carwex - It brings me a great deal of happiness to read about how your commitment to this forum, and the process of connecting with other participants and regular self-assessment has contributed to your success, Carol! Thank you for sharing that. Also, a big congratulations to you for feeling like you've reached your "perfect" point of equilibrium; I imagine that feels very satisfying, indeed. Is there anything in particular that you feel like influenced or determined the decisions you made, when in the midst of those "non-compliant situations"? I look forward to reading the forthcoming additions to your list of "behaviors for compliance."
Gimmelean - Another very consistent week for you! Thank you for responding to the questions about self-efficacy; I definitely agree with your observation that building one's sense of self-efficacy is a process, not a single event. I think your point regarding positive self talk in relation to supporting our sense of self-efficacy is well-observed. The perspective that we bring to framing our experiences with positive action toward goals certainly seems to play a role in relation to feelings of self-efficacy, it seems to me. Having that sort of "growth mindset" with respect to our efforts in the face of challenges can make a real difference in our beliefs about what we are capable of achieving, I think; those beliefs tend to influence and inform our actions. Have a great week!
Gabby7 - Kudos to you for doing as well as you felt able to do while travelling, and especially returning directly to the recommended pattern of behavior once you returned home!
Gabby7 wrote:This week was a reminder that it’s easy to get off track but also it’s a choice to get back on as quickly as possible.
Both of those "reminders" seem important and valuable.
This is a great thread discussing thirst and drinking water.
VegSeekingFit - Awesome adherence, Stephanie! I appreciate your observations regarding your progress and the particular lessons you've learned in relation to eliminating those calorie rich foods; I feel like they are really meritorious, as well as broadly applicable for others in a similar situation.
VegSeekingFit wrote:1) When hungry EAT.
I feel like this is SUCH an important point - whenever hungry, eat of the recommended foods. Avoiding the feeling of deprivation, to the extent possible, seems important for supporting ongoing adherence.
2) Positive self-talk - try to laugh... This has helped a ton. It is hard to make meaningful forward progress when feeling disappointed in yourself...
So, take a step back and reflect on what happened, what could work better, etc. without beating self up!
I totally agree.
3) If thinking of the non-compliant "food", EAT instead a recommended food. If I end up still eating the "bad" #5/7, it is a lesser amount. Sometimes it has even allowed a bit of time to reconsider and NOT eat the non-compliant item.
Yep, that is exactly the idea. I wonder if the "secret sauce" you are "missing" might just be inherent in your second observation regarding self-efficacy:
VegSeekingFit wrote:2) The more days that elapse since adopting the 10 point checklist, the more capable I feel about being able to continue on.
Consistent, adaptable action over time builds capability, and confidence in that capability. That has definitely been my experience. The "secret ingredient" is often just more TIME.
Onward!
Noella - That looks like a really great week to me, Noella! Kudos! A question I try to keep in mind, when assessing fruit consumption, is "what is the fruit replacing?" Is this particular serving of fruit helping me stay on track with my adherence? Is it making it easier for me to avoid or eliminate troublesome CRAP? Or, is it crowding out other healthful, adherent foods? Is it limiting my ability to consume a variety of the recommended foods? Am I just "cramming in" an extra piece of fruit, when I already feel full? From my perspective, whether or not fruit consumption is or may become an issue depends largely on the answer to those questions.
Noella wrote:A friend brought some dairy-based frozen treats to our house and put them in our freezer...I was too polite to say no. But this is a massive problem for me to have in my house as this is the exact sort of food that led me to obesity in the first place. I'm sure of it. I am also very aware of its continued lure and danger for me if it's right in my immediate environment. If my husband doesn't eat these today, I will need to throw them away to be safe from eating them. Will I always struggle with this attraction to frozen creamy foods???
I think you are VERY wise to be aware of the powerful lure of this particular type of troublesome item, and to take the actions you deem necessary to guard your success and adherence. It is certainly possible that, over a substantial duration of time, these particular "triggering" items will become less alluring and present less of a struggle, but the siren call of hyperpalatable foods can be both powerful and durable. I think of it this way: no one would think twice if a recovering alcoholic was extremely conscientious about having a safe, alcohol free home environment, right? Why should we take our own personal health and wellbeing any less seriously?
Mark,
I'm wondering how you are doing health-wise and hope you are pain-free. Always wishing you the best of health!
It is very kind of you to ask, and I really appreciate the well-wishes. My health is pretty excellent, apart from my CRPS/RSD. My pain is fairly well-managed, but it requires quite a lot of exercise therapy, and I do still have some tough days. Unfortunately, CRPS has no known cure, at present, and although I am sure my dietary patterns help me (particularly the anti-inflammatory nature of our diet) it is one of those uncommon diseases for which the McDougall diet doesn't seem to be a cure-all. That said, I'm much more mobile and physically able than many of those afflicted with my condition. I'm very much aware that I'm in something of a constant battle against potential dystrophy, so I take my exercise regimen VERY seriously. The "fringe benefit", I guess, is that I'm in excellent physical condition, otherwise; I can even do handstands now! Thanks again for your kind regards.