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A New Way to Watch your Weight
Author: Leeann Simons  | Posted: 18-02-2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 6 | Rating: (50) (?)
Copyright (c) 2008 At Peace With Food
Have you ever tried to lose weight? I'm guessing that the answer is probably yes. Most of us, at some time, have looked at diet books, diet pills, potions, anything we could find to get rid of unwanted pounds.
My question is not "did any of these methods work, long term?I am fairly certain the answer is "no." My question is "how often did you weigh yourself, and did it help?" I suppose if you are currently trying to lose weight, you can simply change the "did" to "do and does."
You should know that I once weighed about 25 pounds more than I do today. I have been on many different diets, and, for me, none of them worked. Well, they did work, while I was on them. But once I stopped the diet, the weight came right back. While I don't exactly remember all the diets I've been on, I do remember the scales I've been weighed on-both my own, and at the group meetings I used to attend.
And when I belonged to group programs, I remember I wouldn't eat the day of the meeting, because we had to weigh in. Then, after the meeting I would go out and eat. I'm afraid I wasn't a very good groupie.
Let me tell you about my experience with owning a scale. I have a professional scale-you know, the one with the weights, the big one that you move every 50 pounds, and then the smaller one for the individual pound. Many years ago I conducted my first weight control group out of my living room in State College, PA. I guess I bought a good one, because it still works.
Over the years, I have found that weighing myself doesn't really help me with controlling my eating. I used to weigh myself all the time. I'd weigh myself at the beginning of the day, and then at the end of the day. Eventually I learned that the numbers on the scale weren't always very helpful. Of course I weighed more at the end of the day, but it wasn't from gaining fat-it was simply the weight of the food and drinks I hadn't digested.
As I "evolved" my weight control programs, I would only weigh myself every few days. But even that didn't help me. See, if I found I had gained weight, I would be depressed, and I would eat more. Conversely, if I saw I had lost weight, I would be very excited, thinking, "If I did this before, I can do it again." Guess what I would do? Yes, I would eat. So, for me, weighing myself every few days was no help at all!
Each person finds his or her own weight strategies, for better or for worse. I think, for me, the best thing is to just not weigh myself at all, or perhaps maybe once every few weeks. I know when I have overeaten-that's no secret. Luckily for me, I don't punish myself, and I try to just move forward. I have learned to balance my overeating with periods of eating less-and according to my doctors' scale; my weight has stayed the same for the last 10 years (plus or minus a pound or two).
If you are a person who weighs yourself all the time, try giving yourself a week off-you know you deserve it. Pay attention to how you are feeling, emotionally. Hopefully, giving yourself this week off will be a liberating experience. Perhaps you will learn something about your behaviors, and realize that if you aren't a slave to the scale, you don't have to be a slave to your diet.
When you learn to trust yourself not to depend on a single number, you will be able to trust yourself to make the correct choices for yourself. Perhaps?over time.. you may discover a way to lose weight-a whole new way.
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Why are plus sized women made to feel inadequate? www.CelluliteQueen.com
By: www.CelluliteQueen.com | 23-08-2008
Why are women of size always encouraged to lose weight to be accepted by society as BEAUTIFUL? Most women have curves, and don't look like Anorexic Ten Year Old Boys. Yet, if we don't strive to attain that sickening beanpole look, we're considered lazy, and even slovenly! I know I'm a curvy plus sized woman, and proud of my body! Why am I always made to feel inadequate in the company of these skinny, breastless, sick-looking curveless women? I feel as long as you are happy and healthy in the skin you're in, who the heck has the right to make you feel the need to change? Any comments? ~ Barbara www.CelluliteQueen.com
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By: LORI | 23-08-2008
I dont have much time to exercise because im always with my kids plus i work 3rd shift so when i get up its time for my daughter to be home how else can i loose weight? Can u loose weight without exercising
Dear doctor I have increasing ...
By: ray | 22-08-2008
dear doctor I have increasing hp despite for many many years living a text book lifestyle.I do every thing up to current knowledge.diet and exercise is all as latest research says it should be. The list of all the right I do is to protracted for this e-m. I am 65 yo.very fit ,Still over weight despite high cardio cycling and high rep resistance exercising,high green veg and fruit intake no salt ,sugar, red meat, animal fats. I eat lots of oily fish soya milk in tea. I do not smoke drink alcohol generally relaxed and at peace with the world.My heart rate is at rest low fifties to high forties bpm I have no respiritory distress when training to between 70%to 90% of my age max.My ecg readings are normal,I have no end organ damage and no signs of aortic anyurism. My doctor has said not to be to concerned with bmi readings as athletes carry a higher ratio of muscle. I do not know my muscle to fat ratio .My intension has always been to manage my condition by effecting as much as possible myself and to minimise or avoid medication .I have just been put on 5mg daily of amlodipine after my bp was reading 235/98!!!! I can not understand whats happening.I have been tested for kidney tumor, result all clear.As many with hbp.I do not like the long term dependency of non curative medication nor do I relish the long term detrimental affects the medications themselves create. I am also wary of the formal and the naturalistic factors of vested interests.Its hard to know who is really got at least some dependable information to act upon that can create the best benefits with the minimum detriment to health long term.Anti-hypertensives must be the biggest money spinner medications there are,my thoughts are,do the big wheels want to find a cure? for at present its a virtual license to print money. Anyway, I would be grateful for your views on my concerns and look forward to hearing from you. Regards,Ray Dolamore.
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