A Journey Worth Taking: Everything Is A Trade Off

A Journey Worth Taking: Everything Is A Trade Off: Why is it that getting started with something you want to change or improve is so difficult? It's the starting that is so hard, then on...

Everything Is A Trade Off

Why is it that getting started with something you want to change or improve is so difficult? It's the starting that is so hard, then once we get going, it's usually fine. I have been slow to get back into exercising, but once I start it, I enjoy it. A lot of times its something we enjoy but beginning it is often resisted.

 

It's an odd thing; whether its cleaning a closet, or exercising and dieting or even starting a fun craft project, which are all positive things, some people can't seem to get started. Perhaps its commitment or change but these things will make us feel good and yet many resist.

 

Exercising not just for weight loss but for life is important. I couldn't exercise when I was at my heaviest, obviously, but now it amazes me how far I can walk. I have now been getting back into it and it feels great. The more I think about it, the more I realize it may lead back to one thing that I always say. Everything is a trade off. Whatever we do to gain something positive, serves up its losses. With things like projects and cleaning, even exercising we give up time, precious time which goes way too fast as it is. I feel like time is so precious in our lives today that we hold on to it dearly. It could also mean money is that trade off that we are not too quick to part with. Or it could just be the energy it takes to make changes.

 

Time and money are the two things that anything and everything brings to sacrifice. There is no getting out of the trade offs of life. Even losing weight has it's trade off. Now that I am thinner I can't hide behind that excuse to exercise. I can't use that excuse for much anymore.

 

Trade offs are only one of the reasons we can't get started with things, I realize that it's more complex than that, and this is just one thing that comes to my mind. I don't claim to have all the answers but want to share my insights and my outlook and offer food for thought.

 

I for one would love to just roll into making changes, but they rarely seem to come easy to me. I suspect for others as well. So here's to embracing change and cleaning your closet.

 

A Journey Worth Taking: Old Days, Good Times I Remember

A Journey Worth Taking: Old Days, Good Times I Remember: I love the internet, there is an endless supply of information, but what I absolutely love is the nostalgia. If you were like me and grew up...

Old Days, Good Times I Remember

I love the internet, there is an endless supply of information, but what I absolutely love is the nostalgia. If you were like me and grew up in the 70's there is so much out there. Recently I found a great deal of 60's and 70's memories on Pinterest and other sites. Great stuff.

Wow it took me back to my childhood so fast and so well. I grew up with some awesome stuff; stuff I had forgotten about completely. Things like Dawn Dolls and Lite Brite, Big Wheels, Rockem Sockem Robots, and click clacks. I saw such great pictures of Spirograph, Hoppin Poppies, Etch A Sketch, Hungry Hippos, Toss Across and Stretch Armstrong to name a few. 

Oh the clothes; platform shoes, Ponchos, bell bottom pants, and polyester suites. Afros and thick mustaches. I had to laugh at some of the things on these sites. The 60's too with the GoGo boots and mini skirts. The decor too, lots of bright orange and yellow. Green appliances and half paneled half wall-papered dining rooms; funky furniture with lots of velvet and crocheted items, canopy beds and plastic fruit on dining room tables.

I remember Love's Baby Soft, Libbyland frozen dinners, Snack N Cake, Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific, Dippity Doo, Mood Rings, Pet Rocks, Sears Wish Book, HR Puf N Stuf, Happy Days, Laugh In, Starsky and Hutch and Mary Tyler Moore.

I don't think I have to mention the music or the prices. The music is endless, and I remember when a slice of Pizza was $.45. The gas shortage brings back memories, Son of Sam, the Jonestown Massacre, Three Mile Island, Mark Spitz, Secretariat and of course Watergate.

I could literally go on all day. The main thing I realize is that these things are a part of who we are, forever. I was young in a great time and I wouldn't change it at all. The other thing I realize is that the longing to go back isn't about things as much as missing those who we loved and lost and that feeling of being a kid; when you were safe and loved and didn't have a care in the world. My generation had innocence and we were kids. 

There are several links if anyone is interested: www.inthe70s.com, www.inthe80s.com,   www.inthe90s.com www.stuckinthe70s.com  www.80snostalgia.com  www.doo-wop.org

The reason this ties into weight loss is that there was one day a few years back when I smelled a familiar smell sorta like french fries but it was unique and it reminded me of Playland (the amusement park I grew up going to) and it made me happy and it made me want french fries, but then it dawned on me that it was my Dad who used to take me there and it was him I was missing. That was an eye opener for me. I didn't go get french fries, I searched for my childhood memories online that reminded me of the love I grew up with and that made me happier than any food ever can. 

A Journey Worth Taking: Learning to Walk To Life

A Journey Worth Taking: Learning to Walk To Life: My progress has brought me to a 52 pound weight loss. I kinda can't believe it. In only three months, 52 pounds. It's truly a bless...

Learning to Walk To Life

My progress has brought me to a 52 pound weight loss. I kinda can't believe it. In only three months, 52 pounds. It's truly a blessing to have had this surgery. I am feeling better physically than I have in many years. I am thrilled and so grateful. Soon it will be time to buy new clothes. Thus far it has been amazing and I learn something new, just about every day.

For years being overweight was this big thick black cloud over my head. I was constantly aware of it, and it blocked me from so many things. Now the cloud is lifting and the bright sun is overwhelming at times. There are so many different directions and much freedom in front of me now that I no longer have to focus on the black cloud.

I lost weight and am feeling better and looking better. To that I say now what, exactly?? It's not an uncommon feeling for people who have lost weight quickly. I know what I would do if I won a big money in the lotto but I never asked myself what will I do if I lose a lot of weight. It sounds simple but it's not simple at all. I realize that projecting more confidence will open doors for me and make things easier, but what exactly does that mean ? 

I tend to be hard on myself and expect a lot so one of my goals is to slow down and not freak out if I can't change my life as quickly as I am losing weight. It's different for everyone, but for me I just want to take my time and figure out what changes I really want to make. If for years all you focused on was the fact that you are overweight and that suddenly changes, it can be a strange road to a better life. I am trying to figure it out and am trying to be okay with the slow movement. 

The hormonal changes that come with losing weight seem to be throwing things off for me. It's a lot like when a child is learning to walk for the first time; they want to run everywhere but need they need to get used to walking first. They fall and get up and go again, and they always learn. With rapid weight loss it feels like the mind needs to catch up to the body. It's exciting and stressful all at the same time. 

I am just really happy with my progress and can't believe it sometimes. Now if I can figure out the rest of it, I will be golden.

A Journey Worth Taking: Angry Chewing

A Journey Worth Taking: Angry Chewing: Well it's time to talk about head hunger. It's the one thing that makes the difference between success and failure with weight loss...

Angry Chewing

Well it's time to talk about head hunger. It's the one thing that makes the difference between success and failure with weight loss surgery. It is the reason why weight loss surgery is not the easy way out. I am learning finally how to recognize it and luckily have been able thus far to not give into it. 

It's something I never saw the difference in with real hunger. This week lets just say I had some stress and boy did I have this urge to eat. It stemmed from strong emotions, and luckily I didn't give in. There is also something that I call angry chewing; eating when you are angry about something or while you are in the middle of feeling something stressful. It causes you to eat too big of a bite and not chewing enough or chewing too fast. In the past that anger wouldn't have even come up because food would have stuffed it, but now by eating so little, it shows its head ugly very prominently. The knee jerk reaction to it comes in the form of telling myself I want to eat. I am so grateful I didn't. Not that I know how I didn't, but I resisted. 

Angry chewing is interesting because you are not even paying attention to what you are doing, just what you are feeling. I let that feeling take over and chew for me. I am learning how bad it is to do that. With distraction of emotion is not the time to eat. I am realizing how every time I eat I have to really pay attention to the food and what I am doing. Give the food the time of day. Stop and just be and enjoy the food. If angry or otherwise stressed, hold off eating. These are things I never even took into consideration. One thing that I love about my sleeve is that it is unforgiving. It's in charge now and that's a good thing. However, its not exempt from relinquishing that power. If you push it enough times it will stretch. Everything has its breaking point. 

What and how much we eat is often tied into what we feel and how we express it. The key, I guess is to find an alternative way to express that feeling. Food enhances what ever we are feeling. In a way chewing is a form of expression. If you are angry, chewing is devouring whatever is making you angry. For weight loss surgery patients that angry chewing can become very painful and lead to throwing up. 

It was three months ago today I had my surgery and everyday, with every experience I am learning something new that I needed to. I am grateful for the lessons. I hope I continue learning how to not give in to powerful stress and emotions. For me, it can mean awful pain and discomfort. Down with stress I say.