Since starting this blog, I’ve found others. Some of them have been dormant for a while, and others have been a huge success.
Looking at some of the history of the successful ones, I’ve noticed that most had bad times near the beginning.
I was looking at Jennette Fulda’s blog (She lost half her body weight). She started documenting in November 2003, but didn’t seem to make much progress until July 2004. Her posting frequency was pretty sporadic until that time also.
It seems that I’ve had the same pattern. Some early progress, then the progress fades away, then I quit posting (or weighing) very often.
I’m hoping that today is my July 2004. I weighed in at 265.4 tonight, I’m down 31 lbs. I spent 86 minutes on the elliptical watching Stargate Atlantis (I love iTunes).
I’ve said before that my weight loss began when I stopped being so depressed, and saw the changes that were needed. I’m not so sure of that now. I’ve been through another bout of depression, and I’m trying to use the focus on weight loss as a coping mechanism. If it works, and I get to lose weight too, that’ll be more reason to feel better.
Good job! I don’t know about all the mental gymnastics.. I liken trying to trick myself into doing things to setting my clock ahead.. it helps a bit.. then I realize I’m just tricking myself and it gets worse.
I like the rule of three.. do it three times and it becomes a habit.. Maybe Thursday is your Stargate Atlantis on the eliptical night… three Thursday’s in a row and you’ve got yourself a habit.
It sounds to me like you’ve been on the right track all along.. you couldn’t be where you are now without what you went through before..
I think we’re so trained by TV to fix our problems in 30 minutes.. or perhaps a weight problem is a whole mini-series.. or even a whole season.. but in reality our problems are on-going.. and we are constantly solving them bit by bit.
Eventually those bits make a big pile and we are left with a sculpture…
Keep on chippin’!
Dave
I don’t really see it as tricking myself. I’m just trying to understand myself, and what makes me do the things I do.
It’s easier to change behavior, if you understand it.
I’ve never been much of a TV watcher. My wife took the TV we had with her. I wouldn’t have bought another one if I hadn’t bought the elliptical.
I am under no illusion that someday I will be “done” with weight loss. It is a lifestyle change, and I’ll probably struggle with it for the rest of my life. I’m okay with it. I just want to struggle at 180-200 lbs instead of the almost 300 I was at.
Friday was another good day on the elliptical, and very good on the diet. Saturday, however, is a whole different story. Today, I’ll be busy with housework, will eat well, and probably have at least 45 minutes on the elliptical.
Thanks!
Yeah.. I was probably projecting my own struggles into yours.. my recent struggles are with patience and anger.. I used to be the most patient man on the planet.. I guess being a stay-at-home parent for with a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old can sap some of that..
I go in stages with the TV.. I like to think I don’t really “do” TV.. but then I get sucked into some shows.. but none at the present.
Enjoy!
Dave