Howdy Journal & Friends,
The fire is back, baby!!
I just spent close to an hour hunting high and low for an article I had kept to back up the opinion I'm about to spout off... no such luck... couldn't find it... zippo.
So... take it or leave it. :-D This will be just one person's opinion (and you know what they say about opinions, right?) Here goes, a message going out into the ether, no one person in mind:
Stop it.
Just. STOP. IT.
Stop repeating, ad nauseam, those mythological "statistics" that tell how HAAARRRDDD it is to lose weight and KEEP it off. I am totally over it! I am exasperated. Irritated. TIRED OF READING ABOUT IT.
CUZ IT AIN'T TRUE!!
Who was it that said if you tell a lie enough times, it will eventually be taken for truth? Hitler??
Anyway, for years and years people have quoted and requoted those old stats about how only 5% can lose weight and keep it off. Blah blah blah. And since all the Quoters are only quoting other quoters, no one bothers to go back to The Source of these damaging statistics that have influenced an entire generation of dieters into accepting the inevitability of regaining weight.
Enough already!!!
The study I read (yes, the one I can't seem to find right now) exposed those tired old statistics.
They were base upon numbers reported from a weight loss clinic full of people who had chronic problems losing weight and keeping it off, who had already failed over and over... that's why they were there in the first place.
Their statistics were not from a cross section of the general "weight loss dieters" population. That is why their study outcome was SKEWED, and not applicable to the general "average" population.
Dang, I wish I could find that study! I KNOW most people need authorities with credentials after their name in order to accept it as the "gospel".
Anyway, with the usual headline and soundbite reporting, the original study was taken out of context over and over and over, until now all we hear are things like: most people fail at their weight loss attempts, and of those that do lose weight only 3 to 5% of them keep it off... etc etc etc.
STUFF A SOCK IN IT!!
I realize we all do this, me included. We repeat stuff we've "heard", trusting that it's true. Well, newsflash: this one is NOT true.
And I am tired of our whole weight loss community being continually bashed over the head with misinformation and LIES.
Yes, LIES.
Lies that we accept and internalize.
Lies that influence our subconscious.
Lies that cause us to impose limits on ourselves.
Lies that make us cower in the face of what the "authorities" tell us is supposed to be true.
Lie that set us up to fail before we even get started.
Lies that become self-fulling prophecies.
Please note: I am not stooopid. I get it that we are individuals, and we each must work with the hand we've been dealt. Example: I am now 60. I am in a wheelchair. I live with a few medical conditions. So... I'm not gonna stupidly set a goal to run a half marathon. I need to find the best plan for ME as an individual, and give it my best and honest effort.
So while running a marathon will, for ME, be unrealistic, I CAN set as my goal to live a powerful, joyful and triumphant life.. the best one FOR ME that I possibly can achieve. And I believe God has a plan for me, if I'll just get with the program!
I may not control the outcome, but I certainly control my EFFORTS (thank you, Coach Dayne for that).
I'm not talking about pie in the sky, unrealistic expectations. I AM talking about refusing to let others steal our dreams. About not laying down and allowing statistics to walk all over us, as if we were victims with no choice.
Have you ever played around with archery?? We did when I was growing up. Compound bows, wrist guards, arrows, targets, the whole nine yards. And the one thing you learned right away was this:
In order to hit the bullseye,
you had to slightly AIM HIGHER than the bullseye.
And the farther away your target,
the higher you had to aim in order to hit the bullseye.
So if we start out this weight loss trip with LOWERED expectations, we are totally setting ourselves up to NOT hit our goal. This is hard enough without sabotaging ourselves from the get go!!
Aim high.
Kick fear to the curb.
If I goof up... so what??!!
Get up, dust off, learn from it, and get my rear in gear again.
Am I feeling feisty? Uh... ya think?? ;-)
From Dr Phil's book: "Be kind when you can, but firm when you must. You alone are responsible for what you put in your mouth, and what you do to get in shape."
My verse for today: "O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand."
My quote for today: "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars." --Les Brown
Enjoy the Journey,
Loretta
=^..^=
DAY 825
15 comments:
Hi Loretta! I think that when I permanently changed my view of myself, then I permanently lost some weight--at least for the past 5 years. I hope that's permanent. Something inside has to change. And then, the struggle isn't there so much.
And, yet, I still struggle with being somewhat on the chubby side, which is always going to be a pain in the butt. But the 35 pounds I've kept off has been about viewing myself as better than I used to think. That I was more valuable and more special than I used to believe. That I mattered more.
So when they talk statistics, you and I have both lost and kept off a certain amount of weight and know it had *nothing* to do with statistics at all. It was 100% self-love and kindness to ourselves that fueled our fires, which I think sums up what you said above.
:-) Marion
Well. Per your info, the study which found that only 3% to 5% of dieters kept their weight off used a sample population of people who where desperate enough to be at a weight loss clinic and "had chronic problems losing weight and keeping it off, who had already failed over and over..." at losing weight.
Except for the clinic part (but I did do WW and would have gone to a clinic if I had the $$), that would describe me.
I would fit the parameters of that sample population, therefore the findings would be an accurate projection for my probability of success at weight loss.
I think that is incredibly hopeful. :D You know why?
Ha! Because God can do the impossible--giving him a 3% window, piece of cake.
Success will be mine, baby! God's got this thing. I just have to keep holding His hand and do what needs to be done.
(Uh-hmm. It's the "do" that's been my problem--not the stats.)
I am convinced that THIS time is THE time for us both.
Deb
There is a space around us....
maybe a foot or so...
I/we /you/me... we all
control the little space between out hands.
Our feet. Our faces.
Mostly. Space enough to chose again!
How many times? 70 x 7 - to start!
There was a quote I once heard...between stimulus and response..in that space we have the opportunity to choose. That is all it boils down to, choosing.
So don't let someone elses fear stop you. or thoughts stop you.
IT's all up to us.
CHRIS: Talk about coincidence... just today I stuck up a sign on my computer with the quote from Vicktor Frankl:
"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom."
:-)
I read that article as well. I think it was actually in the beginning of a book I've read recently. I'll have to think cause now its gonna drive me nuts too!
I needed this reminder, because I've been feeling a little helpless/hopeless lately.
Love the Archary analogy! I'm stealing it for my personal motivational brain mix-tape. Thank you!
Loretta, I believe you're exactly right that it's possible - easy, even - to get caught up in those doom and gloom stats. There's a radio commercial I hear with appalling frequency about how it's nearly impossible for women over 40 to lose weight; how they have to workout 1 hour a day minimum, just to maintain. I'm 46, I'm losing weight, and I'm not having to spend 2 hours a day at the gym to do so. So much of what we hear is hogwash.
Our God can put a stream in the desert, and that's all we need to know, Loretta. I, too, am loving the bullseye analogy. Have never heard it put like that, and it's a real keeper!
Thank you. (=
Usually when they put averages and percentages on things, I think "Well I am not part of the averages. I do choose and am far from average". (sometimes a bit odd and off but far from average!!!) LOL.
Great post, Loretta. Always inspires thought and eye opening!
Loretta, I am so glad I dropped by today. This is a wonderful post every word of it. Realistic goals, I can relate so to that, sending a big hug and a thank you your way.
You are SO right about this! In a nutshell- I do NOT fit the statistics at all. My mother- way big time yo-yo dieter for years and years. Me- afraid to even try to lose weight that crept up over the years because of what I saw and heard over the years. Finally- gave myself permission to choose and try and bingo! One time and weight gone for over a year and a half now! Never looking back! YOU GO GIRL!
life
all of this.
made up of choices.
yesterday I made some Im not proud of.
TODAY WILL BE DIFFERENT :)
xo
Beautiful, Loretta. I needed the kick in the pants today to remind me that there is always space for choice when I choose to use it - and wisely.
This might be a longish comment and perhaps should be a post on my own blog but I'm still getting around to writing there again.
Among your comments Hot Coco said something that really struck a chord with me.
I am now 72 and have successfully lost weight and maintained at many different ages. Even now there is nothing stopping me from being permanently successful except myself.
Age is not a factor in regaining weight.
Probably my main frustration comes from mental and spiritual willingness. That's a choice - not a reason to consider weight loss too difficult.
I recently came across the expression 'soul control' on http://www.bobayfitness.com/ The key for me lies somewhere in there.
We are all unique even if the broad picture is similar. Therfore our success depends on a complex alignment of will, spiritual strength, determination and desire or passion all subject in some degree to our individual personalities and environment.
You're never too old to successfully lose weight and exercise is anything you are physically able to do and repeat at least a couple or more times each week.
Previous to reading your post I had never thought about the negative aspect of so called research and statistics but I now declare I will no longer be affected by the lies that are promoted in this field.
Regardless of how we got overweight/fat/obese, there is nothing to stop us undoing this damage. It's the same as coming to Jesus for forgiveness after failing for the umpteenth time. He is faithful to forgive and cleanse us but He also wants us to find the way to make the necessary changes.
We are not meant to keep going around the same mountain but it's up to us to be willing to do the work to make the change possible. Faith at Work ... We are so privileged to have this Problem because we can become living examples, for all to see, of His goodness. His grace at work in our lives. Faith becomes even more personal.
The real bonus is that we can use this situation to develop an increasingly wonderful relationship with Our Father God.
I am convinced that nothing can separate us from Him. I am certain that through our issues with food, exercise, health and weight we can discover greater intimacy.
It's never too late.
With God nothing is impossible.
Blessings
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