Is this a weightloss newsgroup?

I see so many posts here about food recipes (love of food), failure to
exercise and "inability" to lose weight or to control food intake.
Surprising for a group that's all about weight loss, but these are the same
things I hear from my patients on a daily basis in my family practise.
Lifestyle behaviors such as good diet and exercise habits are the most
difficult to maintain consistently.

When asked the question: "What would you rather have: horribly declining
health but a wonderfully rising bank account, or a horribly declining bank
account but a wonderfully rising health status?" most people would answer
that they would prefer to have both good health physically and financially.
If they must choose it would be good health first. Obviously it doesn't make
much sense to have plenty of money but no ability to truly enjoy life due to
poor health. Our behavior reveals that the reverse is more commonly our true
priority. We make sure that we spend our 40 to 60 hours a week to ensure our
financial health, but when I suggest to my patients that they exercise for
at least 30 minutes, six days a week, they almost universally consider this
recommendation excessive. Unless my mathematics is incorrect, 30 minutes six
days a week is three hours of exercise. Since there are 168 hours in week,
that leaves 165 hours left over for everything else we must do. That's less
than 2 percent of our total available time!

The health "dividends" of these three hours of exercise can be truly
amazing. Weight is lost and metabolism increases. The anti-aging
biochemistry of our bodies is radically improved. Blood pressure is lowered.
Our cholesterol profile improves. The endorphins in our brain make our mood
better and more balanced. Our ability to manage stress increases. Literally
immediately, we are less likely to have a stroke or heart attack. Our risk
of cancer is decreased. People who exercise have a much lower risk of
developing Alzheimer's disease. Research has also shown that people who
exercise daily are much more likely to have good dietary habits. If there's
an overall panacea, exercise is it.

In my 30 years in the field of health care, I have heard every possible
rationalization as to why people can't exercise. Well, maybe I am
overstating things when I say I have heard every possible excuse -- let's
put it this way; it's been years since I've heard a new one. All of the
thousands upon thousands of excuses can be categorized into four main
categories: 1) Not enough time 2) The weather isn't cooperating 3) I no
longer have access to my gym or exercise equipment or 4) A part of my body
is hurting so I can't exercise.

The most common rationalization is definitely "Doctor, I'm very busy, I
just don't have the time to exercise". As an example, a longtime patient,
David, a diabetic with a history of heart disease came to me recently for
his usual three-month appointment. His weight had gone up 12 pounds from the
prior visit. With a body mass index of 32, he could ill-afford this weight
gain. (Go to our free health calculators on the home page to calculate your
BMI). David said that he had been promoted at his job and now is working 10
hour days - five days weekly. When I pointed out to David that if he slept
eight hours a day for a total of 56 hours per week, that plus the 50 hours
of work still left 62 hours per week or nearly nine hours a day left over
for everything else. Knowing David is a big sports fan, I asked how many
sporting events he watched per week on TV. David became excited, talking
about how this is his favorite time of year because of both professional and
college football and basketball. He said he watched "maybe three or four
games per week".(As a family doctor I have the advantage of taking care of
everyone in the family -- so when I asked David's wife the same question,
her estimate was at least 10 games per week). When I pointed out to David
that even three or four games per week represented 10 hours in front of the
television, he scoffed. David defended this as his "mental health time-my
way of winding down after a stressful day at work". After some back and
forth between us, David realized that he did have the time; it was just
about making a commitment to exercise and finding something he could enjoy
and sustain. He called the other day to let me know that he only allows
himself to watch sports if he has exercised that day. He has now lost nearly
10 pounds.

Coming from Ohio, excuses for not exercising that involve the weather were
quite commonplace growing up. If there is ice and snow on the ground and
minus 10 degree Fahrenheit wind chill factor, it is understandable that
going out for a daily jog would be difficult or uncomfortable. Naturally,
that's why everything from treadmills and stationary bikes as well as
exercise clubs was invented. Now that I live in and practice medicine in
Southern California, I'm amazed that the weather continues to be used as a
reason not to exercise. It's common for me to hear "Doctor, it has just
been too cold to exercise lately". This is describing a period of time when
the high temperatures were in the upper 60s. Back in Ohio, people would be
putting their bathing suits on with this type of weather. During the summer,
temperatures can get hot and many patients will say it's just too hot to
exercise. Sometimes when I suggest that they exercise early in the morning
or in the evening when the temperatures are usually perfect, some patients
act like that suggestion is a stroke of genius.

Excuses involving gym memberships or equipment failures are less common -
but they are utilized. A patient, Robert, that I treat for hypertension
(high blood pressure) came in with an elevated pressure and increased
weight. When I asked him about it, he said that his employer had stopped
paying for his gym membership, so he stopped exercising. He said it as
though he was a victim of circumstances beyond his control - as though the
only way he could possibly exercise was to have it be a benefit of
employment. When I asked Robert if he would simply go for a brisk walk for
30 minutes a day- he reverted to the weather excuse "it's just been too hot
out, Doctor."

Next to the no time excuse, the most common rationalization is an injury or
arthritis condition that prevents the person from exercising. An example is
Jill, a patient of mine in her 60s. She had a history of a stroke, high
blood pressure, and carotid artery surgery. When she came in recently her
weight was up 11 pounds. She blamed her shoes, which she claimed were
heavier than the pair she was wearing at the last visit. She said she had
gained the weight on a cruise, (as though it's contractual obligation to
gain weight on cruises) and because of the weight gain her knee began to
hurt as it always does when she gains weight. She couldn't go on her usual
walks. When I suggested she try swimming, she said with a straight face,
"Doctor, since I gained weight, I don't have any bathing suits that fit me."
Sometimes I tell this type of patient that I have patients without legs at
all due to injury or illness-related amputations that still find a way to
exercise - where there's a will, there's a way.

Why is it that we find exercise so difficult? I think there are many
reasons. Certainly, as adults, our busy lifestyles often result in little
energy left at the end of the day. But let's consider the difference
between adults and children: if you tell a child that they can only sit at
a desk and cannot go outside to run around and play for the next week - the
child will consider this the most horrible kind of punishment. But if you
tell an adult that they can't exercise for a week, many will think of it as
a break from the need to discipline themselves. But look what children do
when they engage in physical activity, it is usually a game, and it is
usually social. In short, it's fun. But for adults, it is often a lonely
time on the treadmill. If this is all children did when they are physically
active, they wouldn't want to do it either. For myself, a lifelong
exerciser, I have always varied my workouts. I might do a gymnasium workout
on three different pieces of cardio equipment and the next night, I may play
some tennis. I could no more run on a treadmill every day than I could eat
peanut butter and jelly every day. Variety is the spice of life - and that
applies to exercise as well.

I often tell my patients that there should be four things they must do every
day: eat, go to the bathroom, sleep, and of course, exercise. There are no
excuses for not doing all of them every day. When we travel, we always make
arrangements to have facilities for the first three. Adding exercise to our
plans is not that difficult. Physical activity should be fun, variable, and
fit your needs-physically and emotionally. The need to figure out how and
what you will do to keep it interesting should be something to look forward
to, and not just another area of failed personal discipline. So if you don't
already exercise every day, make it a top priority to enjoy physical
activity every day. Make it a goal to once again enjoy your body and its
capacities as you did when you were a child. Make it fun! In the process you
will make yourself healthier, wealthier and wiser. Make a promise to
yourself to increase your health account bottom line as well as your bank
account bottom line.

This is the bottom line: no excuses.

On Jul 23, 10:34 am, "Henry VIII" wrote:
I see so many posts here about food recipes (love of food), failure to
exercise and "inability" to lose weight or to control food intake.
Surprising for a group that's all about weight loss, but these are the same
things I hear from my patients on a daily basis in my family practise.
Lifestyle behaviors such as good diet and exercise habits are the most
difficult to maintain consistently.

When asked the question: "What would you rather have: horribly declining
health but a wonderfully rising bank account, or a horribly declining bank
account but a wonderfully rising health status?" most people would answer
that they would prefer to have both good health physically and financially.
If they must choose it would be good health first. Obviously it doesn't make
much sense to have plenty of money but no ability to truly enjoy life due to
poor health. Our behavior reveals that the reverse is more commonly our true
priority. We make sure that we spend our 40 to 60 hours a week to ensure our
financial health, but when I suggest to my patients that they exercise for
at least 30 minutes, six days a week, they almost universally consider this
recommendation excessive. Unless my mathematics is incorrect, 30 minutes six
days a week is three hours of exercise. Since there are 168 hours in week,
that leaves 165 hours left over for everything else we must do. That's less
than 2 percent of our total available time!

The health "dividends" of these three hours of exercise can be truly
amazing. Weight is lost and metabolism increases. The anti-aging
biochemistry of our bodies is radically improved. Blood pressure is lowered.
Our cholesterol profile improves. The endorphins in our brain make our mood
better and more balanced. Our ability to manage stress increases. Literally
immediately, we are less likely to have a stroke or heart attack. Our risk
of cancer is decreased. People who exercise have a much lower risk of
developing Alzheimer's disease. Research has also shown that people who
exercise daily are much more likely to have good dietary habits. If there's
an overall panacea, exercise is it.

In my 30 years in the field of health care, I have heard every possible
rationalization as to why people can't exercise. Well, maybe I am
overstating things when I say I have heard every possible excuse -- let's
put it this way; it's been years since I've heard a new one. All of the
thousands upon thousands of excuses can be categorized into four main
categories: 1) Not enough time 2) The weather isn't cooperating 3) I no
longer have access to my gym or exercise equipment or 4) A part of my body
is hurting so I can't exercise.

The most common rationalization is definitely "Doctor, I'm very busy, I
just don't have the time to exercise". As an example, a longtime patient,
David, a diabetic with a history of heart disease came to me recently for
his usual three-month appointment. His weight had gone up 12 pounds from the
prior visit. With a body mass index of 32, he could ill-afford this weight
gain. (Go to our free health calculators on the home page to calculate your
BMI). David said that he had been promoted at his job and now is working 10
hour days - five days weekly. When I pointed out to David that if he slept
eight hours a day for a total of 56 hours per week, that plus the 50 hours
of work still left 62 hours per week or nearly nine hours a day left over
for everything else. Knowing David is a big sports fan, I asked how many
sporting events he watched per week on TV. David became excited, talking
about how this is his favorite time of year because of both professional and
college football and basketball. He said he watched "maybe three or four
games per week".(As a family doctor I have the advantage of taking care of
everyone in the family -- so when I asked David's wife the same question,
her estimate was at least 10 games per week). When I pointed out to David
that even three or four games per week represented 10 hours in front of the
television, he scoffed. David defended this as his "mental health time-my
way of winding down after a stressful day at work". After some back and
forth between us, David realized that he did have the time; it was just
about making a commitment to exercise and finding something he could enjoy
and sustain. He called the other day to let me know that he only allows
himself to watch sports if he has exercised that day. He has now lost nearly
10 pounds.

Coming from Ohio, excuses for not exercising that involve the weather were
quite commonplace growing up. If there is ice and snow on the ground and
minus 10 degree Fahrenheit wind chill factor, it is understandable that
going out for a daily jog would be difficult or uncomfortable. Naturally,
that's why everything from treadmills and stationary bikes as well as
exercise clubs was invented. Now that I live in and practice medicine in
Southern California, I'm amazed that the weather continues to be used as a
reason not to exercise. It's common for me to hear "Doctor, it has just
been too cold to exercise lately". This is describing a period of time when
the high temperatures were in the upper 60s. Back in Ohio, people would be
putting their bathing suits on with this type of weather. During the summer,
temperatures can get hot and many patients will say it's just too hot to
exercise. Sometimes when I suggest that they exercise early in the morning
or in the evening when the temperatures are usually perfect, some patients
act like that suggestion is a stroke of genius.

Excuses involving gym memberships or equipment failures are less common -
but they are utilized. A patient, Robert, that I treat for hypertension
(high blood pressure) came in with an elevated pressure and increased
weight. When I asked him about it, he said that his employer had stopped
paying for his gym membership, so he stopped exercising. He said it as
though he was a victim of circumstances beyond his control - as though the
only way he could possibly exercise was to have it be a benefit of
employment. When I asked Robert if he would simply go for a brisk walk for
30 minutes a day- he reverted to the weather excuse "it's just been too hot
out, Doctor."

Next to the no time excuse, the most common rationalization is an injury or
arthritis condition that prevents the person from exercising. An example is
Jill, a patient of mine in her 60s. She had a history of a stroke, high
blood pressure, and carotid artery surgery. When she came in recently her
weight was up 11 pounds. She blamed her shoes, which she claimed were
heavier than the pair she was wearing at the last visit. She said she had
gained the weight on a cruise, (as though it's contractual obligation to
gain weight on cruises) and because of the weight gain her knee began to
hurt as it always does when she gains weight. She couldn't go on her usual
walks. When I suggested she try swimming, she said with a straight face,
"Doctor, since I gained weight, I don't have any bathing suits that fit me."
Sometimes I tell this type of patient that I have patients without legs at
all due to injury or illness-related amputations that still find a way to
exercise - where there's a will, there's a way.

Why is it that we find exercise so difficult? I think there are many
reasons. Certainly, as adults, our busy lifestyles often result in little
energy left at the end of the day. But let's consider the difference
between adults and children: if you tell a child that they can only sit at
a desk and cannot go outside to run around and play for the next week - the
child will consider this the most horrible kind of punishment. But if you
tell an adult that they can't exercise for a week, many will think of it as
a break from the need to discipline themselves. But look what children do
when they engage in physical activity, it is usually a game, and it is
usually social. In short, it's fun. But for adults, it is often a lonely
time on the treadmill. If this is all children did when they are physically
active, they wouldn't want to do it either. For myself, a lifelong
exerciser, I have always varied my workouts. I might do a gymnasium workout
on three different pieces of cardio equipment and the next night, I may play
some tennis. I could no more run on a treadmill every day than I could eat
peanut butter and jelly every day. Variety is the spice of life - and that
applies to exercise as well.

I often tell my patients that there should be four things they must do every
day: eat, go to the bathroom, sleep, and of course, exercise. There are no
excuses for not doing all of them every day. When we travel, we always make
arrangements to have facilities for the first three. Adding exercise to our
plans is not that difficult. Physical activity should be fun, variable, and
fit your needs-physically and emotionally. The need to figure out how and
what you will do to keep it interesting should be something to look forward
to, and not just another area of failed personal discipline. So if you don't
already exercise every day, make it a top priority to enjoy physical
activity every day. Make it a goal to once again enjoy your body and its
capacities as you did when you were a child. Make it fun! In the process you
will make yourself healthier, wealthier and wiser. Make a promise to
yourself to increase your health account bottom line as well as your bank
account bottom line.

This is the bottom line: no excuses.


Tell me about it. We have had numerous members who want to lose
weight, but without DOING anything! For them, tho, there are plenty
of Wt Loss Gurus who will milk them dry of finances and make them
'shed' the Greens...

Henry VIII wrote:

Snip Holier Than Though diatribe of stuff we already know...

No, this isn't a weight loss newsgroup. It's a newsgroup of mutual
support for those who find weight loss awkward, difficult, and damned
near impossible for many reasons, both physical and emotional.

As such we swap stories and warnings and helpful PRACTICAL advice that
actually works in the real world, and recipes that allow us to love
ourselves and our food while allowing us to stay on track, keep aiming
for our goals, and enjoy cooking for the whole family along the way. We
never harangue those who fall off the wagon: we hold out a hand, pick
them up, dust them off, and walk beside them until they are steady again.

If all you can do is reiterate all the old stuff about eating healthily,
exercising, and being a boring old fart, you are not for us. If you can
help us get back on track after a weekend of silver wedding celebrations
where we cooked high octane puddings for 40 people and indulged in
champagne and chocolate, with humour, love, and sympathy, you will do
well here and be very welcome.

And, by the way, I hit my WW goal weight back in October, and am
maintaining successfully most of the time. I walk everywhere I can at a
brisk pace (4 miles - to and from school twice on Tuesday! No bad feat
in England's current weather!), swim up to 60 lengths of the pool at
least twice a week, and danced the night away as if I was 15 and not 50
on Saturday, after being up at 5 am most days last week, working flat
out on party cooking and my regular job of dress and costume making!
All this as a fibromyalgia sufferer with chronic pain... And I'm fairly
typical of us normal folk here on this group!


--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.katedicey.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

Gosh Kate, I get tired just reading all that you do! It's very good
that you are maintaining the weight. I think that's really what it's
all about, being able to keep it off and still have such an active,
full and enjoyable life. Congratulations
Karen

On Thu, 26 Jul 2007 15:14:54 +0100, in
alt.support.diet.weigh****chers, Kate XXXXXX
wrote:


Snip Holier Than Though diatribe of stuff we already know...

No, this isn't a weight loss newsgroup. It's a newsgroup of mutual
support for those who find weight loss awkward, difficult, and damned
near impossible for many reasons, both physical and emotional.

As such we swap stories and warnings and helpful PRACTICAL advice that
actually works in the real world, and recipes that allow us to love
ourselves and our food while allowing us to stay on track, keep aiming
for our goals, and enjoy cooking for the whole family along the way. We
never harangue those who fall off the wagon: we hold out a hand, pick
them up, dust them off, and walk beside them until they are steady again.

If all you can do is reiterate all the old stuff about eating healthily,
exercising, and being a boring old fart, you are not for us. If you can
help us get back on track after a weekend of silver wedding celebrations
where we cooked high octane puddings for 40 people and indulged in
champagne and chocolate, with humour, love, and sympathy, you will do
well here and be very welcome.

And, by the way, I hit my WW goal weight back in October, and am
maintaining successfully most of the time. I walk everywhere I can at a
brisk pace (4 miles - to and from school twice on Tuesday! No bad feat
in England's current weather!), swim up to 60 lengths of the pool at
least twice a week, and danced the night away as if I was 15 and not 50
on Saturday, after being up at 5 am most days last week, working flat
out on party cooking and my regular job of dress and costume making!
All this as a fibromyalgia sufferer with chronic pain... And I'm fairly
typical of us normal folk here on this group!

Karen Officer wrote:
Gosh Kate, I get tired just reading all that you do! It's very good
that you are maintaining the weight. I think that's really what it's
all about, being able to keep it off and still have such an active,
full and enjoyable life. Congratulations
Karen

Thank you, Karen. I did have a 1.5 lb gain this week, but given that I
haven't counted points and had a house full of guests and a party at the
weekend, I'm just glad it wasn't more!

Back to tracking, 18 points per day, and more exercise tomorrow! I do
have my swimming dates booked for the weekend...

--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.katedicey.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

On Thu, 26 Jul 2007 22:51:18 +0100, in
alt.support.diet.weigh****chers, Kate XXXXXX
wrote:

Thank you, Karen. I did have a 1.5 lb gain this week, but given that I
haven't counted points and had a house full of guests and a party at the
weekend, I'm just glad it wasn't more!

Back to tracking, 18 points per day, and more exercise tomorrow! I do
have my swimming dates booked for the weekend...

1.5 isn't bad considering all the cooking and partying. It was a
special occasion. You just get back on track and it will be fine....
Karen

to tell you the truth, I was considering taking an AP for myself after
reading all of that, Lee, proud of YOU!!!
Kate XXXXXX wrote in message
...
Karen Officer wrote:
Gosh Kate, I get tired just reading all that you do! It's very good
that you are maintaining the weight. I think that's really what it's
all about, being able to keep it off and still have such an active,
full and enjoyable life. Congratulations
Karen

Thank you, Karen. I did have a 1.5 lb gain this week, but given that I
haven't counted points and had a house full of guests and a party at the
weekend, I'm just glad it wasn't more!

Back to tracking, 18 points per day, and more exercise tomorrow! I do
have my swimming dates booked for the weekend...

--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.katedicey.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

Karen Officer wrote:
On Thu, 26 Jul 2007 22:51:18 +0100, in
alt.support.diet.weigh****chers, Kate XXXXXX
wrote:
Thank you, Karen. I did have a 1.5 lb gain this week, but given that I
haven't counted points and had a house full of guests and a party at the
weekend, I'm just glad it wasn't more!

Back to tracking, 18 points per day, and more exercise tomorrow! I do
have my swimming dates booked for the weekend...

1.5 isn't bad considering all the cooking and partying. It was a
special occasion. You just get back on track and it will be fine....
Karen

Yup! I wasn't disappointed.

--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.katedicey.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!