Think Like a Skinny Person

In the midst of all these failed attempts at "dieting" I've put a lot of thought into what it will take for long term results. I have a theory. I think the biggest diet failure is the very word "diet". Literally, the word means what you eat from day to day. So even if you never put a thought into what you eat, you're technically on a "diet". (Likely not a healthy one.) But somewhere along the way someone redefined the word "diet" to mean "a form of punishment for being fat".

When I say I'm on a diet I feel like I'm underlining the fact that I'm overweight. I feel like people then assess whether I need to be on a diet and it's a swift assessment. Verdict: thank God she noticed...

I also feel punished, deprived, and like a child again. I'm an adult! I can eat whatever i want! But the truth is, I cannot. And neither can 90% of the world. (This is not an actual statistic.) The other 10% either work their butt off quite literally (something else that feels like punishment to me.) or have a super high metabolism the rest of us can only dream of.

But the problem is, punishment is only temporary. Deprivation long term is generally seen as abuse. So we're looking at a "diet" as a temporary thing. Something we must adhere to till we're "skinny". And that's why we eventually fall off the band wagon or gain it all back.

The truth is, to be successful in weight loss you must change your life forever. You have to completely change the way you view food overall. Exercise must become a part of who you are. Your goal is no longer a certain dress size, your goal is a new mindset.

You must learn to think like a skinny person.

I have yet to figure out exactly how to do this. I think the first step is to ditch the word "diet". It sets you up for failure. Find the way of eating that's going to fit your lifestyle forever. Change your lifestyle, if that's what it takes, but understand that you're changing forever. It's not temporary.

I've literally asked my skinny friend how she sees food. I asked her multiple questions about how she thinks and what she eats normally. My skinny friend uses myfitnesspal! That should be proof enough that this is no temporary situation.

Find ways to allow yourself a treat now and then. Do you really want to give up cheesecake forever?? No? Then find a way to fit it in now and then. My skinny friend does.

Don't beat yourself up when you fall. You think you're going to eat exactly right and exercise every single day for the rest of your life? Vacations will come and go and you must be prepared to get right back on track when it's over. Guilt is pointless. You can't un-eat the cookie or exercise yesterday. Always look forward. Each day is a new day. Each bite is a new bite. Every decision is a new decision. It's never too late or too early to start making smart choices.

What ways do you suggest to "think like a skinny person"?

Asthma, Inhalers, Sleep Apnea = Good News??

I gotta admit, I don't really even want to post anymore. For one, I don't think anyone even reads this anymore. But also, it's kinda embarrassing to read post after post of "I have new motivation - again!" and remember that my motivation hardly lasted a week. :/

But you've still got to start somewhere, like I said before. One time you'll start and you'll never quit. You have to fail to succeed. My favorite quote comes from Michael Jordan:

 

I don't like to fail, I don't think anyone does. And for a long time my motto was, if I don't try, I won't fail. But the truth is, if I don't fail I won't succeed!!

 

So, with many failures behind, and many more ahead, I am trying this again...

 

At the first of the year (I guess you could call it a New Year's Resolution) I decided I really want to try to get healthy. If I have to do away with the scales, so be it, I just want to focus on feeling great! Most specifically, exercise. With my dad a paraplegic, I realized that my dad can't run. I CAN. I don't like to, it's not comfortable, but I do have the ability to run. He does not. Yet he's still trying and I'm not?? I'm wasting a gift! I have legs that work, I have feet that work. I CAN do this! And I WILL run one day, for my dad.

 

But there was the thing with my breathing... As I mentioned in an earlier post, I had a complete breakdown while doing Jillian Michael's "Shred". I breathe way faster than Shawn, almost 2 to 1, and the real breaker: I snore. Shawn videoed me snoring and, not only do I snore, I breathe rapidly - while sleeping! Once I saw the video, I realized, for sure, there's a problem here. Maybe it is just me being overweight and out of shape, but I'm going to be sure before I start a workout. So to the doctor I go... He says I have asthma and prescribed me an inhaler. He says my cholestrol is high. Then sends me for a sleep study. I went for the consultation yesterday and, without the sleep study, the doctor there already is quite sure I have sleep apnea.

 

This has not discouraged me! This is actually ENCOURAGING! For one, there are solutions to all of these problems! Solutions = energy! Not only that, but it takes a tremendous amount of pressure off my shoulders, realizing I'm not morbidly out of shape, I have serious breathing problems. Already my inhaler is helping with my exercise and I'm learning to breathe correctly during exercise, which makes things so much easier!

 

The doctor gave me a list of reccommendations for foods to eat and avoid, so I'm trying to go by that to an extent... He also told me to exercise 30 minutes a day, which I'm trying to keep up with. I'm scheduled to see him again in a month and he said to lose 4 lbs during that time. I am feeling stronger than ever and more hopeful than ever! I've been looking at the pictures of when I lost a couple of years ago and, instead of guilt and dread, I feel hope and inspiration! Maybe this is it! Maybe this is my success story!!!

 

On my fridge: "We do not eat healthy to look good or be a size 2, we eat healthy for the future of our family!"