It haunts and taunts me, making me feel like I have no more control over my appetite than I do the weather. The mere notion of being on a diet is enough to send my body into hunger shock. If I dare to take action and limit the amount and types of food I eat, my stomach rebels, going into a Hulk-like rage until I give in and down the nearest unhealthy treat within reach. I slump in disgrace as my stomach gurgles, "Puny human." I am no match for the lure of food.
Still, I try. Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Weigh Down, Slim Fast, and The Christy Knight Starvation Plan. Of them all, the best for me was Weight Watchers. I learned that I didn't have to deprive myself of things I love to eat and drink, as long as I did it in moderation. It worked. Again and again and again. But counting points or calories, and analyzing every morsel or drop that slips past my lips is simply no fun. Eventually I near my goal and grow tired of the chore that eating becomes. I think B.B. King was singing about food in his famous song. The thrill is gone indeed.
But here I sit, ready to give it another try with yet another program...make that programs. And this time I'm making it more public. Perhaps sharing on my blog how much I've lost or gained will help me keep my resolve to be a healthier person at a healthier weight. Maybe it will shame me into submission when I feel the need to rebel.
I'll leave you for now with a clip of a gentleman named Aaron Wilburn singing part of the lyrics to a song called The Diet Song, written by Shel Silverstein (modified by Mr. Wilburn). Wish me luck in my new journey. Join me if you dare.
Yep. The other four-letter word.
ReplyDeleteWe'll get the thrill back in our dining, baby. We just need to hunker down for a bit and embrace bean sprouts and tofu for a bit. Okay...maybe not that radical....;-)
Nope, not that radical. I just need to eat more fruits, veggies, and, according the USDA, more oils. It's doable along with a whole lot of exercise.
DeleteI am joining the journey:-) Loved the article as it aptly expresses my own feelings and past journey. But it is a new day and we both have a new mind set. Even though we may trudge along slowly, we will get there all the same. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteYes, we will! :-) I'm happy you're joining me on the journey. I think our new tools are going to help keep it interesting. That's something I need...visuals, information, etc.
DeleteI'm in too! Gonna have to check out this USDA SuperTracker. Can't say I'm necessarily looking forward to it, but it'll be worth it. :-)
DeleteI've been really down about how much weight I've gained the past couple of years, and I think your blog and these sites might help me. I tried WEight Watchers and it worked for me too, but then I just started hearing he same stuff and felt like I was wasting my money. I like that these are free.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing @Christy!
@Sarah: My main issue isn't weight, but sodium. I'm a 40+ year old black man and I'm supposed to have X-number of grams of sodium per day and what I discovered is that SO many seemingly innocent things have a sh*tload of sodium! So my challenge has been finding ways to eat 3 meals a day without shattering my sodium daily limit. In several months, I've done it once. Rice-A-Roni, cold cuts, canned veggies, canned soup, BREAD(!), Betty Crocker potatoes -- all these things have ridiculous amounts of sodium. Turns out the sodium is used as a PRESERVATIVE, not for taste. Pisses me off. But I'm starting to cook healthier, making everything from scratch. It's not as difficult or as much of a pain-in-the-a*s as you might think. And I feel better physically.
DeleteI don't know how old you are or how much you've gained, and it doesn't really matter. We can get healthy and fit. Christy and I did once before and "fell off the wagon", but we can do it again. And so can you. I don't think it's about expensive weight-management programs; I think it's about being smart and diligent. (The "diligent" thing is what kicks my butt!)
@Steven I have a lot to lose. Like over 100 pounds. And I'm mad because I only had 50 or so to lose a year ago. I've packed it on because first I was down and depressed and then I was super happy and then I was down again. @Christy's post couldn't have come at a better time for me. I'm more interested in calories and fat than sodium but I know I need to pay attention to it too. Right now all I can concentrate on are fat and calories. I really like what I'm seeing in the 2 sites she listed. Very helpful. I'm getting myself set up now.
Delete@Sarah: Yay! I think this kind've thing is easier when a) someone knows we're trying, and b) we have someone to commiserate with who "gets" what we're trying to do. I don't have much weight to lose, but I still have to lose, and I have to watch my sodium (the devil's ingredient!).
DeleteWeight gain is so insidious. It just creeps up and then -wham!- your sh*t doesn't fit anymore!
Why are you depressed? (I could guess, but I'd rather have you tell @Christy and I.) But if you'd rather not, that's cool too.
Yay @Sarah! I'm so happy you're registering for the sites and joining us in the journey! :-) Don't think about how much you have to lose, just take it one week at a time. I have a lot to lose too, so we're going to be in this together for the long haul. If you'll hang in there, so will I, and I know my mom (@Jimmye) will too.
DeleteEmail me anytime you want to "talk" about what's going on or need a little support. For me that's one of the biggest components - support. I need a good support system. Without it, I'll fall when I'm feeling weak. I'm looking forward to hearing how you do. We can do this!
@Sarah, I will most certainly be on the journey with you and Christy. I have done WW off and on since 1972. If I had the money I spent, I could retire:-) But, I am finding these free tools have given me insight that I didn't get from WW. It was too easy to justify anything I wanted to eat as long it kept me inside my point range. I find having to record each item and seeing the nutritional value helps me eat a whole lot better. It is going to be slow for me to get my 70 something pounds off, but that is ok. I didn't put it on overnight either. Keep up the good work Sarah. As Christy said, just one week at a time. We all can do it!
DeleteWow! Since 1972 @Jimmye! You're an expert and can give us some good tips. Please share. I think the free tools are great! I love them so far. The points thing at WW just gave me a false sense of I don't know what, but it didn't teach me how to realy eat right. That's for certain. I'm glad we're all in it together.
DeleteThe points system on WW doesn't teach you anything about proper nutrition. I know when I was doing it I felt like I could eat anything and didn't really have to pay attention to whether or not I was eating a balanced diet. Using the USDA site, I'm finding that I'm much more aware of eating from every group, and the visuals help me want to meet my goals every day.
DeleteI can't believe I'm getting excited about losing weight, but I am. Thank you! I signed up for both the tools you suggested and played with them. I love them! I'm already seeing where I've gone wrong in places. Thanks @Christy!
ReplyDelete@Sarah: I'm thinkin' that's the point: Getting excited about going for something with other like-minded people! I never really thought about that way until @Christy posted this topic.I haven't been to USDA SuperTracker yet, but she told me about MyFitnessPal a few months ago and I've been pretty diligent about entering my meals for the day and seeing what I'm actually eating.
DeleteThe cool thing is, I don't feel like I'm stuck eating tofu and bean sprouts! It's about what you eat, and what you do about it afterward. My biggest problem is exercise. I...hate...exercise. But the few times I've done it recently, I've felt good. I actually got that endorphin rush afterward.
For the record, I'm 6'=4" and weigh about 225 lbs. (it fluctuates) and I want to lose about 15 pounds. But it's not about the amount, it's about the doing. I'm going to come back here to post my progress, good or bad, for all to see. Having people like you and @Denise track my progress will help motivate me. So yes, thanks @Christy!
@Sarah, I'm excited too. I was really surprised by a few things when I started using the tools. I need things like that to help me stay on track and keep me motivated. If I have visuals, I'm more likely to keep doing it. I'm very happy you're going to be doing it with us.
Delete@Steven, I'm happy you're going to log your progress in here too. Sometimes losing just 15 pounds can be a struggle. I know it will be for me when I get down that far. But you made a very good point. We don't have to deprive ourselves to lose. We simply need to know how to eat properly and exercise enough. It's all about balance.
RE: Privation: I read or heard somewhere (a long time ago in a faraway place) that one thing that trips many of us up is that we get real gung-ho about losing weight and then we burn ourselves out. We adjust our diet, exercise, and – usually when we're making excellent progress – we miss a day of exercise or dieting and then we're screwed. One leads to to two, which leads to three, and suddenly we're not doing anything any more.
DeleteLike @Christy said, it's all about balance. It's not about all or nothing. We need to set realistic goals and then achieve them realistically. Tofu and bean sprouts 24/7 is going to foil us every time. But a sensible balance of healthy eating and exercise will help us in the long run. It's nt about losing 50 lbs. in a 2 weeks, it's about losing a pound a week and KEEPING IT OFF.
I hope I don't sound too preachy! I'm saying this as much for you guys as for myself. I want to get in shape so I can look and feel better. But, more than that, I want to be healthy so I can hang out with @Christy for the rest of my life, which I want to be a long, long time.
What's privation?
DeleteWe're here to keep each other motivated. When someone begins feeling down or starts losing his or her motivation, the rest of us are here to give encouragement. It is easy to begin fast and furious and then lose momentum, but we can do it!
DeleteVariety and balance is key. I'm looking forward to learning and sharing more.
@Sarah: Privation is a shorter way of saying "I can't eat what I want!" ;)
Delete@Christy and @Sarah: With the Internet and blogs, we can all have a partner in doing this! You're not alone, @Sarah.
Your bravery inspires me! So here I go as well. Maybe we can all hold each other accountable. Unlike Steven, I have a lot of weight to shed in addition to acquiring healthier eating and exercising habits. I have been struggling with this for a while now. My hepatologist says it is of utmost importance if i want to be around for my little ones while they grow up. Not something I generally make known in public, but i think that might also help with the accountability/shame factor. Steven, i'm 5'11" and not going to tell how much i weigh, but will track pounds lost!
ReplyDelete@Caroline Glad you are joining us on this journey. We can do!
DeleteWelcome to the group @Caroline! This is going to be fun!
Delete@Sarah I am with you. I too need to lose at least that much. @ Christy you are doing a good thing. See, now we are already depending on you, so you will not be able to slack off on this!
ReplyDelete:-)
@Carrie, that's what I need, people counting on me so I can't slack. I'm in this 100%. I'm aiming for losing around 65 pounds. If I can do that, I'll be happy.
Delete@Caroline: You're 5'-11"?! I had no freakin' idea! Course, the last time I saw you was ninth grade...
DeleteI'm psyched that you're on board the anti-gravy train. I may not have as much to lose, but I'm on board because I do have weight to lose, and the woman I love is committed too.
May all of our hepatologists retire early. Yay to all of us!
You're in the right place, Carrie! I have a lot to lose too, and I need to be held accountable. If we all check in with each other and keep each other inspired, we can do it. I'm only 5'3" and I'm not telling how much I weigh either. It's a lot more than I should. But in a year, I'll weigh less and be much healthier. It's going to be an interesting and fun journey together.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy you're in with us! :-)
Not to sound too rah-rah, I'm really happy @Christy published this post. Unlike the things I often post on my own blog, I think this thread can really help people in the here and now. Losing weight isn't a pie-in-the-sky thing; it's do-able. (Civil rights for all and an end to bigotry will probably have to wait! lol)
ReplyDeleteWhether it's 10 lbs. or 75 lbs., we can do this thing if we're committed and have support. And it doesn't have to happen overnight. One day (meal) at a time...
I too can hardly wait to see how everyone does! We have the tools and mind set and that is half the battle! Just keep it mind it comes off a little slower sometimes than it went on and that is ok. No giving up!!! If you take one step back, then next time you take two forward. We will reach goal girls!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd guy! We will reach our goals girls and GUY! ;-)
DeleteYou count @Steven. :) I don't think it was intentional. :) We need a guy's perspective in here.
DeleteGuys and girls! We're all going to be healthier and more in shape in a year. Just wait and see. ;-)
Delete