Cheating revisited and Defining Moments
I'd like to follow-up on my post on cheating from the other day. A lot more folks actually read my Blog than I thought! Based on the comments, it looks like I touched some nerves - and that's why I really think we need to revisit this topic.
First of all, I've always been pretty sure that in the weight loss game, the biggest battle that we fight is the one fought between our ears.
There have been so many times when I've started a diet (in my case, Weight Watchers) when I just wasn't mentally prepared to do it. And as a result, I sabotaged myself by trying to re-write the program to suit me. For example, when calculating points I might use the higher amount of fiber when calculating points rather than limiting it to 4 grams, the way the program is designed. Or when adding up my points with a points calculator, I might round down rather than keeping those fractions of points. Or I might not count all of those little bites, licks and tastes that add up so much when we're cooking. There are a lot more examples, but you see what I'm talking about. And then, I'd be all ticked off and discouraged when I didn't lose weight the way the program said I was supposed to.
The scenarios I just described are what I call "cheating" - I was circumventing the program when I knew I shouldn't. Now in my opinion, there's a difference between "cheating" and "making a mistake". To me, making a mistake is when accidents happen. I made a mistake the other day when I went and got a colonic and didn't realize that some of the substances that they use in the process can cause a stall. Would I have done it had I known that? Certainly not! And I think I'm still paying the price for that mistake.
The HCG Protocol is not a Cheater's diet. In my experience, I have found that it is very unforgiving, and doesn't lend itself to playing fast and loose with the rules. If we deviate, we're gonna pay. However, if we DO play by the rules, the rewards are much greater.
Being mentally prepared is the biggest part of any weightloss program, in my opinion. Many of us have a "defining moment" that really cut us to the core and made us realize in our heart of hearts that "it's time, and I'm not going to mess around this time". I've had many defining moments over the years, but none with lasting effects, obviously. However, my last defining moment was when my mother, who lives 8 hours away, went into the hospital with a whole laundry list of medical problems that had been exascerbated by carrying so much weight. My brother (who lives in the same city) has taken on the responsibility of getting her to her doctor appointments, dealing with Medicare, doing research, etc. I don't want to be sick, and I don't have anyone to take care of me because I got sick and it was preventable. My test results from my doctors appointments were pointing in the wrong direction, and that's when I feel like I finally won that battle going on between my ears!
I love this quotation, which came from a friend on a weight loss message board: "It's hard being fat, it's hard losing weight, and it's hard maintaining. Choose your hardship."
What's your "defining moment"?
First of all, I've always been pretty sure that in the weight loss game, the biggest battle that we fight is the one fought between our ears.
There have been so many times when I've started a diet (in my case, Weight Watchers) when I just wasn't mentally prepared to do it. And as a result, I sabotaged myself by trying to re-write the program to suit me. For example, when calculating points I might use the higher amount of fiber when calculating points rather than limiting it to 4 grams, the way the program is designed. Or when adding up my points with a points calculator, I might round down rather than keeping those fractions of points. Or I might not count all of those little bites, licks and tastes that add up so much when we're cooking. There are a lot more examples, but you see what I'm talking about. And then, I'd be all ticked off and discouraged when I didn't lose weight the way the program said I was supposed to.
The scenarios I just described are what I call "cheating" - I was circumventing the program when I knew I shouldn't. Now in my opinion, there's a difference between "cheating" and "making a mistake". To me, making a mistake is when accidents happen. I made a mistake the other day when I went and got a colonic and didn't realize that some of the substances that they use in the process can cause a stall. Would I have done it had I known that? Certainly not! And I think I'm still paying the price for that mistake.
The HCG Protocol is not a Cheater's diet. In my experience, I have found that it is very unforgiving, and doesn't lend itself to playing fast and loose with the rules. If we deviate, we're gonna pay. However, if we DO play by the rules, the rewards are much greater.
Being mentally prepared is the biggest part of any weightloss program, in my opinion. Many of us have a "defining moment" that really cut us to the core and made us realize in our heart of hearts that "it's time, and I'm not going to mess around this time". I've had many defining moments over the years, but none with lasting effects, obviously. However, my last defining moment was when my mother, who lives 8 hours away, went into the hospital with a whole laundry list of medical problems that had been exascerbated by carrying so much weight. My brother (who lives in the same city) has taken on the responsibility of getting her to her doctor appointments, dealing with Medicare, doing research, etc. I don't want to be sick, and I don't have anyone to take care of me because I got sick and it was preventable. My test results from my doctors appointments were pointing in the wrong direction, and that's when I feel like I finally won that battle going on between my ears!
I love this quotation, which came from a friend on a weight loss message board: "It's hard being fat, it's hard losing weight, and it's hard maintaining. Choose your hardship."
What's your "defining moment"?
Labels: Cheating, Defining Moments, Self Sabotage
posted by Susan at
9:27 AM
3 Comments:
Susan...this is my defining moment... I copy and pasted this from my very first blog....
In March of 2007, my family was hit with devastating news. My sister (1 1/2 years younger than me) was found in a parking lot not breathing, no pulse. A police officer was able to "revive" her, and she was taken to a hospital. She was in a deep coma, and we were told that she would never live a normal life. Her brain had gone too long without oxygen and there was just no way that she'd ever "wake up" and be cognitive. My parents made a decision that NO parent should EVER have to be faced with, and decided to take her off of life support. My little sister passed away at 22 years old. I learned while my sister was in the coma, what had happened to her... she had bulimia, and the potassium levels in her body dropped enough to put her into cardiac arrest. My cousin has set up a website about My sister, April, and her story. Its is AprilsHouse4Bulimia.com. I would recommend sending anyone with this disease to this website....my family is hoping that her death helps saves other people with this disease. April is also another motivation to me in my journey of losing weight in a HEALTHY way, and all together living a healthier, longer life.
After my sister passed away, my daddy (yes, I said daddy, lol) called me up. He told me he was very worried about me, as I was 5 foot even and weighed 245 pounds. His biggest concern was that I would get diabetes, and lose a leg or something. He was affraid of losing another child, and his love and concern was enough to break me inside, and I told him I needed help. I knew I HAD to get my weight and health under control, I just didn't really know how to go about it. Well, he paid for two months of Nutri System, and I lost 30 pounds in that two months. After that, I just dieted on my own and lost weight very slowly, but was so miserable and eating next to nothing to lose the weight. I went from 245 pounds, down to 200 pounds when I saw Kevin Trudeau's infomercial about his book "The Weight Loss Cure They Don't Want you to Know About". I thought "what do I have to lose?" I ordered the book, read it, then found a place to buy HCG online.......
That is, in a nut shell, my "defining moment"
Sorry bout my novel ;) lol
Susan,
AGAIN - Another wonderful post... I too was losing the battle doing the WW program for the very same reasons - mainly the mental preparedness. Also, with having to wait for the HCG to arrive it gave me the opportunity to get to that point. I'm not saying that I don't still have the mental battles because of the years of programming and the childhood trauma I am overcoming. But it is exactly that - OVERCOMING. It's a battle and frankly I cannot do it myself. I have to rely on several avenues to get me through any weight loss and daily. #1 is PRAYER and COMMUNION with GOD!!! #2 Accountability of these blogs and fellow HCGer's out there - WW meetings were not enough for me as I was really anonymous if you know what I mean. This is very public and I am now accountable to GOD first and foremost, DD.ca, HCGSupplies.com, Tammy, Cindy Cook, the other 24 HCG Challengers and everyone that reads my blog. They are all counting on YOU and ME to succeed. Yes the pressures on but my personality type needs a little pressure to succeed.
SO - YES We all struggle that is whey we are here but I truly love the quote you put at the end of this post!!!
AGAIN THANK YOU FOR YOUR HONESTY AND TRANSPARANCY!!!
Blessings,
Toni :D
@Lori: What a heartbreaking story!I'm so very sorry about your sister, and don't even want to think about what it would be like to lose one of my siblings. It sounds like your family has done what they could to make something positive come out of that horrific experience. And if my Dad had approached me under those circumstances, I would have done the same thing. You're doing great, my friend - I'm so proud of you for what you've done so far!
@Toni: I'm right there with you for needing the accountability of posting each day to help keep me "honest". I certainly don't mean to bash WW, because they've helped a whole lot of people - in my case, though, my needs just weren't getting met. I salute anyone who finally gets to that point where they know they need to do something, and they just do it. Thanks for the comments, and thanks for reading! :)
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