Waste of Time
While working on my next Let's Get Real column, I came across this statement from the National Eating Disorders Association:
"Just imagine all of the time and energy you could save for other activities and interests in your life if you decided to stop dieting."
How much time do you spend focused on dieting? Once there was a time when most of my waking hours were filled with thoughts of dieting and losing weight: Eat this food. Don't eat that food. Get exercise. Oh my gosh, I ate too much. I'm a bad person. Need to exercise more. I'll be able to wear that dress when I'm thin. I'll never get thin. No one will like me. Everyone thinks I'm ugly. Tomorrow I'll do better.
It is a vicious cycle, not to mention a drain on mental time and energy. Giving up dieting years ago opened up my world to so many other possibilities. I've accomplished so much more than I would have if I had kept waiting to lose weight and spending all of my time focused on the scale's numbers.
Do you let dieting get in the way of living?
The Funny thing is...
Liz,
I know just what you mean. I was the same way--putting things off until I lost weight. Here's the funny thing...if you were to buy new clothes, try ballroom dancing and yoga, you would feel better about your self and probably lose weight. That is why the motto, "Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today" is perfect for us weight-challenged people. Even if you didn't lose weight, just think how much happier you would be.
By the way, there is a yoga DVD just for larger people. I know I have trouble doing some of the traditional poses and am considering getting this DVD. (I saw it on Amazon.com). I still do yoga the best I can to a DVD in my home.
I don't let dieting get in the way of living, but I do let my preoccupation with my weight get in the way. In the usual ways: I won;t buy new clothes until I lose weight, I won't go to the beach, I won;t try ball room dancing or yoga classes until I lose weight...
I've been reading through your blog, and I applaud you.