It All Starts With the First Step
A FUTURE FORMER FAT GIRL WRITES: I have struggled with weight loss for years and I am at a point where eating is out of control. I'm having a hard time getting back on track and starting to exercise and eat better. Help!
DEAR FUTURE FFG: It sounds like you're at that place where you feel like you have SO far to go, that your challenge is so huge and overwhelming, that you feel like just giving up. I know that place--I think we all know it. I was there many, many times before I finally found my way to Former Fat Girlhood. I was there after my mint-chocolate-chip ice cream incident. And I did two things--I committed just to TRY, without thinking about really where I wanted to end up, without thinking even at that point about a "goal weight." I didn't want to look that far down the road--because frankly, I had no faith that I could get there.
The other thing I did was to start by doing just ONE THING. Instead of taking on everything--every bad food habit, the whole exercise thing--I focused on taking one step. My one step was going to a Jazzercise class with a friend (who happened to be a fat girl too).
So that's what I would recommend. Try letting go of the outcome right now, and commit just to try. Make that your mantra right now. And then, make one small move, the smaller the better. Even if it's just using the Splenda in your coffee instead of sugar (if you're into Splenda, that is), or snacking on an apple in the afternoon instead of dipping into the candy jar. Or--even better--putting your walking shoes on and doing a loop around the block after dinner. Change one small thing this week, add another small change next week, and another the next. It's not really at this point as much about the calories you're saving or the calories you're burning--it's about gaining some momentum. It's about starting to move in the right direction.
And know that you're not alone. I've been there, but there are people around you shuffling toward success. Read their notes on the guestbook, feed off of their momentum.
Please let me know how you're doing!
Lisa D
DEAR FUTURE FFG: It sounds like you're at that place where you feel like you have SO far to go, that your challenge is so huge and overwhelming, that you feel like just giving up. I know that place--I think we all know it. I was there many, many times before I finally found my way to Former Fat Girlhood. I was there after my mint-chocolate-chip ice cream incident. And I did two things--I committed just to TRY, without thinking about really where I wanted to end up, without thinking even at that point about a "goal weight." I didn't want to look that far down the road--because frankly, I had no faith that I could get there.
The other thing I did was to start by doing just ONE THING. Instead of taking on everything--every bad food habit, the whole exercise thing--I focused on taking one step. My one step was going to a Jazzercise class with a friend (who happened to be a fat girl too).
So that's what I would recommend. Try letting go of the outcome right now, and commit just to try. Make that your mantra right now. And then, make one small move, the smaller the better. Even if it's just using the Splenda in your coffee instead of sugar (if you're into Splenda, that is), or snacking on an apple in the afternoon instead of dipping into the candy jar. Or--even better--putting your walking shoes on and doing a loop around the block after dinner. Change one small thing this week, add another small change next week, and another the next. It's not really at this point as much about the calories you're saving or the calories you're burning--it's about gaining some momentum. It's about starting to move in the right direction.
And know that you're not alone. I've been there, but there are people around you shuffling toward success. Read their notes on the guestbook, feed off of their momentum.
Please let me know how you're doing!
Lisa D
posted by Lisa Delaney at
5:21 PM
1 Comments:
Hi, I just wanted to reiterate what Lisa said about making one small change to begin with. I started simply drinking Fresca soda instead of regular (though soda is not good anyway) but none the less it was a good beginning. Then I added walking outdoors in the fresh air a mile, then two, and so on. Start making your lunch for work for instance and get fast food places out of your mind...they dont exsist! :-) I am a success story too, and one day you will look back and say "Now I know why I was overweight...i used to do this, and eat that, and...oh my gosh, how could I have not known?"
We all have vices as well. Some people eat when depressed or nervous. The biggest thing is to convince yourself of the state of mind you are in, stop for a moment, and go outside, or leave the kitchen and preoccupy your mind with a hobby or take a walk! I know, easier said than done. Actually, I have read and even heard my dieting friends mention the phrase "abusing food." Its interesting because it can be compared to a drug or alcohol. Food is for nourishment and fuel. THere are people who drink to get rid of pain or when they are depressed. Is that how you think of food? Its just like an addiction, but obviously one that we need to survive. We need water as well, do you drink too much water? :-) Just something to think about, Good luck you can do anything you set your mind to!!!
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