On Will Power

You are 100% right, it is "a little crazy". BUT, gimme a break! No person
HAS to murder to stay alive...but, we HAVE to eat! Now there's a bit of
common sense you may not find on TV

In all seriousness, a one size fits all doesn't work and food/drink are
essential for all human beings. I will probably never murder anyone but I
will eat nearly every day! This group has found a way of doing that basic
human need by eating and avoiding certain foods to help lower weight that
seems to be working for the majority. Frankly I believe that "willpower" is
just another term for not being depressed. When I am emotionally healthy, I
tend to take better care of my body...just my observation. FTR, I am not
discounting the idea that there can be medical problems causing obesity but
in my opinion it's probably rare. I am diabetic BUT I gained weight on the
wrong kind (and too much) of a diet for my disease. BTW, I've seen more
common sense in this group (not counting trolls) than in the general
population and certainly than on TV! It does work

Nancy J
209/167/145

"Zelda Baby" wrote in message
...
I wish that I could recall where I saw this....I'm thinking it was Dr.
Phil, in
the days of only Oprah...but it may have been a different daytime talk
show
about dieting....but the message it was trying to convey has stayed with
me...

The idea was...about sticking to diets or exercise etc....that some people
just
don't have the "will" power ..... but it pointed out, that we all make
conscience decisions not to do many things...that we all have will
power....we
can all control our actions...at all times......the example they used,
oddly
enough...was murder...that we all exhibit the will power not to murder
someone....or commit a crime etc .. and that this same will power, can be
channeled into controlling our own behaviour...whether its food or
drink....etc...

Now..I know this sounds extreme...comparing dieting to murder....but in
some
ways..its right....if only I could have the same conviction for not
overindulging or to continue exercising...as I have not to do bodily harm
to
others....I mean...its so easy NOT to kill someone...I mean, I can't even
IMAGINE something so horrible...yet...where is that same "force" to keep
me
from eating an entire pizza? and thus..doing harm to myself etc??? Is
it in
the fear of reprocussion? Cause I'm living with the 70 lbs of
reprocussion...

Any thoughts? I know this is a little crazy....its one of those days...

Kira
225/215/140
LC since 8-6-03

(jamie) wrote in message ...
Zelda Baby wrote:
Now..I know this sounds extreme...comparing dieting to murder....but in some
ways..its right....if only I could have the same conviction for not
overindulging or to continue exercising...as I have not to do bodily harm to
others....I mean...its so easy NOT to kill someone...I mean, I can't even
IMAGINE something so horrible...yet...where is that same "force" to keep me
from eating an entire pizza?

IMO, you don't need will power, you need won't power -- as in, I won't
eat this donut just because somebody brought a box to the office, and
it's free.

While I don't, in general subscribe to the 12-step formulae (expanded
from AA to various other support systems), I think one of the most
positive ideas to be gleaned from them is that they focus on today.
You can't do anything about what you ate yesterday, and tomorrow isn't
here yet. Focus on "I won't eat crap today," and "I'll do my exercise
routine today," and don't worry about how you're going to continue it
for the next week, month or year.

As to portion control - it will not likely ever come if the whole pizza,
or whole package of any other food is sitting in front of you, and you
just expect yourself to stop eating it before it's gone. You have to
dole out a portion, and put the rest away before you start eating.
Make it a conscious decision and conscious effort to get up and get
more, rather than unconsciously hand-to-mouthing it until it's gone.
This gives you the opportunity to think about whether you're really
still hungry, or just want more out of habit, or something to do with
your hands as you're watching TV.

Some people chronically overeat while not paying attention to what
they're eating -- eating while watching TV, reading, driving, working,
walking around the house. Several authors suggest that you never eating
standing up, and sit yourself down at a table without such distractions
and consciously enjoy your food when you eat. Some people need to slow
down, pausing during the meal, to take the time to actually enjoy the
food, and to feel if they're getting satisfied or getting full, instead
of just eating until they suddenly realize they're stuffed.

HTH

i just wanted to say that i think these are all really good, helpful
points. portion control is extremely important and so is the advice
about focusing on today, instead of obsessing about yesterday or
worrying about the future. i am not on atkins, but i know a lot about
how to diet successfully, and the above advice is essential to any
successful (not to mention psychologically healthy) diet. also,
skrewing up once in a while on a diet is unaviodable, it doesn't mean
you're lacking will power. forgive yourself, and move on.

- rachel

An old AA saying:
What do you mean you don't have the will power to stop drining? You surely
have the will power to drink!
"Zelda Baby" wrote in message
...
I wish that I could recall where I saw this....I'm thinking it was Dr.
Phil, in
the days of only Oprah...but it may have been a different daytime talk
show
about dieting....but the message it was trying to convey has stayed with
me...

The idea was...about sticking to diets or exercise etc....that some people
just
don't have the "will" power ..... but it pointed out, that we all make
conscience decisions not to do many things...that we all have will
power....we
can all control our actions...at all times......the example they used,
oddly
enough...was murder...that we all exhibit the will power not to murder
someone....or commit a crime etc .. and that this same will power, can be
channeled into controlling our own behaviour...whether its food or
drink....etc...

Now..I know this sounds extreme...comparing dieting to murder....but in
some
ways..its right....if only I could have the same conviction for not
overindulging or to continue exercising...as I have not to do bodily harm
to
others....I mean...its so easy NOT to kill someone...I mean, I can't even
IMAGINE something so horrible...yet...where is that same "force" to keep
me
from eating an entire pizza? and thus..doing harm to myself etc??? Is
it in
the fear of reprocussion? Cause I'm living with the 70 lbs of
reprocussion...

Any thoughts? I know this is a little crazy....its one of those days...

Kira
225/215/140
LC since 8-6-03

Heh. To the OP, Zelda Baby, I watch Oprah and Dr. Phil, I know what you're
referring to. It's how he says you make a "life decision" to do or not do
certain things, like cursing at your kids, overspending, overeating, etc.
Will power is something that is a moment-to-moment constant control, having
to decide every single time "I will not eat that cake today" or "I will
work out today". A life decision is a decision you make once, and then your
behavior is constrained by that decision from then on. We all do make life
decisions like "I don't steal" or "I shower every day." You don't need
willpower to take a shower every day, it's just something you do, a habit,
something that is a part of who you are. With life decisions about healthy
eating and exercising, it's the same sort of thing. You make it a habit, a
part of your life. It's just a mentally different way of phrasing it in
your head. Like when my aunt quit smoking, she just stopped one day and
said to herself and everyone "I don't smoke anymore." Not, "I'm quitting
smoking" or "I'm _trying_ to quit" but simply "I do not smoke."

Of course there will be times when you are tempted, but you have to hold
yourself to a high standard. I am a very honest person, I don't steal, if I
am given too much change I go back to the store and give it back. But,
yes, every once in a while, like every few years, I will be in a situation
where I could possibly steal something and not get caught, and I will have
an idle impulse to do so. What keeps me honest is my own high standard for
myself, how I would not be proud of myself if I stole something. I look at
eating well and working out as the same thing, when I am tempted to cheat
or skip a workout, I say to myself "You said you were gonna do this. Are
you going to be proud of yourself if you slack off now?" And when I did
slack off, I didn't just feel bad and kick my own ass about it, but I
confessed it all here on this group and faced some accountability here,
from some posters who are generally not favored by the rest of the group,
but whose no nonsense, in-your-face style has been invaluable to me.



In article ,
"Digital Art Resources" wrote:

An old AA saying:
What do you mean you don't have the will power to stop drining? You surely
have the will power to drink!
"Zelda Baby" wrote in message
...
I wish that I could recall where I saw this....I'm thinking it was Dr.
Phil, in
the days of only Oprah...but it may have been a different daytime talk
show
about dieting....but the message it was trying to convey has stayed with
me...

The idea was...about sticking to diets or exercise etc....that some people
just
don't have the "will" power ..... but it pointed out, that we all make
conscience decisions not to do many things...that we all have will
power....we
can all control our actions...at all times......the example they used,
oddly
enough...was murder...that we all exhibit the will power not to murder
someone....or commit a crime etc .. and that this same will power, can be
channeled into controlling our own behaviour...whether its food or
drink....etc...

Now..I know this sounds extreme...comparing dieting to murder....but in
some
ways..its right....if only I could have the same conviction for not
overindulging or to continue exercising...as I have not to do bodily harm
to
others....I mean...its so easy NOT to kill someone...I mean, I can't even
IMAGINE something so horrible...yet...where is that same "force" to keep
me
from eating an entire pizza? and thus..doing harm to myself etc??? Is
it in
the fear of reprocussion? Cause I'm living with the 70 lbs of
reprocussion...

Any thoughts? I know this is a little crazy....its one of those days...

Kira
225/215/140
LC since 8-6-03



--
-Michelle Levin (Luna)
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick
http://www.mindspring.com/~designbyluna