Dr Phil Reading Club Challenge, Oct10-16, Chapter 1

[twg7590]

Re: Dr Phil Reading Club Challenge, Oct10-16, Chapter 1

Can I join in? I read chapter 1 again yesterday. I read the book when it came out, but it has been in the bookcase since then.


I am looking forward to really looking into some of the reasons I use food to make myself feel better, you know, to comfort myself. Dealing with emotional eating has got to be my #1. I am sure that I was one of those kids that grabbed a cookie to feel better after I fell down and scraped my knee.

Next, would be dealing with impulse eating. I had an episode about a month ago where I just started stuffing myself with food. It came out of nowhere and I still really do not know what triggered it. I was out of control though. It baffles me even now.

I am learning how to exercise and making it a priority in my life. I am very happy about this change in my lifestyle and want to continue to make it a priority.

As far as environment, the only thing I have done differently is to make sure I have the things I need to eat this way. I am trying new recipes that the whole family enjoys. I have not eliminated foods from the household that my family enjoys and so far they have not been a problem for me. Right now there are Hersheys chocolate bars, marshmallows and graham crackers for s'mores, potato chips, chocolate chip cookies, etc in the cabinet. ( my son is having a party for his youth group) They do not tempt me. That is a major difference in how things are this time. Normally I make sure everything is out of the house so I am not tempted. I can honestly say I am not tempted by those foods now. I tell myself that I can have them if I want them, but I am CHOOSING not to eat them. Nobody has to lock them up so I won't get in them.

About the support system. On previous attempts to lose weight, I would tell everyone in the family I was starting a diet and I was relying on them to "help" me stay on plan and not cheat. I have not done that this time. This time it is an internal thing. I am doing this for ME. I want to be healthier. I want to feel better physically and in process it is increasing my confidence and self-esteem. For some reason, and I give God ALL the credit. This time everything has clicked. I think ADBB and another low carb site that I frequent are a big part of the support this time. I have learned SO much. Now I know that my attempt at Atkins last year was not really even Atkins. I consider fitday also a support system as I don't know how I would have succeeded without that tool.

Understanding what I really think about myself and my weight will be difficult. I need to learn to forgive myself when I am not perfect and not compare myself to others that may be losing faster than me.


As far as my get real weight I do not know what that is. I don't know what is possible for this body. I am 46 and have had 4 pregnancies. The lowest weight I have been since being an adult is 140 pounds on my wedding day. I am 5'7" tall and wear a size 10 shoe (if that means anything). I want to be firm and healthy. So, whatever weight that turns out to be, I guess.

I have enjoyed reading everyone's thoughts and insights into Chapter 1. This is fun!

[womanpraised]

Re: Dr Phil Reading Club Challenge, Oct10-16, Chapter 1

I have to start out by saying, my light bulb moment, again, was when he asked, essentially, do you believe you can do this? And again, I realized, my answer is No. I have been overweight since jr high, and was TOLD I was overweight for a long time before that. Even running varsity soccer, playing softball and three hour marching drills, I was heavier than the other girls, about 160. I was probably 20 pounds overweight, but it was a HUGE 20.

My wedding weight was 190, and I havent been under 200 for 8.5 years, since I got pregnant with my first kid. I CANT "see" thin. I spent a lot of time thinking about what that means. As a "single" woman, who is not wanting to be Back in the Game, I dont want to be attractive, really. My mind may change, but I am there now. I DO want my ex to see me and think.. AKKKKK... what was I thinking to keep bringing the candy and ice cream and then throw her away!, but I want to be healthy and active more. But I continually self sabotage, continually fall off just as I am starting to do well. I wouldnt know HOW to be thin. My SISTER is the thin pretty one, historically, and even at my weight now, for the first time, I am smaller than her, and it has really damaged our relationship in some way. We dont know how to interact with each other... and I am uncomfortable and akward with it. Losing all my weight is scary to me. I dont know how to BE that person.


Now for the things you wanted to know.

Questions you might ask yourself based on Chapter One:

1. What is your get real weight? Are you shooting for it, or are you still shooting for your high school weight (if that's impractical)?

I dont know. Based on some women who are fitness competitors, healthy active women, not models, with my body type and start weight, I believe it to be about 145-160. I imagine when I am fit and active and have no huge wiggly bits, except the few I am supposed to, and have the muscle tone I want, I will be at goal. I was 150 in 8th grade. I dont have an adult reference.

2. He mentions the 7 steps to weight loss control. Rate your personal signifigance of the steps based only on this chapter from 1-7. Here they are only by chapter order for easier remembering.

1. Understanding what you really think about yourself and your weight, learning how to have positive thoughts
2. Set up a support system
3. Deal with emotional eating
4. Deal with impulse eating
5. Change your environment to promote success
6. Learn how to choose the right foods
7. Learn how to exercise

As described above, I have real issues with self image, and a success image. I have NO support system. My family just wants me to be happy, and they have a hard time embracing low carb eating. They are not always supportive at any rate. As funny as it is to admit, I have two friends, and they are across the country. We talk a couple times a month, and while we are amazingly close, our time is too short to use talking about weight stuff. I dont make friends easily, if at all, and just havent clicked with anyone in the last couple of years. My kids are supportive, but they still want the treats, and really, how much SHOULD I be leaning on the munchkins to support mom? Emotional/impulse eating ties in with the rest... I am going to fail anyway, and food is often my best friend, so the emotional implusive thing follows suit. Going back to AZ will allow me much more control of my environment, and that will be one more good thing about being there, although on graveyards, that is a different culture that makes it hard. I really dont want to eat much of anything that is "atkcepptable" at 3 in the morning when I get my lunch break, if I get a break at all. SOup... I really wanted soup. The other two, I know how to eat, and how to exercise. Its all good.

3. Why is will power not important according to Dr Phil? Based on Chapter One alone, do you agree?

I am still debating this one with myself.

4. What is one way you can program yourself for success?

Still not done with this one yet. Still pondering. I dont know how to change the mind set, which I think is my biggest enemy right now.

[Elizellen]

Re: Dr Phil Reading Club Challenge, Oct10-16, Chapter 1

I hope you readers dont mind me chipping in - I dont have the book but am following your discussions with interest.
twg6590 wrote

I tell myself that I can have them if I want them, but I am CHOOSING not to eat them. Nobody has to lock them up so I won't get in them.

That has been my mantra throughout my Atkins journey and I think it has helped my mindset tremendously. I think to myself "No-one is making me eat to the plan - it is my choice and mine only", and that seems to stiffen my resolve not to cheat myself out of the benefits of this WOE.

[cleochatra]

Re: Dr Phil Reading Club Challenge, Oct10-16, Chapter 1

Hi, everyone! I am so glad to see more of you have jumped in! While the first chapter is really only informational, it does give us an idea of what's to come--and Chapter 2's a doozy of a dilly!

Hi, Tammy! I loved reading what your insights are already! You're so upbeat. Way to delve, girl!

WomanPraised-- being thin scares the crap out of me. I can relate! Excellent insight. I know you'll help someone with it. Like me...and others. *l*

Amen Elizellen, and I love your new picture!

[NoMorePumpkin]

Re: Dr Phil Reading Club Challenge, Oct10-16, Chapter 1

I just got the book yesterday and completed chapter one today at the gym. After reading through the posts, I find that I relate most with WomanPraised, however I DO believe I can do this. Mostly because I'm just determined and tired of being fat.

I, like WomanPraised, am also TERRIFIED of being thin! I have NEVER been a thin adult. The closest I ever came was a size 14 the summer after my freshman year of college. That was not even on purpose. Instead of gaining the freshman 15, I was so depressed about being away from home, I lost 25 lbs. By the time I realized I lost so much, I was already starting to put it back on and I have NO idea what I weighed then, I believe around 200 lbs.

Also like to WomanPraised, I believe similarlly that I have used my weight to keep men away.

That said, I DON'T have the foggiest idea what my "get-real" weight is. I am currently shooting for 175 (although I just picked that out of thin air a while ago). At this point, I think I would look AWESOME at that weight, better than that, I KNOW I would FEEL great at that weight.

Now for the questions...

Questions you might ask yourself based on Chapter One:

1. What is your get real weight? Are you shooting for it, or are you still shooting for your high school weight (if that's impractical)?

I answered this one already above.

2. He mentions the 7 steps to weight loss control. Rate your personal signifigance of the steps based only on this chapter from 1-7. Here they are only by chapter order for easier remembering.

1. Deal with emotional eating - my BIGGEST problem
2. Change your environment to promote success - since I'm single, this is extremly easy now, but I realize that as my life changes, this will be a HUGE challenge (add boyfriend here, maybe children, change job, etc)
3. Understanding what you really think about yourself and your weight, learning how to have positive thoughts - I think am doing pretty good working on this right now, but know it needs constant attention
4. Learn how to choose the right foods - with the Atkins WOL, I feel comfortable with this as a life goal and as something I can do for the remainder of my life
5. Learn how to exercise - just because I'm doing really well with this right now and want to make it a life goal to exercise a MINIMUM of 4 time per week
6. Set up a support system - only this far down because I feel I have it covered already with ADBB. I wouldn't be this far without ADBB because I have NO one else to share my WOL with.
7. Deal with impulse eating - to me this is the same as #1, not sure I get how it's different. With Atkins, I am pretty much in control of my eating, 95% of the time.

3. Why is will power not important according to Dr Phil? Based on Chapter One alone, do you agree?

I agree that will power runs out of steam and that he is right that we must reprogram ourselves and learn those habits for success. I don't think will power is a large part of it. I believe discipline plays a bigger role.

4. What is one way you can program yourself for success?

Change the way I do things is my first guess. I'm still thinking on this one.

[cleochatra]

Re: Dr Phil Reading Club Challenge, Oct10-16, Chapter 1

Wow, Punkin! You delve so beautifully! It's so nice to read what you write because I can relate so much to both you and to woman_praised. You'll REALLY enjoy this next week's chapter. It forces SERIOUS introspection. I'm almost thinking we're going to have to take it a little at a time to do it, and ourselves, justice!

I enjoyed what you wrote, and I know others have, too. Thank you so much for your honesty!

[NoMorePumpkin]

Re: Dr Phil Reading Club Challenge, Oct10-16, Chapter 1

Wow, thanks!

Looking forward to the rest of the book. Thanks for starting this, Cleo!!

Punkin-kid