frame, and I've had probably had at least 6 feasts since I started out. They were not well planned and I felt disgusting after each and every one of them. I think I am in this cycle of a revelation, and this thing you said about only having 4 well planned feasts made sense to me. You don't ever throw caution to the wind, and make excuses for pigging out. I think that is what you mean. I think this is true because of your focus on health. Thank you so much for taking the time to thoroughly answer my question.
Selma
great advice! I am a firm believer in making small changes over time than big ones all at once. also about that planning...I couldnt go a day wihtout planning and I know it has helped me when I wanted to go out there and binge.
great reflection...your a inspiration and its awesome to see how much you've accomplished...
Keep up the great work!!
Great post and great advice. It is so true!
Hi cammy! Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving such supportive comments. :) Though I haven't commented before, I wanted you to know that I pop by every day to read your entries. You're very inspiring to me and you and I share a bit of the same philosophy -- one of my favorite sayings during my own journey has been, "Baby steps are better than no steps." *grin*
Hope you're having a great weekend!
Awesome post! You're an inspiration!
Brilliant post, Cammy! I think it's definitely the greatest truth, that one has to be committed to a real, lifelong, sustainable change. Nearly always, that means "baby steps" and that's so important! Two years down the road I think I've finally learned this...but it sure didn't happen overnight!
You've got a wonderful mindset and I think you are going to just keep on having wonderful successes. You've got all the pieces in place! You're amazing. :-)
V.
Great post, I love how you are spreading the good word.... Healthy Lifestyle (well, that’s 2 words but you know what I mean). As I read in Hanlies blog today... "There is no finish line." Its about focusing on making positive changes for LIFE.
SO simple and so true... that’s the approach I am using and its working a treat.
Stay focused on building health. Keep your eyes on staying healthy. Eat the right food and exercise. I'm losing weight as a part of improving my health.
The CDC reported that 'overweight' people are longer lived than 'normal' weight people. So I went from a healthier category to a less healthy category if longevity is our goal. To me that is the only goal. I want to live a long healthy life.
I'm eating less junk food and exercising to reduce my chronic pain and depression. The weight loss is a side benefit. I like looking better in clothes, but having the energy to live my life is a goal that has more meaning.
I missed this post while I was away at my brothers wedding and I have to say that I think you've hit the nail on the head.
This is one of the things that I love about the blogosphere. You find people who are willing to share their wisdom and it is wonderful.
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