A hare met a tortoise one day and made fun of him for the slow and clumsy way in which he walked.
The tortoise laughed and said, "I will run a race with you any time that you choose."
"Very well," replied the hare, "we will start at once."
The tortoise immediately set off in his slow and steady way without waiting a moment or looking back. The hare, on the other hand, treated the matter as a joke and decided to take a little nap before starting, for she thought that it would be an easy matter to overtake her rival.
The tortoise plodded on, and meanwhile the hare overslept herself, with the result that she arrived at the winning-post only to see that the tortoise had got in before her.
Moral: Slow and steady wins the race.
This comes from a book handed down from my grandmother to my mother to me. The book is so old it doesn't have a copyright date or an author/editor's credit.
That fable has been the motivation for us turtles for several years. Someone on the ancient WW forum mentioned the fable and I discovered it was very motivational for me. I talked about it in posts and other people said that the tortoise philosophy worked for them, too. So, I started a thread for us turtle types.
Here we are, starting thread #100. It feels like a milestone, for me anyway. I look back on those years and realize that I've grown tremendously as a person because of the turtle philosophy. Everything I've learned while working on living a healthy lifestyle has spilled over into the rest of my life.
I've met some wonderful people on this thread. I hope to meet many more. I know the battle with our weight is a difficult one. Having such supportive people come and post regularly keeps it from getting overwhelming, as it often does when you're going it alone--truly alone, with no one to talk with who understands.
So--YAY TURTLES!! Let's celebrate our persistent ways. They take us to all of the goals we have in our lives. Let's celebrate the friends we've made along the way. Let's just celebrate life!
Dear Turtles,
As we post on our 100th., it is a celebration for me. I've found a group that understands me, encourages me, doesn't beat me up or allow me to beat myself up. You guys are the best. First kudos to Lin for starting this thread. I know that slow and steady is the only way for me. I wish it were not quite so slow and a whole lot steadier, but I've learned a lot along the way, I've figured out how to deal with many of the reasons I used to eat. If I haven't reached perfection yet, that's okay. It's the journey that counts while keeping my goal in mind.
Lin, thanks for keeping this going while so many times you've had
trying incidents in your own life. Keeping this thread going is a tribute to you and the strength you possess. Your cooking has been a real inspiration. You sound like a great cook. Also sharing your insights in the world of writing has been informative and interesting.
Lauren, thanks for giving thoughtful responses and insights to all of us as we keep on the path toward good health.
Torty, thanks for the funny and not so funny stories about turtles and tortoises. I promise to learn the difference soon! And thanks for your contributions to our good health goal.
Miata--thanks for being with us in this journey. Because of you I am heading back to my old love of quilting now that I'll have time available. Chime in and let us know how you're doing.
Mousie/Erin, always loved to hear how your journey was going.
You accomplished so much in school, marriage, exercise and good eating. I hope you are fine and well.
To all the guys who read this. I hope somehow we've made your
weight loss quest easier and more enjoyable. Maybe it's good to know a group of women who keep going no matter what. My results aren't what I'd like them to be, but they're a lot better than what they could have been.
Best of luck and Turtling to all of us!
Judy
Thank you, Lin, for starting this group. Do you remember when you started it? Hasw it been about 4 years?
I would like to take our 100th anniversary as an opportunity to reflect on where we've been and challenge us (especially myself) on where we're going.
Where We've Been
It's good to see this thread has stood the test of time. People have come and gone (I wonder how Laurie is doing?), and we've remained a small group. But that's at least in part because nobody wants to hear the word "slow" in association with weight loss. (How many bestsellers have you seen with titles like "LOSE WEIGHT SLOWLY!" or "HOW I LOST 82 POUNDS IN 5 YEARS!" It's one of the big reasons I value this group so much. Aside from the doctor's office, there aren't many places one can find support for the "slow and steady" approach.
In its early years, this group did more than any other single thing in helping me stay focused and get quickly back on the wagon rather than waste time beating myself up. The debt I owe to you all is huge.
I also value the thoughtful introspection I find here, and the insights people share. I've gotten many "keepers" from you all, things that continue to help me. And I've so enjoyed getting to know a bit about each of you--what you like to do, what your families are like, your day-to-day struggles and victories. You're a rare group of folks. I hope someday we can all meet face to face.
Where Are We Going?
Since we've hit a milestone here, I think it's worth taking stock and asking ourselves where we want this group to go and what we want it to do. Why do you read the Turtles Club?
Initially, I read this group for support in my efforts to healthfully lose weight while eating moderately and not "dieting." As my interest in doing the hard work to lose weight has waxed and waned, I've found my participation in this group doing the same. Sadly, it has been a while since I've been steady in my attempts to lose weight, and my participation here has reflected that.
I still read the Turtles Club because I care about the folks who post here and want to catch up with you all occasionally. But in all honesty, I don't turn here much for motivation to continue losing weight any more. Most of the reason for that is because of my own waffling and lack of steady motivation. Part of the reason, though, is because I'm seeing a reflection of my own apathy among you all, and while I certainly commiserate, it's not helping me move forward.
I find I'm now in a place where I really want to maintain my motivation to work hard and get the weight off, and I'm looking for ways to regain motivation and stick with it. I often feel as though I'm holding on by my fingernails to keep from just giving in and gaining back what I've lost. I see that I've bought into the "slow" but not the "steady" approach that leads to success, and ... I'm sick of it.
So right now, I read the Turtles because I've made good friends here, and because I nostalgically remember the "good old days" when this thread was filled with great tips and helpful insights on losing weight, when we shared our triumphs and victories as well as our struggles, when we really cared about moving forward on our journeys.
I would like to be part of moving the Turtles Club back in that direction. I'd like to care enough about myself to work hard and get off the weight I need to lose, and I'd like to help and be helped by other Turtles to that end. I'd like to get excited again about this journey AND its goal, and I'd love to share that journey and that excitement with some of my favorite 'net friends.
What about it? What kind of group would you like this to be as we move toward Turtles Club #200?
I also want to include here a message posted over at Dotti's. This, I think, is what it's all about. I found it very inspirational and hope you will, too.
It's by a woman named Nidia, and it's called "Reflections on Losing 100 Pounds."
---- What I have learned:
· That my body is just as satisfied after eating a healthy and, low-point meal versus eating a high point, over-portioned or fat-laden one. In fact, anytime I don’t feel completely satisfied after eating a planned OP meal, I know it has nothing to do with physical hunger, and everything to do with something else… usually something that additional food won’t help!
· That no event, no vacation, no feelings or emotions, no situation will keep me from hitting my goal! It is simply too high a price for me to pay at this time.
· That I am capable of keeping the promises I make to myself. And that I deserve the rewards that come through dealing with all the struggles, and difficulties I face each day as I try to remain OP.
· That I need to keep a healthy and optimistic attitude about OP life….not a complaining and whining one where I frequently mourn the loss of my old lifestyle! On previous weight loss attempts I consistently had the old “diet” mentality…waiting for the day when it would end and I could eat what I wanted! Now I realize how wrong I was… My old lifestyle made me miserable, and unhealthy, so why would I want to go there again? On this journey, I choose to focus and celebrate what I can eat, and how much good food I have available in order to plan ahead and remain OP. In essence, everything is available to me!!
· That OP life is more fun when you take it on as a challenge. I am always trying new foods, new recipes, new products, anything that looks like a great nutritional punch for the point value. I experiment with different restaurants and different portion sizes, keeping my focus always on the point-range, but never within a narrow bandwidth of foods.
· Not to test my limits… If I hear my inner-voice telling me it’s okay to eat something (when it hasn’t been planned or will make me go off-program) then it’s time to stop! For me, the rationalizing of why it’s okay to eat something is setting me up for a fall down a very slippery slope… It is never okay to go off-program! It will happen at times, and I will learn to quickly recover from those minor slip-ups, but to knowingly talk myself out of my safety zone is dangerous. I now re-buke my inner voice when it starts giving me such bad advice, and instead shout back that “I know better” or “It’s simply not worth it.”
· It is easier to consistently remain OP versus having to start over… Seemingly slight detours sometimes take you far from your original path, adding even more distance between you and your goals, the landscape becomes unfamiliar, you become less sure-footed and sometimes hit other obstacles you couldn’t see coming…
· No –excuses! This goes back to the self-talk point I made above. I was the queen of making excuses, and realized the only person paying the price was me and my health and happiness… I hate it when people make excuses for something they clearly should or need to do, even if only a promise made to get-together!….Yet, here I was using the old tired lines day in and day out, about the most important thing of all – me! Promises, all of them, are meant to be kept, not broken!
· That the key is not which weight loss program you follow, but your ability to make the lifestyle changes needed in order to learn new eating habits, and APPLY those habits consistently.
· We need to use tools and other support systems to help us stay focused and remain committed to a new lifestyle. Old habits are hard to break, and in order to form new, healthier habits, we must incorporate those tools that will make OP life easier. Journaling and pre-planning have been essential tools, giving me the ability to learn more about my eating habits as well as assisting me with staying OP. Dotti’s has been, and continues to be a daily source of inspiration, encouragement and support …and, I have learned that it helps me stay focused and more determined when I try and help others with their own personal journeys.
· That some days are harder than others, and I need to work harder and be more disciplined…sometimes I need to “tough things out.” Drinking water, calling a friend on the phone, coming to DWLZ, taking a walk, playing a game reading, are always good distractions during those times. This too shall pass, it always does…. But do NOT give in to things when you KNOW you shouldn’t… You will live through those darker moments, and guess what, you will be all the better for it!!
· It’s not that I can’t eat something, it’s that I choose not to….and, for much better reasons than anyone else could offer as a counter-argument!
· I am more satisfied when I eat more protein, and better able to control my cravings or urges to overeat when I limit the refined carbs. I have learned this about my body and about myself…so although I do plan some of these into my day, they are always balanced with my other choices. Overall, you need to find things you enjoy eating….things that taste good, and are satisfying…if you can accomplish this, then OP life, is really just life!
· Food isn’t supposed to be my friend, or my medicine, a support mechanism, or even a source of entertainment. It is simply fuel for my body! But, because my mind regulates much of how I feel about my body, I still need to make eating (healthy amounts and healthy foods) pleasurable in order to reinforce these good habits for life. It is possible to do both….and I am learning how.
· Lastly, it has become very important that I remain on this journey. While vanity will never get me or keep me at my goal weight, my health issues should! At 305 lbs I was pre-diabetic, had achy arthritic knees, difficulty walking long distances, border-line high blood pressure and suffered from steroid-dependent ulcerative colitis. Right now, I have none of these conditions! For the first time in 4 years I take no prescription medications, and my overall health has never been better! Improved physical health, and my new-found confidence and ability to live a health lifestyle has proven to be a much greater force in my life at the moment… I will continue to work hard to make sure this continues.
I appreciate your thoughtful posts. I've been thinking about my weight, the Turtles, and related subjects lately. Most of what you said, Lauren, is true for me, too. Particularly the following two paragraphs:
I still read the Turtles Club because I care about the folks who post here and want to catch up with you all occasionally. But in all honesty, I don't turn here much for motivation to continue losing weight any more. Most of the reason for that is because of my own waffling and lack of steady motivation. Part of the reason, though, is because I'm seeing a reflection of my own apathy among you all, and while I certainly commiserate, it's not helping me move forward.
I find I'm now in a place where I really want to maintain my motivation to work hard and get the weight off, and I'm looking for ways to regain motivation and stick with it. I often feel as though I'm holding on by my fingernails to keep from just giving in and gaining back what I've lost. I see that I've bought into the "slow" but not the "steady" approach that leads to success, and ... I'm sick of it.
It's hard to find support and motivation when people don't post regularly. It's disappointing to meet a goal or successfully get through a challenge and wait a week or two before anyone sees it to cheer. How can we get help with challenges if no one reads or posts until after the challenge has occurred? That's one thing I'd like to see change. I'd like people to make the Turtles enough of a priority that we're truly supporting each other. That is part of where the motivation and inspiration of a support group comes from.
I'm with you on the slow, but not steady part. I don't follow the program steadily. Part of that is that the last time I really followed WW, I lost about 5 pounds then hit a plateau. It's because I didn't exercise.
When I started the Turtles I challenged the common notion that we need to get it off as fast as possible. Now, I'd like to challenge the notion that long term weight loss can come without a serious workout program. That's where I'd like to focus the next 100 threads--on the other thing people don't want to hear.
You have to exercise. A lot. An hour a day. And increase the intensity of your workout as you lose weight. That's something the experts whose income doesn't depend on whether or not you follow their advice say. The rest wimp out and say "move more." Which is as helpful as "eat in moderation." How much is "more"? How much is "moderation"?
Well, that's what I want to focus on in the next few months. Gaining an appreciation of my ability to use my body, to move it. Or else I won't be able to. That's not a place I want to go. So, I'd like to see the Turtles focus more on exercise, which we've never really done. And on being steady, persistent followers of the rest of the program, too.
What about the rest of you? How about the lurkers? Want to join us as we renew our efforts and support and motivation?
Thanks, Lauren, for posting Nidia's inspirational essay. It's wonderful.
I can't believe how far from my regular exercising I've come. A year ago marks when I started having more trouble losing weight, and it also -- surprise, surprise -- marks when I stopped regularly exercising. I'm not sure why I stopped. Oh, I remember -- I had been going regularly to the health club, and then I started getting more work, so I stopped. I didn't go back to doing my aerobic videos, and then we tore up the basement and put the TV into storage, so there went that option anyway.
I didn't exactly put up much of a fight, either.
You're absolutely right about how crucial exercise is, Lin. As for "move more" vs. "exercise for an hour a day," I'd be interested in seeing what actually works for me. I know that my favorite pursuits are sedentary, so the one-hour-per-day approach would actually appeal to me more than trying to stay moderately active throughout the day. But I know people who have managed to stay very trim because they just stay active all day, doing projects, gardening, cleaning, etc. (My husband, his mother, and my father all spring to mind.)
I have the time to exercise in the morning. It means getting up at 6:30 rather than 7:30, which is what I used to do. It means finding something I can do, either walking around the neighborhood on nice days or dancing in the living room on less nice days. Or checking out another exercise facility, like Curves, where I'm more comfortable than I was at that meat-market health club. Realistically, though, I think I'm more likely to work out if I do it at home.
So thanks for that challenge, Lin. Tomorrow morning, I'm going to take a walk. And/or tonight. It'll be a brisk walk, and it'll last at least 30 minutes.
Okay, now you're playing with fire. Hey, first good news. I have lost a total of 4 1/2# since I joined WW this time. That means that through three weeks of vacation in seven weeks time I knew enough and learned enough about myself to work things through.
Was I perfect? Of course not. But I did count points even if I didn't write them down. I don't want to discourage anyone, but if I knew I had to give up all carbs or all anything to lose weight I wouldn't even try. I've learned loads from WW and this group. I tuck things into my head. What I have failed to do in the past is to keep the exercise devotion up and I have allowed myself to eat over emotions. I know I am not alone with this, but it's not getting me to my goal.
I promise you all that I will stay OP and exercise 3X a week from now until Labor Day. I also know that small chunks of time work for me. I haven't in the past been able to lose weight for an "event"==sometimes I've even sabotaged myself.
So--I'm in for the next 100! If I seem to drift, please feel free to give me a boot in the pants. After all, turtles are not supposed to dally and take the scenic route---they are supposed to be sure and steady.
From a new steadier Judy
All my love!
Thank you Lin for the "anniversary" posting. I did not reply in a timely way because I felt like a new person and did not have much to reflect on the past of the thread. However.....Lauren's reply did wake me up!!
I initially was drawn to post based on the turtle theme not just because of the "slow" part but also the "steady" part. Since I gained alot of weight 12 years ago I have done fits and starts but have not done the long haul/longevity thing I associated with the turtles/tortoises. I would welcome a more active thread with more tips and updates on progress. Yup- progress!!!! I have been at a standstill and I can not remain there. I have this marathon on October 12- some 7 weeks away and I do not have a choice- I have to be at least able to get thru. I am also VERY tired of the life burdens the weight is putting on me. I do not go to the beach with my son. I avoid meeting clients and stick to the office and phones because I am ashamed of my weight. These are strong emotions and I need to direct them into a positive and aggressive effort at becoming the me I know I really am inside.
I do know this a life-style change and not a "diet" and it is the "head changes" that have really impacted me overall. I may have been relatively slender in the past but I obscessed about food. I know food will never be just fuel to me. I enjoy good food and cooking, etc. But.... quantity and quality control will actually make the whole experience more enjoyable. I will not do the "oh I have been bad" thing- or "bad" versus "good"food. I just want it to be an enjoyable part of a much fuller life. A life which I stifle to some extent with my weight as it is now. So...............
I am with you on exercise (heck I better be the queen-bee since I AM gonna get thru this marathon in October), and I am with you on more positive and forward moving and yes in a way "disciplined" life-style changes. Gonna check in more often, often more encouragement, and back-shelve the "slow" for the "steady". My turtles are determined but not reckless- if they see movement overhead that threatens them they head for cover. Well- we can be each other's cover to a certain extent in terms of support. (I gotta learn to post some pics of the torties and turtles for you)
Here is to a steady & DETERMINED onward and downward weightloss path for all with maintenance longevity!!!
Heidi (aka Torty)
First, Judy, that is SO impressive that you've managed to lose 4.5 pounds during weeks of vacation. Words cannot express. That shows a real commitment--that and your vow to remain OP between now and Labor Day.
Heidi, I hear you about putting one's life on hold and not doing the things we'd really like to do because of this extra weight. I too plan to focus more on the "steady" than the "slow" right now. I want results! Thanks as always for the tortoise analogies; they're always helpful.
OK, here goes. I will write down and count everything I eat between now and Labor Day. And ... ew .... ick ... I will stay within my points each week. That's going to be tough, since DH will be gone the next two weekends, and that's when I especially overeat. (No, it isn't loneliness--it's like a vacation. I love him, but I love having the place to myself for brief spurts, too.) So making this commitment should help me stay focused, even though it'll be painful!
Further, I will check out Curves and see if it'll work for me. DH should finish sanding the basement walls today (we drywalled and mudded), which means after that I can move the TV and VCR back in there and get back to my aerobic tapes. I may go with that instead of Curves, but I'm still going to check it out. In any case, by Labor Day, I will be exercising at least 3x/week.
There. A week and a half. I can do it.
Next week, WW rolls out its new Flex Points plan. I've heard a fair amount about it. I don't really see how it'll work; it looks like a lot more points overall. But I need to know more. For those of you who don't know about it, you'll no longer have a point range. Instead, you'll add about 2 points to your lowest number, and that's what you'll start with each day. (In my range -- 22-27 points -- I'll start with 24.) As you eat, you subtract points from the 24, like a checkbook. This shows you more easily how many points you have left in the day.
Here's the part I don't get: you're given 35 additional "flex points" each week that you can use however you like. (I believe activity points are additional, but I'm not sure.) You can eat them in one blow-out meal, or you can space them out over the week. That comes to a total of 14 more points each week than I currently am allowed. Those are probably the 14 points they took away when they came out with the last plan. (Come to think of it, I did lose better on the previous plan.)
Anyway, I hope it works, because I like the flex points idea. I may do what one of my WW leaders does -- count six days a week (staying within points each day), and not count on the seventh. In other words, take a free day, and eat whatever I want then. Since that would end up being a 59-point day, I don't think I'd have to count!
It's so great to see how we're using this anniversary thread in such a positive way. We're all reevaluating and choosing what goals will work for us. And getting back to the real goals for this thread--supportig each other in our weight loss efforts.
Which leads me to the first thing I want to say:
Judy! 4.5 pounds and you were on vacation! That's a major breakthrough for you. I'm so proud of you. I'm looking forward to cheering while you check off you OP and exercise goals from now through Labor Day. Okay, now you're playing with fire. I take that to mean we're hot to move!
Something Judy said, combined with something Lauren said, gave me an idea for a formula for being a successful Turtle: A Healthy Plan plus A Steady Pace is equal to A Winning Race. If anyone can phrase it better, I'll use yours. But I'm adding it to the next thread's intro as our motto for the next hundred.
Heidi, you're never too new to post about your experience here. You're as much a part of this anniversary as any of us. I think only Lauren and I are original members, but we're all turtles. So, what are your Labor Day goals?
Lauren, I envy the people who stay trim through being active in their regular life. I've noticed that when I try that method, I maintain my weight. But it doesn't help me to lose weight. I always admire the thoughtful way you approach setting goals for yourself. I'm looking forward to cheering you as you check off each goal.
My turn to set Labor Day goals. I started this thread and the program and, darn it, I'm going to finish it. First, I'm putting the past behind me. So, I'm going to get a new journal started rather than adding to the mess in my long defunct journal. In my effort to put exercise first, I'm going to alternate my exercise videos and exercise at least 3x per week between now and Labor Day. Third, I'm going to use the information in the article Lauren posted to try the FlexPoints system. It seemed to have enough information to do it. I'm going to start that on Sunday. I need some time to figure out the system and plan some menus.
Lauren, the article said that you convert activity points to food points to cover going over points. It sounds like instead of automatically adding them to your points, they're like a backup system you can use if you need them. Those of us who don't attend Weight Watcher's meetings will be interested in getting the details from those of you who do. I'd go back to WW, but I really can't afford it since my husband had that pay cut this year.
I have a super long file of posts I've saved that date back to 1998. I thought I'd go through them and look for inspirational things we've said over the years. Here's something from the first post I saved:
The subject was old, restricted weight loss programs vs. the relatively new 123 Success. Here's what I said:
The thing about 123 that works best for me is the simplicity compared with the older programs (and I've lost count of the number I've been on). And the flexibility that allows me to vary my food choices according to hunger, the time of the month, etc. And the liveability - this is the one I can see myself doing the rest of my life. I can actually imagine it. Never could before.
This is a great thread and it does make us all realize how useless the kvetching is. We just have to be grateful for the time we've been given to get on with it and enjoy our lives as a 123 follower, a follower of a healthy lifestyle.
The only thing that's changed is that the program has been tweaked to make it simpler to follow and I've forgotten that I once believed I could follow it for the rest of my life. That was a wake up for me because I know that it's true. I can follow it forever, if I want to make the effort to do so.
I've been doing some calculations with Winning Points, 123 Success, and the new FlexPoints plan, using the information in the article Lauren gave us a link to. They raised the basic points back to what it was in the 123 Success plan. If you eat all of the 35 additional points on the new FlexPoint system, you will be eating 14 points more than the maximum under the more generous 123 Success Plan. I think they've discovered that people need to eat more than they thought in order to lose weight successfully. Anyway, that's before you do any activity points. Those get added in only after you've eaten your points for the day. I wonder if you can use activity points to raise your daily points a point or two and save the 35 extra for a special occasion? I guess that's the sort of question they'll be answering when they switch to the new program. But, it's essentially the same program, with less stuff to keep track of and you get to eat a little more. Sounds good to me!
I walked the day before yesterday. I'm planning to walk again today. I want to start doing videotapes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, so I'll be starting that tomorrow.
Let's get moving!! Remember: A healthy plan + A steady pace = A winning race.
Lin, I love the new motto -- it's perfect. Thank you! I'm going to print it out and put it up.
You said you've saved posts since 1998 -- is there any way I could get a copy of those? Do you have them in electronic format? I was just thinking that I regretted not saving them over the (5!?) years we've been doing this.
I love your new plans! Very inspiring. In fact, you're all inspiring me right now. This is great.
I ate lightly yesterday and saved points for an ice cream cone in the evening -- it worked! Also, I'm down a bit, and I'm even PMSing. I'm quite glad about that. Walked yesterday, as I said I would. Today it's going to be 91 and muggy, so I think I'll wait and exercise tomorrow instead. But I'm writing it all down and planning ahead -- two keys for me.
Lin, about the exercise points. The latest I've head is that you can only use them the same day that you earn them. There is no more banking of any points. And you're right about the extra 14 points per week. I found that quite interesting (and wonderful, of course! Especially if I can lose weight doing it). We're back to our original points for the week.
I also found very interesting your "wake-up call" when you looked at an old post that said you could do this plan for life. Indeed! How easy it is too lose sight of that -- and how encouraging to regain that vision. We *can* do this. We *can* eat healthfully and moderately and attain and keep our goal weights. When we lose sight of that, it's easy to fall back into the old "I could never do this so why bother" thinking.
Anyway, I'm completely geeked about the turn we're all taking right now. Good things are in the air!
Turtle Club #100
: 
Lin
Gaaaaaahhhh ...
I'm looking forward to cheering while you check off you OP and exercise goals from now through Labor Day. Okay, now you're playing with fire. I take that to mean we're hot to move! 
