tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181948577071103793.post2039663221388253005..comments2023-04-29T03:39:48.437-04:00Comments on Too Much Input: Herding CatsHuman In Progresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141421581818137190noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181948577071103793.post-82042631970088348022012-02-11T23:14:51.945-05:002012-02-11T23:14:51.945-05:00correction: article is called "It's Impor...correction: article is called "It's Important to Fail Sometimes"Human In Progresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14141421581818137190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181948577071103793.post-77859063026164085442012-02-11T23:11:31.806-05:002012-02-11T23:11:31.806-05:00Regarding emotional eating and having sweets: I se...Regarding emotional eating and having sweets: I see your story as proof that a philosophy of "progress, not perfection" is not only mentally healthy, but can yield incredible physical results. It's heartening to witness this (read about this), since so many people adopt extreme positions and use dramatic language ("this is what it TAKES to be a WINNER!") that make me recoil and in the past, have made me think this weight loss thing is impossible. There's a reason I don't watch The Biggest Loser anymore... <br /><br />Your last paragraph reminds me of your previous excellent post, "Why it's important to fail sometimes" (http://screamingfatgirl.blogspot.com/2010/06/its-important-to-fail-sometimes.html for anyone that is reading this and is curious).<br /><br />I'm planning to print out a bunch of your blog articles and put them in a binder to make my very own SFG book, for permanent personal reference. I've never done this with anyone else's material. I've known about your blog a very short time and that's how helpful and eye-opening it's been already. I just want you to know that!Human In Progresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14141421581818137190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181948577071103793.post-13504389560443387752012-02-11T04:16:37.321-05:002012-02-11T04:16:37.321-05:00Think of eating cake as running back down the road...Think of eating cake as running back down the road a very short way.<br /><br />For what it's worth, I still do this, too. I am trying to frame it with some perspective. I used to eat a whole bag or box of cookies for comfort. Now, I eat one small one. Or, I used to eat a whole piece of cake and now, I eat half or less. And I eat chocolate everyday, but only about 1/8 of a bar when it used to be the whole thing. This is really okay. It is something which may never vanish, but it also may diminish to the point where it does not represent a problem. <br /><br />For me, the emotional context is what I'm working with, not the food itself. I'm only unhappy about the behavior if it is motivated by fear, a need for comfort, etc. It's all good if it's for food pleasure for the sake of food pleasure (in which case, a small amount is satisfying), but I am working with this continuously. I still "comfort" myself with food and have been weaning myself away from this, but I've been working with this for going on three years now and it's still not "gone". I still have to pause before I eat a square of chocolate when I've worked for awhile and am tired and want to mentally perk myself with sweets and say, "I don't really desire this, but just want to feel better." Sometimes I eat it anyway. Sometimes I don't. It's all conditioning along a path and the important thing is progress is being made, albeit slowly.<br /><br />Slow is best. Truly. You'll get there. Control is never perfect nor can it be seized and held onto when you're trying to deal with the emotional equivalent of a team of bucking broncos. Give yourself credit for what you've accomplished. It'll ultimately make it easier to progress, but a setback or a two (or a thousand, as has been my case) is to be expected and you will gain strength from your recovery from such setbacks. I "blew it" many times (and still do, just not so spectacularly) and recovering from it the next day (only to "blow it" again the following day) made me lose that fatalistic "you'll never manage this" feeling. Succeed, fail, succeed, fail, succeed fail... It was a much better learning experience for me than constant success. It grew my confidence. It can grow yours, too.screaming fatgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09556199963917842135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181948577071103793.post-11410036099174298102012-02-10T23:34:00.082-05:002012-02-10T23:34:00.082-05:00Thank you, I really needed to hear this tonight. ...Thank you, I really needed to hear this tonight. I had cake again and despite writing this post so recently, I was starting to beat myself up for my food choices tonight.<br /><br />Less than a month ago, I was binging. It's unrealistic to expect nutritious meals, no overeating, an exercise regimen, etc etc etc to all fall into place within weeks. Logically, I know this, but I have moments of panic: "see? Cake two days in a row. And eating when you're definitely not hungry. You are still out of control and always will be." It's such an ugly, unhelpful voice that pipes up every few days.<br /><br />Thank you for the reality check regarding psychological backlash--it's better to expect it and be prepared for it--and for the confirmation that slow and steady is the way to go! :)Human In Progresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14141421581818137190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181948577071103793.post-1774551616541752572012-02-10T20:50:58.602-05:002012-02-10T20:50:58.602-05:00For me, not focusing on too much change at once wa...For me, not focusing on too much change at once was very helpful. Making a change routine before pushing on to another made it easier, but it does get overwhelming because it's not a simple matter of making a change and sticking to it. There's psychological backlash which tends to accumulate with more change, even when you wait to make changes until the old changes are routine. Eventually, you find that you've traveled very far down a road and you're scared at how far you've come and sort of freeze in terror. You don't even know why it's a problem as this was where you wanted to be, but you've come too far too fast.<br /><br />So, "all in good time" is definitely the attitude to take. :-)screaming fatgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09556199963917842135noreply@blogger.com