Daily Question
 

Questions make us think about who we are, what we're doing, and why we're doing it. They help us stay focused and headed in the right direction. They can also give us insight into our own minds and bodies and show us helpful things we know but seem to have forgotten or ignored.

This thread is dedicated to the pursuit of the most important kind of knowledge: Self-Knowledge. It is designed to make you question yourself, and hopefully find some inspiration along the way.

That said, on to the questions!

Question of the Day
 

In what ways do you think losing weight will change your life?

Some of you have heard this question before, but I'm repeating it because I think it's important. There are both good and bad consequences to everything we do, including losing weight, and there are many consequences we haven't thought about. Try to think of as many possibilities as you can, explore all the options.

The main reason I am losing weight is to boost my self esteem, prove that I AM in control of my own life, and to feel good about myself.

:)Sam

In what ways do you think losing weight will change your life?

For the better: improved health, mobility, lower blood pressure, less risk of heart disease, avoid the diabeties and arthritis that my mother is now enduring. Basically, I think losing weight is the only way I can slow down the aging process, and avoid some of the diseases & afflictions that we've had in our family. I'll look better, feel better, clothes will fit better, I can shop for clothes in any "normal" store instead of having a choice of 3 places.

Bad consequences- not following through. Thinking that losing weight is suddenly going to make me happier in all aspects. Weight loss will not change my sucky job, or the fact that I think I have huge ears, won't stop me from biting my nails when I'm stressed to the max. It's not a cure all. And keeping it off is going to take work, every single day, going forward. Not an easy task.

In what ways do you think losing weight will change your life?

All positive, energy level, lower risk in many genetic diseases which run in my family that obesity triggers, a better immune system to fight off things that come along.

Donna

What Ways will Losing Weight Change My Life
 

More energy

Healthier

Be more attractive to others

Feel more attractive/sexier

Look better on top of my horse (this is very important to me)

Be less pounds for my horse to carry (also very motivating)

Higher Self-esteem - not only to be looking good, but to have achieved a difficult task.

I don't want to simply lose weight. My goal is to have a lifestyle change in the way I eat...not only WHAT I eat, but WHY I eat and WHEN...stop and THINK before I open my mouth. Or at least eat only 1/2 and throw the rest away!!

Birdiegirl

QOD:

The main consequence for me will be spending less time trying to wear things that don't "make me look fat"! I'll be able to get ready to out so much more quickly when I don't have to go through half my wardrobe before I look half decent. I've lost almost 20lb so far and I feel so much better about myself already. I know that I look fine now but you're only 20 once and I want to look GREAT!

Dill

I also agree with Samantha, it's great to realise that I CAN change my weight :)

I agree with Dill, You're only 20 once (well I missed looking great at 20... but I'm 22 in January and I want to look and feel my best ever!)!

Also I just want to be able to reach for a bigger size on the clothes rail if the store's sizes are skimped! I'm sick of being the top end of the size range!

For me, my weight is the last thing to fall into place, I have the great bloke, good education (and hopefully good job...) so I guess my weight is the last thing I can change to be happier about myself!

[QUOTE=Bad consequences- not following through. Thinking that losing weight is suddenly going to make me happier in all aspects. Weight loss will not change my sucky job, or the fact that I think I have huge ears, won't stop me from biting my nails when I'm stressed to the max. It's not a cure all. And keeping it off is going to take work, every single day, going forward. Not an easy task.[/QUOTE]

I don't really think that these are BAD things about losing weight, just completely separate obstacles. And, I may be wrong, because I have never been there, but I feel like if I do this right, completely change my lifestyle, and learn to eat correctly, and am able to lose 120+ pounds, than keeping it off should be a piece of cake (mmmmm cake???)

Also - 2frustrated, great job on already being happy with your life! Weight is a huge issue (at least for me) but it is not the ONLY issue that we need to deal with.

:) Sam

well it would give me more self esteem and allow me to do more of what I would like to do. I would love to go hiking and I just don't feel confident enough to do that yet. Also as soon as I do lower my weight I plan on joining the airforce. Their weight restrictions have rose but I don't want to be at the top of that to go in. I rather feel confident about myself knowing that I can do just as much as the person next to me and hopefully more.

The main thing that will change about my life is being comfortable with myself, and I can already see that happening. I'm much more confident around my BF than I ever was. I'm not stressing about my weight every single moment of every single day (true, I am a little obsessed, but in a good way). I have more confidence in everything that I do. I'm actually starting to think of myself as pretty, which is a big thing for me. Everyone always told me I was pretty, but I never agreed. And while I'm the first to admit that I'm not exactly a supermodel (yet), being able to think of yourself as attractive is a wonderful feeling.

Also along with feeling more confident, I'm feeling a little more... I don't know... adventurous? I talk to people more assertively, I carry myself more assertively. It's almost like I don't mind people noticing me, and I in fact encourage it. I'm wearing different clothes. When I reach my goal weight, I plan to buy all the sexy panties I can afford, because I've never been able to fit into sexy panties before.

As for bad consequences, I agree with Jennifer, although I think most of the "bads" are actually consequences of not following through, which I have no intention of doing. At this point I think not getting to my goal when I've proven I can do it would be even worse than never having lost any weight at all.

Ok, I'm getting rambly. :)

Question of the Day
 

Why do you eat? Boredom? Anger? Other emotions? Hunger? Habit?

I eat mostly out of boredom. I don't think that I am an emotional eater, but if I don't have anything to do with my hands, I am bored. Mostly at work. See, I take commercial insurance claims over the phone. That is my ENTIRE JOB. When there are no calls coming in, I have nothing to do. So I snack. ALL DAY LONG. I have tried to bring fruit and crackers to work lately, but I wish I could figure out some sort of easy (and not messy) craft to do while at work so that I am not bored. I have also tried reading, but I am very talented, and can read and eat at the same time LOL...so I need something that actually takes both hands. Any ideas for that would be great.

:) Sam

Why Do I Eat...
 

1. I feel hungry.

2. I feel ignored ....so for emotional comfort.

3. I am bored.

4. I love food.

I think why I eat is because of habit, boredom and hungry. PLUS I do love food. I love cooking it and eating it.

Donna

Yeah, I'm with you chicks. I love to cook and I sure do love to eat.

I find I eat lots of times out of boredom. I'd like to say I'm not an emotion eater, but I don't know how true that is. I know that I'm not the type to sit down with a big bowl of Ben & Jerry's every time I get depressed, but I also know that when I get stressed or frustrated my healthy habits seem to go out the window, and I usually end up at the Arby's drive-thru.

I also eat out of habit, that I know. When I get home from work, I eat. I'm usually hungry, but even if I'm not I eat something.

A major part of my plan has been cutting out snacking and eating only when I'm hungry. I used to incorporate snacks into my day as often as I could. I started by cutting them out completely, but now I'm letting myself eat when I'm hungry, and sometimes that means just a snack (if my work schedule doesn't fit with my tummy's schedule, that is). Now if I could just get into that habit....

OK here is a new question:
All weight issues aside, what is your FAVORITE feature about yourself, and why?

Let's see...

My favorite physical feature is my collarbone, simply because it's one of those parts that used to be covered in fat, but now I can see it just fine.

My favorite over feature is probably my intelligence. It doesn't always serve me, but I think I do pretty well. I know that if there's something I'm stuck on, I can always figure it out.

For me I would have to say that it is my hair. I have blonde straight hair.

Samantha, from last page... try knitting! Maddona does it, and Kate Moss (I think!) and some other trendy celebs! Plus you could knit yourself cute scarves and tiny cardigans and things!!

Thank you, that is a great idea! I don't know how, but I'm sure there is a website that will tell me how!

well my favorite feature is my calves. I used to have tehm so defined and that was beautiful. They are finally getting that way again and I love that. With all that walking and taebo, they should be there in no time!

I think my favorite part is my lips. I know that sounds strange but I was told once from someone who was a model that I could of been a lip model they were shaped so nice and my mother's lips were the same way. It's a genetic feature that I am proud to have. :) ;)

Hiya, I'm actually here. :D

My fave feature about myself would have to be... my face! I used to think I was just totally plain, but once I actually grew up enough to see my adult face, I like it. I think I'm no longer high-school cute (ya know, cute kid, whatever...), but I'm pretty because I have self-confidence and I have awesome eyes.

I like my eyes and my smile! My calves aren't half bad either.

Question of the Day
 

Do you have a reward system? How do you reward yourself for doing well on a daily, weekly, monthly, or long-term basis?

I like to buy myself something new...like clothes...

I typically do this on a monthly basis. Also, fast food is one of my triggers. I try to stay away from it, but a couple of times a month, I try to reward myself with some, so that it isn't a "forbidden" thing altogether. This helps me stay on track. I know food should not be a reward, but I think of it as part of my eating plan!

Lisa, I feel the same way if you totally forbid that food that you do realize is your weakness you are going to want it even more and go way over-board. So, I am like you I reward myself with something really tasty and I have let go for a while BUT the portion size is much smaller since I have given myself permission and it's OK. LOL Last night, I rewarded myself with TWO scoops of fat free ice cream! LOL (don't worry they were small scoops) :lol3:

See, I don't know, because if I personally even get close to the McDonalds drive throuh, I am NOT going to get a SALAD!!! So I stay away as to not even tempt myself!
I made up a reward system for myself, as suggested by a lady on my "home" thread, but unfortunately did not find it to fit my personal needs. My personal reward will be when I am able to wear a pair of really cute pants that I purchased earlier this year, and haven't ever been able to wear.

:) Sam

Rewards
 

When I get all the way down to my goal weight I will need smaller panties/bras and I plan to do some Victoria's Secret stuff...which I love, but need a smaller waist to be able to "show it off"... ;-)

I think VS is extravagant/ a luxery....love walking through the shop and touching sexy things...I usually get their more conservative things, however, still makes ya feel good!!

That is my long term treat..

Short term...I think fitting into clothing that is a size smaller (which I have lots of in my closet!) will be very rewarding. I already feel my pants fit better after only a few pounds less...I was pushing OUT of my size 14s and that's when I said HOLD ON...I'm not going UP a size, I'm going BACK DOWN! I own a lot of size 12 stuff I would like to wear again.

I've only been hanging out a few weeks here.

Birdiegirl

Ack! Busy day yesterday, so I have 2 questions to answer.

Favorite feature- well, I think I have 3. Hubby tells me I have the most perfect ClaraBow lips, so that's one, my blue eyes are #2, and I have great shoulders now that the fat has melted off of them. LOL.

Reward system: I've got some built in goals at milestone weights & pounds lost. When I hit the first milestone, which was tough, hubby bought me an MP3 Player to help keep me motivated. We also plan 1 dinner out a month, so that gives me something to look forward to, and a reason to behave, if I know the "bad" meal is only a week away, etc. Sometimes it takes getting creative with these bribes. :D

Reward system? CLOTHING, BABY! On Halloween (which is my b-day :D ), I'm going to buy a new pair of jeans.

reward? I just bought a skirt that is WAY too high. Lose a few inches off the rear and wearing it will be a great reward considering it is very odd for me to wear anything of the sort!

Clothes are mostly my reward though and new exercise dvds or weights. That I love!

The rewards question made me remember my "Dollar Chart"! I haven't been keeping up with it, but I'm going to this month! In fact, I'm going to make a special sticker chart just for that! I was just putting the stickers on my weekly menu/exercise chart! I have too many charts around this house... ;)

Thanks for the memory jog! Reward will be probably an MP3 player...some day!

Question of the Day
 

What is the biggest sacrifice, if any, you have made/are making in order to get healthy?

Wow...good question. I would have to say I'm sacrificing leisure time, and convenience in order to get healthy. The more I exercise, the less time I have to spend doing other things for me. The laundry still needs to be done, the housework, my class assignments, and my job...somehow that doesn't get reduced- only the "me" time. And since everything requires preparation now- cooking healthy meals, freezing things in advance, measuring cereal into portion sizes & bagging them in advance- no more ordering in, or picking up something on the way home. It's much healthier, but the prep time also cuts into my time. I know that probably comes off sounding a little stupid...there are days when I've spent 20 hours taking care of everyone else & when it comes time for me, it's midnight & I'm unconscious. There's got to be some balance somewhere...I just need to find it. Or to consider the time I exercise as the best possible use of my "Me" time.

That is a GOOD question. Well, for starters not having a THIRD slice of pizza, stepping away from french fries and other yummy fried things, no creamy delites, not eating out as much because I am tempted too much.

Implusiveness. I used to eat based on what I felt like. Which would be fine if the feelings were hunger. :p But I used to think, Hey, it's been a long day, I'll get take-out. Now, I drive home and I cook.

I have sacrificed excuses and laziness. Not to be too harsh on myself, but I just let things slip away. I told myself, Time spent enjoying food and (non) activity is just as valuable as time spent being healthy. I like the former, so why should I go for the latter? Now I know I have the ability to change, so I can't make excuses. I also can't delude myself that eating potato chips is as life-enhancing as eating some fruit.

Let's see, I have given up Dr. Peppers, which is one of the hardest things I have ever done. I have also given up alot of my favorite television shows because I spend that time working out or planning ahead.