Sorry I haven't been around. I've been trying to read the book and job hunt. Job hunting is taking up alot of my time. I guess I am just going to put in some of my comments to what you guys pulled out of the book.
I agree with willpower being a somewhat myth. For me it's not a matter of having the willpower to lose weight. It's a matter of making a change in my lifestyle. It's something that I must do to ensure that I am healthier and happier. It's all about wanting to and being willing to make that change and implement a new plan of action to eating better to make myself a healthier me. I know what I need to do to acheive that goal and I can either choose to do it or I don't do it. It's time I stop blaming willpower or motivation. What it all comes down to is just doing it and stop being a lazy butt. It's not going to get any easier so I might as well step up to the plate and hit a grand slam to happiness.
I am definitely not looking at the overall picture of reaching my goal weight. I want the feelings associated with it. I want to feel good and be healthy. I want to be able to get out there and run with my children. Heck, I just want to get out and run and not worry about being winded because I can only make it a block or two. What do you think you'll feel like when you reach your goal weight? Are you going to be happier? Why is that? I know that I am going to feel so much better about myself. I am still going to have some self esteem issues but I know that I am making myself better. I think I want to have people tell me I look great and they are amazed that I did it. I guess I am wanting the praise and the acceptance of others.
Definitely agree with him that you should have goals to help you along the way. I don't necessarily think that I will fail because of not having any. I just think it will take me longer to reach my goal weight without setting myself some goals. I think it gives me more drive to get to where I am going.
I do feel it is hard to totally stop having self-defeating. You try so hard and then you slip up. Obvious reaction is to say, " I'm a failure. I blew it. I might as well eat the rest of the cake. Why even bother continuing my diet?" Wait, I made a mistake. I need to acknowledge the fact that it happened and get back on track. One little mistake isn't as bad as 5 or 10. I can do this. It is acheievable. Stop telling yourself that you are a failure. You deserve to be happy. I used to think I didn't deserbe to be happy, I know that I am wrong.
Exactly.. I know I can. I need to have more positive thoughts. Negativity seems to rule. I was meant to be fat. Nothing good happens to me. I'm worthless. NO NO NO.. I am a good person. I make mistakes like everyone else. No one is perfect. We are all different.
I really have a hard time telling myself that I love exercise. I think I can learn to like it. I just tell myself that it is something that I have to do. It's a means to an end. To accomplish weight loss I need to exercise so I can be healthier. Again it is all about making a lifestyle change. I don't have to love exercise, but I can learn to like it if I pick things that I enjoy and give me pleasure doing. I am more likely to keep doing something that I like then something that I totally detest. It's all a matter of finding something that you like.
Ok. So there are some of my thoughts so far. I haven't made it to the 2nd key yet.
This thread seemed to have lost steam. I'm on key 6. In general I have enjoyed this book. I haven't agreed with absolutely everything in it and it is clear that he is writing to an audience that he assumes lives in a family setting which I don't but there is definately a lot more positive than negative to the book. I would recommend it to most people.
Annie, you seemed to be getting a lot out of it. Hope you have had more time to devote to it.
Hi everyone! I haven't read any of Dr. Phil's books but I love to watch his show. Which book are you speaking of? I'm definitely interested in reading them. Let me know! Thanks
Eddie-
The book we're talking about is Dr. Phil's Ultimate Weight Loss Solution. I personally have loved it. The discussion kind of died down, but I know I would love to hear your comments on the book if you do decide to read it. I really recommend you do if you have any psychological/emotional issues with food, as a lot of us I think do. I sort of raced through the book because it really started helping me and I just wanted all the info. I am going to re-read it at a little bit slower pace and as I do I will comment. Some of the things that have really changed my life are: positive self-talk-telling myself I can do it (eat healthy, exercise, etc.) really works for me as well as telling myself I am beautiful, not a failure, etc. I've also been working on my all or nothing thinking, although I'll admit I did fall into the trap recently of a binge when I used this all or nothing thinking...it was a nice reminder of the lifestyle I hated so much though and why I am changing. The greatest change for me has been in where and how I eat...I used to eat reading the paper, watching tv, reading a magazine, surfing the net...anything except just focusing on the food. Now I sit down at the table, turn off the tv, make sure the table has no reading material on it, and focus on my food...who wants to be chained to a table all day when you have a million things to do. Following this has helped me tremendously in controlling my caloric intake. Okay, that's all for now Take care!
Okay, I finished all 7 keys. Like I said, a lot more positive than negative. My biggest hang up with it was that he clearly wrote it to people who live in family settings and probably should have considered that a fair number of people reading it would be living alone. It actually messes up your score on a lot of those little tests. I will probably read parts of it over again from time to time when I need a little reminder about my attitude.
Hey everyone! Is there anyone reading this book who would like to be buddies? I am not planning on counting calories or carbs or anything like that, really just sticking to Dr. Phil's rules because I have such emotional/stress issues w. food. If anyone's interested in discussing/being accountable w. the things in the book, let me know!
I just started reading this book and am totally in to it. I have difficulties keeping up with my reading, however, because I'm often too busy, but I am making time for this one. I'm just at the first key, but Petra mentioned the second key and corrolation (sp?) between weight issues and sexual child abuse. I'm curious to read this because I am a sexual abuse survivor, but I can't honestly see the connection because I love sex as an adult and don't feel that I'm trying to hide behind fat. I've never gone through any therapy, however, and perhaps there's something there that I don't recognize in my behaviour. I'm anxious to get to the next key.
Count me in on this discussion. I just got it in the mail and started reading it today. I am just beginning the 2nd Chapter, Get Real Expectations and Goals. I will do a lot more reading over the weekend. I don't post much on weekends, but if anyone is still interested, I will see you on Monday.
Hi, everyone. I just found this discussion group. It doesn't appear that anyone has added anything for nearly a month. Perhaps I am writing to myself.
If not, I would like to say that this book has helped me immeasurably in my weight loss journey. I lost 104.75 pounds between Feb. 4, 2003 and June 8, 2004. I have read the book a total of 4 times.
I credit this book with giving me my first realistic view to losing weight and finding a way to keep it off. I have had a few ups and downs since I first lost my weight, but this is the first time in my life that I have worn the same clothes comfortably for two years in a row. This is also the first time that I have gained back 10 or 15 pounds and haven't felt helpless and regained all the weight I've lost.
I have a niece who is seeing a professional weight loss therapist, and I have news...Dr. Phil didn't invent all of the information and ideas in this book. My niece has copies of written information from her therapist with exactly the same ideas that are in this book, but predating the book by many years.
This is just some very sound information that therapists who specialize in weight loss have been giving their clients for years. I am just grateful that he has shared it with us.
I go back and reread various parts of the book all the time. I get new insights and perspectives as time goes by. At present I am only about 7 pounds from my goal. I go to a weight-loss support group weekly (TOPS) and bore the ladies to death with what Dr. Phil says about this or that aspect of weight control. He has certainly given me a lot of answers to the whys of my weight problems over the years. I am so grateful .
Wow! Congrats on the weight loss so far! It looks like I need to go back and read the book again for some inspiration! I read it a while back and have probably forgotten a lot of it. I've been doing Weight Watchers on my own because I feel I need a little more structure, but I'm not really going anywhere fast.
Weight Watchers is a terrific support group. I almost joined when I needed to start losing in 2003. I am too cheap to spend the money, however. That's why I returned to Tops (Take Off Pounds Sensibly). It costs $24.00 a year and you weigh in each week, same as WW. You also get more personal support from the other members, who are also struggling to reach their goals.
However, I subscribe to WW magazine and read it cover to cover.
One of the big keys, and one of the main reasons I keep rereading Dr. Phil's book is that after you' ve lost all your weight and reached your goal, it's hard to stay motivated. All your problems and issues with food are definitely not over at that point. That's part of the reason I had regained about 17 pounds. I hadn't made some of the adjustments in lifestyle that I needed to make. I was eating better than before, but kept a few of my junk-eating habits. Gradually, as I got more comfortable, my portions got a little bigger and my vigilance relaxed. I have now lost 10-12 of those pounds and am within whistling distance of my goal again. But I am making real changes in what I eat. Dr. Phil calls it "preference shifting". And that's my main goal for 2006, shift my eating habits and preferences away from sugary or stachy snacks to fruits and whole grains.
I'll keep reading the book and I hope that you do, too. There's a lot of priceless information in it.
Re: Weight Watchers on your own.
