4-9 Something to think about...

[Billie]

The important thing is this: to be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.
Charles Du Bo

I have had this quotation along time and I have thought about it a long time. The question that you have to ask yourself is this: Will I sacrifice a short term feel good day for long term health benefits and living a full life? Of course at first blush we think the answer is obvious. But if that were the case, then we would never miss a day of exercise, never miss eating breakfast or getting in our protein or passing on the sugary carbs.

So then as I thought more the answer to me was not so obvious. When the rewards are so great, why would we settle for one day complacency on a road map that allows us to live so fully?

Habit? Boredom? Lack of initiative? Lack of self love? Lack of control? Fear? And again the more I thought the more I realized it was none of those things, for me.

What it seems to be for me on those days when I don't follow through, is that I don't have the foresight or the knowledge to know how that "person" or life or health or whatever words you need to put in there, really feel. That is the only thing that I came up with that makes sense to me. For certainly if we could feel and look very healthy, have strong bodies, feel energetic, be off medications, what then wouldn't we always choose that? There just has to be something about each of us, delaying choices.

I would be interested in your thoughts and feedback. Talking about things that don't work is as important as talking about the things that do sometimes.

Have a great Sunday, in Central Illinois looks like we are all over a beautiful day--got to love that sunshine!

[Shadow]

Of course at first blush we think the answer is obvious. But if that were the case, then we would never miss a day of exercise, never miss eating breakfast or getting in our protein or passing on the sugary carbs.
Billie - That was my first answer too - but now you've gone and made me do a lot more serious thinking about it all ;).


So then as I thought more the answer to me was not so obvious. When the rewards are so great, why would we settle for one day complacency on a road map that allows us to live so fully?
I think for me, the thing is that sometimes I just don't want to stop and think about what I'm doing. I get an idea and I want instant gratification - not a bunch of pondering over whether it's something I really should do :rolleyes:. Sometimes a lot of thinking over whether or not I want to follow a course of action (like eating something I want) just reinforces into my brain how much I want whatever it is I'm trying not to have. Luckily for me, my temptations are all of the low carb variety to begin with, otherwise I'd have fallen off the wagon several times. At least too much nut butter (for an example) will do less damage than a sticky bun... As for exercise, I simply don't allow myself to miss it. Yes, if I'm very sick, then I'll take a break. But otherwise, it gets done on the assigned days, just like I brush my teeth and shower, ya know ;)?


Talking about things that don't work is as important as talking about the things that do sometimes.
For me, all the delaying techniques (like taking a walk, reading a book, etc) just reinforces that I'm trying to avoid eating something I really want. I have found it's best to just have some when I really want it - otherwise it snowballs in my mind and ends up becoming a full-fledged binge. But like I said, I feel safe doing that because it's not high carb things calling my name. That strategy just might not work for someone who is willing to eat high-carb fare. And again, on the exercise, I don't give myself a choice. I am lazy by nature :p and if I let myself have the option, I wouldn't have been moving it for over a decade. Sometimes you just gotta show yourself some tough, tough love ;).