Discuss
>> Thursday, October 11, 2012
just wanted to say, i like reading your blog bc you are so committed to working out it's crazy. The races you run inspire me because it is a struggle for me to run a mile so clearly you must be fit. The thing is, you clearly don't eat well. You might feel like you do but even the once in a whiles you say "it's a celebration so i don't feel bad etc etc" is insight to that. Oh and also, the scale doesn't lie... i mean it's not the whole story but there's no way a person works out as long as you do for such an extended period of time and won't lose weight. Case in point. My friend is a bodypump, body step and body attack instructor. She teaches about 7-8 classes a week bc she is always subbing for people. CRAZY fit and strong...but she never looked it. she didn't look fat but she didn't look like someone you'd say worked out a lot. weighed about 190 (although coz of all the muscle she looked about 175 to me). Anyway, someone challenged her to follow a eating plan a nutritionist had on Just Because...
This comment was left for me the other day. Not sure how I feel about it. There is truth to it BUT, I once weighed 272 pounds and I now weigh 226. I have still maintained a 46 pound loss. I am not going to justify anything because many things said here are correct. That is all for today.
14 comments:
Though it may be true. I think this is a message that is best sent privately. To virturally tell you that your efforts are in vain is rude in my opinion. I'm sorry...I've lost 60 lbs with food moderation, exercise and my lapband. However, it was not easy...and being called to the carpet about someone who doesn't know me would not have helped the situation.
Keep doing you...you know what works for you...and if you decided that you want to lose more weight..than you will do what need to be done. A rude comment will not motivate you to do it.
I never comment, but coming from a place of having lost 80lbs and having had many struggles with eating vs working out, I agree with the comment left. Reading your blog I have had the same sentiment. It is unfair to assume that it is meant to be rude or discouraging. Why is it that any comment not praising is immediately assumed "rude".
If this is going to be about supporting each other in this quest for health and fitness honesty is necessary. The fact that you have lost and maintained your loss is great and if this is where you are happy with your weight than there is nothing more to say. But if you want to look forward and keep on losing, it may be a great opportunity to look at what is no longer working and continuing to change your eating habit to complement all your hard work.
That being said, you are on your own path and you are making your own way finding what works for you.
Thanks for sharing.
How do you feel about the comment? I normally take what people say and try to see the positive in it. My first reaction is being extremely defensive but once I calm down, I try to see if there's any truth to the statement.
I was somewhat peeved the other day when a comment on my blog came off as holier than thou (talking down to me). I hate it when someone tries to teach me something assuming that I don't know already. I tried to take what she was saying constructively though and see if there was any validity. Am I doing too much cardio? I don't think so. so I moved on :)
I think maintenance and keeping the weight off is a challenge in itself.
Hmmm...my thoughts...Maybe she didn't address it the best way or make a proper comparison, but, she does give you something to think about. Are you exercising and eating in such a way enough to lose the remaining pounds? I think losing weight is part art and science. This is something I had to learn - myself. I lost the first 10 pounds - working out about 4 to 5 days a week and just trying to eat healthy (more salads, yogurts, fruits but honestly...I didn't calorie count, carb count, watch portion size).
When I realized I wasn't losing anymore or losing much, much slowly, I had to increase my workouts - in terms of intensity and frequency and I had to watch even more closely what I ate - to lose the next 20. Calorie Counting, making sure I played close attention to make sure I got in lean protein, fruits, veggies, whole grains and I had to do that consistently. I also had to find a way to reward myself regularly or treat myself so I was living balanced.
I think you should think as it as if you know what it takes to lose 50 pounds and maintain it. But, you may need to do some more tweaking to reach your next goal.
Your health is most important. If for you that means a number on a scale pursue that path. If for you it is knowing you're living a healthy lifestyle without deprivation and all of your numbers (cholesterol, blood pressure, "sugar") are healthy then pursue that path. If your waist circumference regardless of BMI is most important pursue that path. I could link to HUNDREDS of articles and web journals showing health is not based on the scale but lifestyle or you can ask a 130LB woman on medications due to cholesterol and blood pressure issues. Talk to a 200lb marathon runner on NO medications. Both of these type of individuals exist. Determine your goals, find your path, and then walk out what is best for you. Healthy comes in sizes outside of the BMI chart range. IMHO
I don't know how I feel about this? Sometimes I feel as though people cross the line all in the name of "helping." Your walk, your life! I'm a little turned off by the comment but that's just me.
I don't think she meant it to be mean. Like you said, there is some truth to it. I take it this way...you do workout alot! I think she's trying to convey the idea that with better eating you can see more results. It's not to take away from what you have accomplished. With all the effort you put in excercising...why not go all out and tighten up the eating...and get a greater reward? That's what I am taking away from it.
You got the workout thing down..so maybe just take a little more time & effort to get the diet part down. When you have both things in line...you gonna be one bad Chica!
All said in love! But be encouraged..you've come to far to let this or anything else stop you from moving forward!
Kyra
Wow, see when I read that I felt like that person was talking to me! I agree with a previous commenter when they said that should have been sent in private. There was some love and admiration underneath all of that.
I agree with her. I quite honestly have been working my arse off in the gym 4-5 days a week and not losing a thing. I was just about to give up when I finally started a new plan a few weeks ago that regulated my eating dramatically and finally the scale is moving in the right direction. Slowly! but moving. Stay encouraged in your workouts and you are doing an awesome job maintaining your 46 lb weight loss!
I read the comment and thought "No shit Sherlock! Tell me something I DON'T know!" Most people on a weight loss journey already know that weight loss is 80% nutrition and 20% exercise. However, knowing and doing are two different things. The latter is THE HARDEST. So if the commenter REALLY wanted to "help", s/he should have addressed HOW a person (specifically THEMSELVES if there is any RELEVANT personal experience) can overcome the mental, emotional, and hormonal struggle of MAINTAINING a healthy eating, despite a LIFETIME of a poor diet.
It's so easy for someone on the outside looking in to say what you should do, what you're doing wrong, what his/her friend did, etc. But until you've done it yourself and can explain HOW to do it, then STFU because you have no idea.
That's just my 2 cents.
First let me say Hey Guhrrlll...
My thoughts...I would have sent the comment Private to You...in the event that you ASKED for advice/help/tips on how to get the scale moving.
Sometimes people assume because u blog u are asking for advice instead of just sharing Your personal journey/life..
I don't think the comment was meant to be rude or shady but just a suggestion. Its totally up to u how u take it.
Focus on what goals u want to achieve Haneefa, stay positive and motivated and have a great week :)
...Oh annnd FYI your workouts are motivating to someone like me who has the nutrition part together but lacks activity motivation!! Thanks for sharing :)
as the person who made the comment, I'm going to take some time to respond.
I think the first thing to clear up is what is an opinion.
An opinion is what someone else thinks. They think based on what they see and any experience they have. Nobody can 100% know another person. That is fact. So it is kind of pointless when people say "you don't know me/my story etc" Fact is, most people don't. If you think that is going to prevent them from having an opinion, then you are being idealistic.
The way I look at advice/opinion is this. I listen to what a person says, think about it and decide if it applies to me or not. If I think the person doesn't have enough info. and therefore their advice is skewed, I just discard it. If not, i might implement it. I don't think there is anything to get angry about.
I could have sent this in an email if i had bothered to find the email address but then what are the comments for? Are the comments there just to read words of encouragement? "You're doing great!" "Don't worry, we all have our ups and downs" "Next week will be great". If that's what you want, then don't publish the "mean" comments. To me, the comments are so that people can express their opinions. Their opinions are based on what they read. That is how blogs work.
If a blogger only presents a certain part of their lives, that's what readers will form opinions on. I don't see why that shocks people. You "like" actors and other famous people based on your opinions which are formed without truly knowing them...but it would be kind of silly to say that people should not form an opinon until the 100% know the person story. Life doesn't work like that.
Fact is, she has lost weight. I never took that away from her. In fact, I mentioned i was impressed with all the running and working out she has done. Motivated in fact...i am only just able to run a mile myself.
If any of you at read marys blog at amerrylife you might remember we had a similar discussion. If your weightloss has not progressed in this long, what you are doing is no longer working. I was just pointing out to H. that she works out so much, clearly her eating is not at all good. And softening the blow by saying "oh i don't want to derpive myself" is not helping her cause.
If this wasn't a weight LOSS blog, i probably wouldn't have said anything but it's obvious she wants to lose more weight and is not content to be where she is now even if that is 50lbs lighter.
I could go on but this is long enough. I think people in general have become a little to sensitive. Where i come from, if a person is fat, people will remark on it, same as if they are skinny, or short or whatever sets them apart. It's not meant as an insult just an observation.
Anyway, Haneefa. I hope you were able to dig beneath all the words and see what I was trying to say. And if anyone else that read the comment is given a wakeup call then at least that's one person is helped.
I guess it depends on how you look at it. The person didn't do it anonymously which tells me they felt brave enough and confident to offer their opinion/two cents to you. I truly think she meant well. But I can also see how it'd somehow come off a little too hard. Based on your most recent post am glad to see you saw the positive in it, re-evaluated yourself and decided to go back to your old ways. I wish you nothing but the best and am sure you'll start to notice a loss sooner than later
I follow your blog and I too wonder why you have'nt broken that 200 mark yet! I agree with mimi, and though I rarely comment I feel you should be farther along, but that is just an opinion.
I am a nutritionist and found it hard as hell to drop ten pounds, I run, walk, hike and all that but still struggled. It was nerve wrecking to say the least. As a nutritionist I should have changed my diet first, but I hate restrictions when it comes to food. Absolutely hate it but indeed that's what broke the first 3 pounds.
I'm not overweight never have been, but I am a lot heavier than what is normal for me. Its ok the not know how to take a comment someone leaves, everyone is entitled to their feelings, but always look at the deeper meaning no matter who or where its coming from, learn and grow from it. When we are changing whether its our weight, our attitudes or outlook we can't afford to let our ego take control. Criticism, good or bad can help us grow. With that said I blog too on nutrition shameless plug I know, please read! www.wholebodynutrition@blogger.com.
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