Don't stop until you're proud

Don't stop until you're proud. How awesome a plan is that?

I have been thinking a lot over the past few days about "The Biggest Loser" TV show, after reading an article in the New York Times about the show, and how contestants not only gain the weight back, but have a permanently screwed up metabolism.

Everything about this show bothers me. The fat shaming. The obsession about being SKINNY. The 6-8 hours of exercise per day. The food, contributed by companies that pay to have their products on the show. The 800 or less calories a day that these people consume. (I must admit, I have never watched the show. I have never watched a reality program in my life, and shut off the TV a month ago, I use it so rarely. I would MUCH rather read a book.)

I have now read how people are worried about losing weight "too quickly" and ruining their metabolism. ARRRRGGGGHHHH.

OK. In 9 months, I lost 124 pounds. I did it by exercising about 2 hours a day, staying on a VERY VERY VERY healthy eating plan, with plenty of fiber, enough protein, and not eating crap. I eat a LOT of fruits and vegetables, and only whole grains. My metabolism is just fine. I am doing great. Do not ever use this as an excuse to "lose weight more slowly" as this is not the problem.

The problem with this show, and with every single quick "DIET", is that none of them give you the tools for long term success. To have someone force you to exercise all day, with a lot of extra weight, is preposterous. It is amazing that nobody died of a heart attack yet on that show.

The show ruined people's joints, made some of them unable to almost walk, they were pushed so hard by EVIL trainers, whose only goal was to slap these people into shape with an unreasonable amount of exercise and a terrifyingly inadequate diet.

Please, please, understand one thing. Losing weight is a process. It takes each of us time. We need to re-adjust our relationship with food forever. We need to understand our weaknesses and not have them around. We need to fill our kitchens with healthy fruits and vegetables and lean meats (or other protein).

When I say I exercise about two hours a day, it is NOT something I do for two hours. I get up and do yoga every day for an hour. I stretch for twenty minutes before I get out of bed. I lift weights, either at the gym or at home. I go to several classes at the YMCA. I swim. I do not ever feel like I am doing a lot of exercise. I feel great. I love to move around, even when it is hard for me.

I talked with my physcial therapist this morning. She said that her weakness was potato chips. I said, why do you have them in the house? She stopped and said, I don't know. I said, if they were difficult to get, and you had to drive somewhere to get some, wouldn't it be less of a temptation? She agreed. She then told me that her Husband could not live without them. I said, well then buy single serving bags, and have ONE. We don't need to give things up, we jsut need to eat them using moderation. I don't like potato chips, never have, so they wouldn't interest me ever. She told me that she could sit down and eat a bag of them. I wondered how many calories are in a whole bag of potato chips....

Be proud right now. Know your worth is not tied to weight in any way. It is tied to what kind of a person you are. The reason that weight loss is important is because of your health. It also is a great boost for your self-confidence.

Spark on.


New York Times article:

www.nytimes.com/2016/05/
02/health/biggest-loser-we
ight-loss.html?_r=0