Jewish Musings, Wednesday, 9/7

[gazelle18]

What’s on your mind — how to make kugel? this week’s Torah reading? life goals? prayer? We are all engaged in weight loss/weight maintenance journeys and we are all Jewish or at least interested in Judaism. We like to eat, we like to discuss. It is our goal here to provide each other support on our journeys, to share experiences, to call on our rich cultural heritage and texts, and to help each other grow spiritually.

Some of us take weekly turns starting the thread:
Angelika
Holly
Lee
Louise
Lynne
Peachy

[gazelle18]

Hello everyone!

So, I have been trying to take stock of how I am doing in my life, all as part of the spiritual work we are advised to do during the month of Elul.

I want to relate a tale of my WLJ which occurred a few months ago, and get your feedback. I suspect that something similar may have happened to you guys a time or two.

I decided one day in June that I was going to work the program is a serious way. I had some extra time on my hands, so I could not use the stress of over-commitment as an excuse. During part of this two week period I was going on a mountain vacation with DH. We always exercise a LOT when we are on vacation, and being with DH is frankly good for my food intake, since he is a really healthy eater and a good cheerleader for me.

So, I weighed myself. UGH! But I did it. I tracked for two weeks straight. I took lots of hikes and bike rides. I kept my alcohol consumption, even on vacation, to a reasonable level. I ate tons of fruits and veggies, and only a few bites of DH's dessert.

Then the two weeks was up. I re-weighed. I had lost 4 lbs!! This was amazing. I was on top of the world. I thought I had this weight thing licked.

And then, it was over. I relapsed, and badly. I quickly regained the weight I had lost. And I have had a hard time getting back on track ever since.

What gives? Why do I do this? Why do I work the program, get good results, and then snap back like a rubber band?

I wonder if some people, like me, have a secret fear of weight loss success. Or perhaps I just like food more than I like thinness. Or I am scared to let my crutch (food) out of my life. Or I am a food addict. Or.....

I'm afraid this is just how I am wired. Any thoughts on this kind of thing in your own life?

By the way, this is not a pity party. I have lots of blessings in my life. I am just trying to figure out the only thing in my life where I have fallen short is WL.

[savtele]

Boker Tov All! Oh yes! I so understand this.

On some level, I think, vacations are "time out of time." I don't do "regular" things - and even if I do drink more than normal, and stop at a creamery or something for ice cream, it's for 1 scoop of something special, not the 1/2 gallon of same-old, same-old. Between hikes, shops & the little Maritime Museum tucked into a back street, there is a lot of walking going on. I remember once we stopped at a little ice cream stand & were trying to figure out if we wanted 1 scoop or 2 - the guy said, "Hold on" & started packing about 3/4 pint of ice cream into the waffle cone. "1 scoop - do you think you want another one?" No, LOL! I find myself stopping at every roadside f/v stand, and wandering into any bakery I've never seen before. But instead of buying loaves of bread & several rolls - I buy 1 cookie. Because who wants a bunch of food laying around a hotel room? We already know we are heading to the restaurant or the bar later.

I don't know if it's a fear of weight loss success. One thing I am certain of - portion control is key. My "eyeballing" skills are lacking - my eyes ALWAYS see the serving as too small.

As to "liking thinness" - I don't even consider that. I am not obsessed with my pants size - maybe I should be.

My sisters & I are starting to plan mom's 90th b-day party in December. While her list of close friends is shrinking, our list of people to invite is growing. Hopefully, it will be a fun time for all. (we're working on keeping the budget reasonable right now.....)

I'm heading to the pool. I really missed this class on Monday!

Have a good day ladies!

[peachymom1]

Lynne, I totally get it. When I was new to WW and learning about triggers, I identified most of them and took the time to figure out what to do about them. I did really well with my WLJ, got to goal and then under it, and I felt very proud of myself for keeping it off for quite some time.

But dang it, as I've gotten older, I've uncovered new triggers. It's not that I turn to food when I'm stressed because I think it will comfort me. Nope, I overeat then because providing myself with food means to me that I'm capable of taking care of myself. If it's healthy food, it's because I know what's good for me. If it's junk food, it's because I CAN get it and eat it. This all harks back to my childhood, and even though I know this and have worked through many childhood issues, I haven't been able to conquer the food issues. I don't know why. I've conquered other areas that seemed a lot uglier and harder. Maybe I have a limited capacity for untangling the knots. But I absolutely will not give up.

Now that I think of it, though, I don't think we ever completely conquer our ghosts. We just learn to manage them. Kind of a variation of a quote I heard once: you don't get over it, you just get on with it.

[louise]

Lynne I am A-1 100% with you on this. Sometimes it's like the little girl who had little curl right in the middle of her forehead. "When I'm good I'm very very good (you know the rest). Sometimes I reframe and find something that works and then one day it doesn't and I'm not even always sure at what point I fell off the wagon - was it gradual? was there a precipitating incident? Not sure, I just know one day I notice it's not working any more. You all know my food has been very troublesome in this period of mourning but I do see myself starting to get a handle on it. Trying to give myself the space to come out of it.

Back to the basic premise though - the thing is that when it's going well my spirits are lifted. I feel great. If something is healthy, gets you high, increases your energy, why in the world would you do other than that? Dunno. Guilty your honor.

[lee058]

Hi everybody. Today was another busy day, which is why I am here late. I spent some time today thinking about how I am just about ready to take the next step towards more self-realization, although I don't know what that step is going to be. I think that paying more attention to the quality of what I am eating instead of just volume is going to be part of my getting back to taking better care of my body (and the rest of me too).

You'll be glad to know that my mom had her sigmoidoscopy and there were only some minor problems revealed. I am so, so thankful.

BTW, I've been eating those green chile peppers since Friday, and I feel great! I wish we had bought 40lb. instead of 20!!

Everybody had great comments today.

I'll check back later to read before bedtime. Have a peaceful evening, Lee