What a great way of summing up your experience. :)
EILYTHIA111 6/20/06 1:20 A
Wow Jen - my experience too - I have this dialogue that is HEALTHY going on, asking myself about the choices I want to make. The cool thing is is that dialogue incorporates all the common sense tips and ideas from SP, and I listen and make better choices. The difference in my mind is wonderful! I am able to see how ridiculous so many other programs and ideas can be...my sister told me that in order to lose weight, you can't drink anything with your meals or before or after for 30 minutes....Oprah tried to tell me today that we shouldn't eat ANYTHING after 7pm, and she yelled at somebody who did (the show dealt with some weight loss bootcamp, it was brutal and there is no way I would endure something like that)...you have to eat foods in certain combinations...you have to deny yourself, you have to have willpower, so on and so forth. When I told my sister that simple little principal - that if you eat more calories than you need or use, you gain weight, and when you eat less, you lose, she didn't buy it. Well, I am starting to like that I don't have to be mad at myself. I am starting to like that I am having more and more control over food and not it over me. I am starting to like that I can share chocolate with my daughter and not feel guilty. I am starting to like that it's all fairly simple, and doesn't necessitate expensive pills or meal plans or gym programs - just some basics like walking shoes and a bathing suit and a smaller plate and measuring cups. I like that it's down to earth, basic, healthy and realistic. I like that it works on my head and not just my body. I like that it works!
AKA-LUCY 6/19/06 3:40 P
I lo-o-ove your enthusiasm!! I, too, talk to myself since i sparked up, and that's a great thing, makes you think and keeps you conscious of how you treat your home (body) ... the loose socks comment was a kicker!
You GO!! For sure!!!!
SPARK_COACH_JEN 6/16/06 2:20 P
CATEGORY: Most Unique MEMBER: Fabersmith
What makes SparkPeople the best diet program in the world?...it has me talking to myself!
"Hey self, what do you want?
"Do you want that donut or do you want some fresh fruit?"
"Do you want to sit and watch TV or go for a walk in the park?"
SparkPeople has me talking to myself. And I've been listening.
I've been listening to all the information SparkPeople has online about nutrition and fitness, too. When I had a specific question, I received a personal response from an expert. When I was curious about a health concern, a topic search gave me others to talk to about it in the SparkPeople community.
SparkPeople continually gives me all the information and tools I need to be successful in my weight loss. As I log my food intake and exercise online, I'm not denying myself anything and that has proven to me that I cannot fail. It's just about making the best choices and asking myself what I really want.
"Do you want to be fat or do you want to be healthy?"
"Do you want to be able to go hiking with your friends or would you rather politely decline their invitations again and again?"
"Do you want to cook a meal and be proud to serve it or be privately ashamed that it's full of fat and empty calories?"
SparkPeople has me talking to myself regularly now; it's become second-nature. That, after all, is the goal-to change my lifestyle, not just the size of my pants.
Sometimes I'm kind and comforting because SparkPeople has taught me that slow and steady wins the race.
"You can do it, I know you can. Just give yourself some time. Don't be so hard on yourself."
Other times I have no mercy because SparkPeople has shown me we are all in charge of our own progress.
"Get up and get outside and walk that flab off. C'mon, get up...get up...and walk faster this time!"
SparkPeople has helped me to be sympathetic, "A new lifestyle takes time to develop,"...as well as demanding, "What's so hard about drinking more water?"
When I've been a doubter, "Will I be able to keep this up?" SparkPeople has reminded me how far I've come and how well I've done through the nutrition and fitness logs, "You've stayed within all your nutrition ranges this week!"
I've learned to be cheerleader, "WOO HOO!!!! Another pound gone!" for myself and others on the message boards, as well as for people who are not even a part of SparkPeople. It's that contagious. SparkPeople celebrates EVERYONE'S healthy lifestyle efforts, no matter what direction they are coming from.
When I couldn't admit this yet to others, I've even been a quiet confidant to myself, "Wow, girl, everything people are saying is true. You look amazing! Even your socks are loose on you!"
I'm only saying good things to myself and to others about my SparkPeople experience...and I've noticed friends talking to themselves lately, too.
Spark People has helped me to be my own best friend.
