Changing what you weigh (part 3)

 

Changing What You Weigh, part 3

By now, if you have read parts 1 and 2 you know that the key word is “change.” You are getting an understanding of how change works and doesn’t work. Many big changes, and changes that feel like punishment are never permanent changes. Small changes that enhance your life rather than inflict pain or punishment, are the way to make permanent change.

Rule #5  Slower is better.

Everything has a natural speed that resists being altered. When the natural speed is increased too much, bad things can happen.

Many people have tried a variety of rapid weight loss diets. For some, the bad thing was the weight they lost was very temporary and it was followed by a gain of more than what was lost. That’s bad, but much worse things have happened. Some people have lost weight fast and have developed cardiac arrhythmia. Others have developed gallbladder disease.

Strategy:

Establish calm. 

When you throw a pebble into a still lake, there’s a splash and then little ripples that eventually calm down and the lake is still again. If you zoom through that same lake in a high-powered motor boat, you’ll leave a big, destructive wake as you go. Wakes destroy the natural environment and can cause damage to property and put people in danger.????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Instead of cutting out and cutting back food, just start to keep a food diary – no other change. The very act of tracking will make you aware and most likely reduce overall calories. The goal, however, isn’t to reduce calories, but to make you aware of your eating habits so that you have a logical place to start making little adjustments that lead to changing what you weigh.

Appreciate the path: 

This is hard and this is also the most significant difference between losing weight and changing what you weigh. There’s a kind of unacknowledged acceptance that losing weight is hard because it’s painful. There is a general expectation that we need to atone for the sins of getting fat.

There was no sins committed and no punishment or pain needs to be inflicted to pay for our sins.

Changing what you weigh while appreciating the path means eating and moving in ways that you enjoy. It’s not a matter of giving up all that you like to eat. It’s finding new things you enjoy eating that will support changing what you weigh.

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? The same idea of appreciating the path is applied to you physical activity. Find things that get you moving that you enjoy more than sitting.

Rule #6 Know more, do better

There will be obstacles. There will be forces that resist change, even the slightest change, working against you. Rule #2 says change is frightening and it is. It can frighten you and it can frighten those around you. You might also be surprised by the process and it could be devastating.

Knowing more about the process and what to expect gives you more control over your reactions.

Strategy: 

Monitor your behaviors. 

Seek Feedback. 

The most important feedback is feedback you give to yourself. There is no such thing as failure when it comes to changing what you weigh. That’s not to say you won’t make mistakes or from time to time have an outcome that’s not acceptable. Those things happen, but they’re not failure, they’re feedback. You’re learning what works and what to repeat, and what doesn’t work and what to replace.

There are still 4 more rules, but I’ve covered enough for today. That belly didn’t get big overnight, and getting rid of belly fat is going to take time. Look for part 4 coming soon.
Jackie Conn

About Jackie Conn

Jackie Conn is married and has four grown daughters and four grandchildren. She is a Weight Watchers success story. She's a weight loss expert with 25 years of experience guiding women and men to their weight-related goals. Her articles on weight management have been published in health, family and women's magazines. She has been a regular guest on Channel 5 WABI news, FOX network morning program Good Day Maine and 207 on WCSH.