I recently saw the following in a signature line on another message board:
Obsession is what the weak and lazy call the dedicated.
And it set me off thinking about the issues of obsession, dedication, and the choices that we make regarding weight loss and maintenance. I know the issue of 'obsession' is one that’s affected a lot of other Maintainers -- we’ve had other discussions here about our frustrations when people call our lifestyles ‘obsessed’. I've been kicking this around during morning cardio all week … so I’m going to try to get some of my thoughts down in writing and would love to hear what all of you think too.
OK … let's start with choices and maintenance.
Whether or not we lose weight and/or maintain our weight losses is determined by the choices we make – it is entirely in our hands. We are in total control. No one made us fat except us and no one can make us fit and healthy except us.
Toxic food is EVERYWHERE and we are called upon to make a hundred choices a day that affect our weight – will I eat that donut? will I go to the gym today? will I actually measure that serving of peanut butter? will I drive through McDs for dinner? Only YOU can decide if a choice is worth what it will cost you. But make no mistake – every choice we make has a price tag and a consequence.
There are diet and exercise choices that a formerly obese person
must make to obtain and maintain a normal weight. We all learned a long time ago that we can't simply wish the weight away. You
HAVE to cut your calorie intake and change what you’re eating. You
HAVE to move your body more – a lot more. You
HAVE to be aware of what you’re doing and be constantly vigilant about slipping back into old, bad habits and ways. It’s not just me saying these things – it’s backed up by the data coming out of the National Weight Control Registry. These things are simply non-negotiable if you want to maintain a weight loss, especially a large one.
Every day for the rest of my life, I know that I will have to make countless choices that decide whether I keep 120 pounds off or put it back on again. Only I can choose to make myself fat again.
For most of us, these weight loss/maintenance choices become routine – part of what we call ‘our new lifestyles’. Exercise becomes an integral part of our days. We carry food with us. We’re used to planning menus ahead and cooking in advance. We can eyeball food portions down to the quarter ounce and tell you the calories in just about anything. I doubt that we’re even aware that we’re making choices any more – these are just the normal, everyday things we've learned to do to keep the weight off.
Admittedly, to an outsider (not you guys
), a lot of how I live my life may look unusual or even bizarre. I go to the gym every day! I weigh and measure what I eat and write it down! I don’t eat about 95% of the food in the world! I’m always 'on a diet'! I eat popcorn bowls full of salad! I weigh myself every day! Yikes! How … weird, strange and downright un-American!
OK, now let’s say that someone comes along and looks at the choices that you
know you must make to maintain your weight loss and calls you ‘obsessed’. Someone looks at your exercise plan and your food choices, rolls their eyes
and shakes their head disapprovingly. Has it happened to you? How does that make you feel?
Sometimes it’s a family member trying to push food on you. Sometimes it’s a colleague mocking your hours at the gym. Sometimes it’s friends saying ‘you’re no fun any more’. But always –
ALWAYS – it’s someone revealing their own issues. Because the heart of the matter is that
OUR choices make them feel uncomfortable about THEIR choices. Look at the person who's calling you obsessed and try to figure out why you're so threatening to them. Remember – if someone calls you obsessed, it says lots more about
them than it does about
you.
Words are powerful tools (and weapons). The word
‘obsessed’ is negative, derogatory, and implies something dysfunctional:
having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something. Going back to the quote at the beginning of my post, I far prefer the word
‘dedicated’:
wholly committed to a particular course of thought or action; devoted. Because isn’t that really all that we’re doing though our everyday diet and exercise choices? Being committed and devoted to keeping the weight of for life? We're dedicated to weight loss success!!
Anyone who calls one of us ‘obsessed’ truly doesn’t understand the price tag that’s attached to maintenance. They’re clueless about the realities of weight loss. So the next time someone zings you or me by calling us obsessed, let’s correct them and tell them that we’re dedicated to making the choices necessary to maintain our weight losses. It’s simply the price we
happily and
willingly pay to maintain a normal weight.
No, I don't think we’re obsessed. Every one of us here is simply dedicated – committed – devoted – to keeping the weight off for life. It’s our choice and we embrace it.
OK, gang - enough ramblings from me. Talk to me about obsession and dedication!
Choices, Obsession, And Dedication
. 
But it was all in good fun, nothing judgemental. In fact, most people speak of my lifestyle with a certain amount of envy (not jealousy) - they wish they were as healthy as me, all the while admitting that they aren't willing to make the changes to get there. And that really only comes from my friends who are overweight. I don't think my thinner friends and family see anything odd about my habits because they've always eaten and exercised the way I do now.
), I've been able to enjoy the occasional treat without it leading to a full blown binge. I tend to be able to tell when something is going to trigger that behavior in me and those are the only times I go out of my way to avoid junk. So, anyone familiar with my eating habits doesn't see anything that would appear out of the ordinary. Newer friends who aren't aware that I've been losing weight for some time tend to think I am one of those people who can eat anything I want without gaining weight (if they only knew!). But, it is because they only see me at school functions, parties, etc. - the 1% of the time that I'm NOT eating healthily. Even then I don't eat a lot. But, I remember all too well thinking the EXACT same thing when I saw the thinner moms eat one fun size snicker and somehow in my mind it seemed like they were shoveling in chocolate and never gaining an ounce. It was all so distorted. 
Just. One.. More... Rep.... 
space 
Eat rubbish, FEEL rubbish! 
I'm actually looking forward to it, I've done my research, I think I'll be able to cope with noodles and stuff! Who knows, I might even try sushi! 
I've gotta start liking soups... It seems everything's in a soup! 
I just forgot to tell my fingers.
