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Post by bbbearsmom on Mar 7, 2024 23:47:40 GMT
Day 8 – Create Time and Energy
What we need when we are starting to take care of ourselves is the time and energy to do it. With everything else that goes on in our lives it can be hard taking on more “things to do.” We need time to plan meals and shopping lists, prepare food, take the time to eat slowly and mindfully, learn to deal with emotional eating and stress eating by doing other things besides eating, we need time to exercise and so on.
How did you make time in your life to lose weight or to keep doing the work to maintain your weight?
Any tips you can give to others on managing this aspect of health management?
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Post by bbbearsmom on Mar 7, 2024 23:51:21 GMT
When I started losing weight back in 2006 it was the focus of my life, and I built my life around it. Now I carried on with those habits, behaviors, and routines to maintain my goal weight. Some of the work I would do anyway such as planning meals, doing the shopping, preparing the meals, and eating. Granted I put more thought into those activities to keep me on plan. As for managing my weight management journey I would say planning ahead is my best tip.
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Post by susan092907 on Mar 8, 2024 13:07:29 GMT
Every time I set out to lose weight - and there were many many times between 1971 and 2009, the last time I rejoined WW - I was very focused and very determined, and I made it a priority to do what I needed to do. I guess looking back on it, I knew what my advantages would be to lose weight, and I kept those uppermost in my mind, even though all of that was well before Beck.
I always found it much harder to maintain my weight loss, and I regained all my lost weight plus more for every time that I lost weight. This last time I set out to learn to maintain. Beck tools helped me a lot.
I think what I'm saying is that in general, when it comes to my weight management, my mental state - being determined and focused - somehow led to me making the time and energy to do the work. Once I had my thoughts straight, then the behavior followed.
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lizlor
Transcendent Member
Posts: 1,161
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Post by lizlor on Mar 8, 2024 14:31:43 GMT
I think my best habits for losing weight start with the thought that I am worth the effort. Then the details follow: food planning and prep, daily exercise, and challenging the sabotaging thoughts that’s always drift in.
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Post by lani on Mar 8, 2024 15:44:58 GMT
I am lucky to have plenty of time (retired, no kids) to devote to my health. I've always been motivated (except when in the depths of mental/emotional crises - they don't last long anymore). Beck was the thing that did it for me. I am pretty sure meditating has helped.
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Post by cathygeha on Mar 8, 2024 16:46:34 GMT
I am finding out that it is not easy to maintain the momentum after lockdown due to the pandemic BUT I am not giving up. I still see myself at goal weight and will work toward it but also give myself credit for not gaining the weight back and halting the gain where I am now. I make the time to journal, exercise, bring into the house healthy foods to create meals with, hydrate, and find many of the habits have become firm after so many years on and off the weight merry-go-round.
I think we all have times in our lives it is easier and harder to stick to the plan and make it work. The trick is to not throw the towel in and give up entirely.
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Post by hpeterson1951 on Mar 8, 2024 17:13:29 GMT
I'm still working in this. My life is so very different than when I first lost weight or was maintaining it.
I've never really been sure what "self care" is. I've always thought that was just a "pampering, spa day" type of thing, like doing an at home facial or taking a long bath. Then I thought it was anything I enjoyed, reading, crocheting, but I still had to be doing something. A friend told me my Saturday naps can be considered self care- I just consider them a lazy indulgence.
I think I need to look at it as anything that make my body operate better, yoga for flexibility, sleep for peace and food for energy. If I can see things as a way to be more efficient, than maybe I will make the time to do them and be consistent.
Sorry, this was a bit of a ramble. This is just a concept I really struggle with.
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Post by ermabom on Mar 10, 2024 10:34:39 GMT
A lot of my life revolves around planning and making meals. More so now because both my SO and I have switched our diets to be more vegetable focused. So much chopping and prep!
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Post by susan092907 on Mar 10, 2024 11:55:32 GMT
I think I need to look at it as anything that make my body operate better, yoga for flexibility, sleep for peace and food for energy. If I can see things as a way to be more efficient, than maybe I will make the time to do them and be consistent. , I see these things as being so important to my health and overall well-being - and that's why they get priority. Maybe I have the advantage now of being over 70 years old, so they really do matter right now, but I think it would have been helpful to me to think of taking good care of myself when I was younger, too, to help me make time for exercise, sleep, and nourishing food. I think it's great that you're starting to think of things a little differently. ermabom, I've been eating more vegetables too, and eating out/taking out less frequently so cooking more at home. It really does take a lot of time. |
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