| Topic: |
Sociology > Depression |
| User: |
"mighty mouse" |
| Date: |
04 Dec 2007 01:26:54 AM |
| Object: |
Body image (reality testing) |
I'm just wondering if it's normal to swing from one extreme of body
image to the other depending on mood, and swing from being extremely
motivated to diet or exercise (lasting days, weeks or months) to not
caring at all?
In reality, I'm short and overweight, bordering on obese now (based on
my BMI). I look at myself in the mirror and I'm disgusted at how I
look, but when I think about myself, the mental image of me that I have,
it's of me the way I looked when I was in high school.
I can diet hard for days, weeks or months (with little result), weigh
myself daily for months then not at all, but finding the motivation to
exercise is the most difficult. We have a rowing machine (mine),
exercise bike (mine, old and broken at the moment, but easily fixable)
and a treadmill (my housemates but I can use it whenever I want) and I
haven't used any of them for weeks. When I do use them, it's for a few
days then I stop. There's a 24 hour gym opening less than 5 minutes
drive from here in a couple of months. I'm wondering if the social
pressure of having the obligation to go somewhere to work out would help
me be motivated?
I have a strong family history of type 2 diabetes and I really want to
prevent it. It usually didn't hit my relatives until their 40's or
later, and my Mum is in her 50's, overweight, and still hasn't got it
yet, so maybe it's not a certainty that I'll get it.
Being fitter and healthier would probably do wonders for my mental and
physical health, but I just can't seem to break the cycle of laziness
and self-neglect / self sabotage.
I'm trying to do some reality testing here. Can anyone reading this let
me know if this is a normal (for an overweight person) way to view
myself and my weight? Anyone got any tips to get me motivated to change?
.
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| User: "BoredToTears" |
|
| Title: Re: Body image (reality testing) |
04 Dec 2007 01:59:00 AM |
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On 4 Dec, 07:26, mighty mouse <mousieNOSPAM9...@hotmail.com> wrote:
I'm just wondering if it's normal to swing from one extreme of body
image to the other depending on mood, and swing from being extremely
motivated to diet or exercise (lasting days, weeks or months) to not
caring at all?
I think a lot of people with a real or perceived weight "problem" goes
through periods like that. I used to, I'd get very motivated and could
be very disciplined but then it would gradually slip away until I
didn't care any more. What I'm trying to focus on is not how much I
weigh but how much exercise I get, that's the really important bit.
In reality, I'm short and overweight, bordering on obese now (based on
my BMI). I look at myself in the mirror and I'm disgusted at how I
look, but when I think about myself, the mental image of me that I have,
it's of me the way I looked when I was in high school.
I wouldn't put too much emphasis on BMI, it's a very crude tool and
gives false positives. Many of the rugby players at this year's rugby
world cup had BMIs that placed them in the obese category and they're
all super fit! Have a look at this gallery of pictures that illustrate
how silly BMI testing can be:
http://flickr.com/photos/77367764@N00/sets/72157602199008819/
I can diet hard for days, weeks or months (with little result), weigh
myself daily for months then not at all, but finding the motivation to
exercise is the most difficult. We have a rowing machine (mine),
exercise bike (mine, old and broken at the moment, but easily fixable)
and a treadmill (my housemates but I can use it whenever I want) and I
haven't used any of them for weeks. When I do use them, it's for a few
days then I stop. There's a 24 hour gym opening less than 5 minutes
drive from here in a couple of months. I'm wondering if the social
pressure of having the obligation to go somewhere to work out would help
me be motivated?
I have a strong family history of type 2 diabetes and I really want to
prevent it. It usually didn't hit my relatives until their 40's or
later, and my Mum is in her 50's, overweight, and still hasn't got it
yet, so maybe it's not a certainty that I'll get it.
Being fitter and healthier would probably do wonders for my mental and
physical health, but I just can't seem to break the cycle of laziness
and self-neglect / self sabotage.
I'm trying to do some reality testing here. Can anyone reading this let
me know if this is a normal (for an overweight person) way to view
myself and my weight? Anyone got any tips to get me motivated to change?
I don't know what to suggest to get or keep you motivated but maybe
changing the way you look at it could help. Forget the weight part,
throw the scales away, and log how much exercise you get. Instead of
contemplating a 5 minute drive to a gym, walk the same distance every
day and you'll soon feel a difference.
Don't beat yourself up about it, Kylie, it wont help. Good luck! ;o)
.
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| User: "the_dawggie" |
|
| Title: Re: Body image (reality testing) |
04 Dec 2007 02:14:20 AM |
|
|
BoredToTears wrote:
On 4 Dec, 07:26, mighty mouse <mousieNOSPAM9...@hotmail.com> wrote:
I'm just wondering if it's normal to swing from one extreme of body
image to the other depending on mood, and swing from being extremely
motivated to diet or exercise (lasting days, weeks or months) to not
caring at all?
I think a lot of people with a real or perceived weight "problem" goes
through periods like that. I used to, I'd get very motivated and could
be very disciplined but then it would gradually slip away until I
didn't care any more. What I'm trying to focus on is not how much I
weigh but how much exercise I get, that's the really important bit.
In reality, I'm short and overweight, bordering on obese now (based on
my BMI). I look at myself in the mirror and I'm disgusted at how I
look, but when I think about myself, the mental image of me that I have,
it's of me the way I looked when I was in high school.
I wouldn't put too much emphasis on BMI, it's a very crude tool and
gives false positives. Many of the rugby players at this year's rugby
world cup had BMIs that placed them in the obese category and they're
all super fit! Have a look at this gallery of pictures that illustrate
how silly BMI testing can be:
http://flickr.com/photos/77367764@N00/sets/72157602199008819/
I can diet hard for days, weeks or months (with little result), weigh
myself daily for months then not at all, but finding the motivation to
exercise is the most difficult. We have a rowing machine (mine),
exercise bike (mine, old and broken at the moment, but easily fixable)
and a treadmill (my housemates but I can use it whenever I want) and I
haven't used any of them for weeks. When I do use them, it's for a few
days then I stop. There's a 24 hour gym opening less than 5 minutes
drive from here in a couple of months. I'm wondering if the social
pressure of having the obligation to go somewhere to work out would help
me be motivated?
I have a strong family history of type 2 diabetes and I really want to
prevent it. It usually didn't hit my relatives until their 40's or
later, and my Mum is in her 50's, overweight, and still hasn't got it
yet, so maybe it's not a certainty that I'll get it.
Being fitter and healthier would probably do wonders for my mental and
physical health, but I just can't seem to break the cycle of laziness
and self-neglect / self sabotage.
I'm trying to do some reality testing here. Can anyone reading this let
me know if this is a normal (for an overweight person) way to view
myself and my weight? Anyone got any tips to get me motivated to change?
I don't know what to suggest to get or keep you motivated but maybe
changing the way you look at it could help. Forget the weight part,
throw the scales away, and log how much exercise you get. Instead of
contemplating a 5 minute drive to a gym, walk the same distance every
day and you'll soon feel a difference.
Don't beat yourself up about it, Kylie, it wont help. Good luck! ;o)
I don't focus on it. I eat when I feel weak, or placed in
a social situation where I have to. I decline food
offerings in a politically correct manner.
.
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| User: "the_dawggie" |
|
| Title: Re: Body image (reality testing) |
04 Dec 2007 02:28:51 AM |
|
|
mighty mouse wrote:
I'm just wondering if it's normal to swing from one extreme of body
image to the other depending on mood, and swing from being extremely
motivated to diet or exercise (lasting days, weeks or months) to not
caring at all?
No, my body is what I want.
In reality, I'm short and overweight, bordering on obese now (based on
my BMI). I look at myself in the mirror and I'm disgusted at how I
My BMI would be a little low on the thin side, however diet
just go on a fluid diet. It's really quite easy.
look, but when I think about myself, the mental image of me that I have,
it's of me the way I looked when I was in high school.
Yes, that is the way it is.
I can diet hard for days, weeks or months (with little result), weigh
myself daily for months then not at all, but finding the motivation to
exercise is the most difficult. We have a rowing machine (mine),
exercise bike (mine, old and broken at the moment, but easily fixable)
and a treadmill (my housemates but I can use it whenever I want) and I
haven't used any of them for weeks. When I do use them, it's for a few
days then I stop. There's a 24 hour gym opening less than 5 minutes
drive from here in a couple of months. I'm wondering if the social
pressure of having the obligation to go somewhere to work out would help
me be motivated?
Don't really need to excercise, walking helps.
I have a strong family history of type 2 diabetes and I really want to
prevent it. It usually didn't hit my relatives until their 40's or
later, and my Mum is in her 50's, overweight, and still hasn't got it
yet, so maybe it's not a certainty that I'll get it.
Being fitter and healthier would probably do wonders for my mental and
physical health, but I just can't seem to break the cycle of laziness
and self-neglect / self sabotage.
I'm trying to do some reality testing here. Can anyone reading this let
me know if this is a normal (for an overweight person) way to view
myself and my weight? Anyone got any tips to get me motivated to change?
Diet change. Daily walking.
.
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