Comments on: Long Term Commitments http://stresstopower.com/blog/2010/01/29/long-term-commitments/ Stress Hardiness, Optimizing Stress, Being Fully Alive Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:16:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Jean http://stresstopower.com/blog/2010/01/29/long-term-commitments/comment-page-1/#comment-3395 Jean Fri, 05 Feb 2010 04:30:59 +0000 http://stresstopower.com/blog/?p=1834#comment-3395 Cathy, I agree it can help to find out what other people have tried to see if it might work for us. If we ever want to have the new patterns be automatic there has to be more pleasure attached to the new pattern than to the old. That can take some careful observation and creative thinking. Cathy,
I agree it can help to find out what other people have tried to see if it might work for us. If we ever want to have the new patterns be automatic there has to be more pleasure attached to the new pattern than to the old. That can take some careful observation and creative thinking.

]]> By: Cathy in NZ http://stresstopower.com/blog/2010/01/29/long-term-commitments/comment-page-1/#comment-3393 Cathy in NZ Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:59:28 +0000 http://stresstopower.com/blog/?p=1834#comment-3393 Jean I was just throwing in a few suggestions that I have used...not necessarily how I started out on any sort of journey whether weight loss, fitness or life styles. Sometimes you have to look at websites with a 'pinch of salt' as they are often geared to some monetary aspect...but then most of us are adults with some sense of right/wrong for our personal selves. .-= Cathy in NZ´s last blog ..<a href="http://cedar51.livejournal.com/22067.html" rel="nofollow">Bad Hair Day (not mine!) + other interesting opinions...</a> =-. Jean
I was just throwing in a few suggestions that I have used…not necessarily how I started out on any sort of journey whether weight loss, fitness or life styles.

Sometimes you have to look at websites with a ‘pinch of salt’ as they are often geared to some monetary aspect…but then most of us are adults with some sense of right/wrong for our personal selves.
Cathy in NZ´s last blog ..Bad Hair Day (not mine!) + other interesting opinions… My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Jean http://stresstopower.com/blog/2010/01/29/long-term-commitments/comment-page-1/#comment-3383 Jean Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:36:35 +0000 http://stresstopower.com/blog/?p=1834#comment-3383 Cathy, I purposely didn't put suggestions for strategies in here because the web is loaded with advice. One of my favorite books on developing good habits is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Changing-Good-Revolutionary-Overcoming-Positively/dp/038072572X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265314666&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">Changing for Good</a>. The authors talk about the six stages of change: <ol> <li> <bold>Precontemplation</bold>--- the person has a problem but doesn't see it,</li> <li> <bold>Contemplation</bold>---the person recognizes he/she has a problem but isn't ready to change yet,</li> <li> <bold>Commitment (the biggest step)</bold>---deep down in his/her heart the person <em>wants</em> to change and commits to doing it no matter how long it takes,</li> <li> <bold>Preparation</bold>---gathering information, deciding on strategies to try,</li> <li><bold> Action</bold>---using the strategies, making changes,</li> <li> <bold>Maintenance</bold>---the new lifestyle is established, needs some tuning up from time to time.</li> </ol> I would add one more: (7) <bold>Termination</bold>---the new lifestyle is so established it's completely automatic. This doesn't always happen, but it's great when it does. The important thing to notice is action steps come late in the game. The Commitment step is the biggest. Also this book was based on studies the authors had done of people who had successfully made lifestyle changes and they pointed out it often takes several tries before the person succeeds, so don't get discouraged. I agree with you that worrying about losing weight is counter-productive. I've known too many people who have gone on rigid diets, lost the weight they wanted to, then wound up weighing more than they had when they started. Rigid diets tend to mess up our metabolism, gradually developing a healthy lifestyle doesn't. The key for me was to find things I liked to do more than eating, and having some of those things involve moving my body (a.k.a. exercise). Cathy,
I purposely didn’t put suggestions for strategies in here because the web is loaded with advice. One of my favorite books on developing good habits is Changing for Good. The authors talk about the six stages of change:

  1. Precontemplation— the person has a problem but doesn’t see it,
  2. Contemplation—the person recognizes he/she has a problem but isn’t ready to change yet,
  3. Commitment (the biggest step)—deep down in his/her heart the person wants to change and commits to doing it no matter how long it takes,
  4. Preparation—gathering information, deciding on strategies to try,
  5. Action—using the strategies, making changes,
  6. Maintenance—the new lifestyle is established, needs some tuning up from time to time.

I would add one more: (7) Termination—the new lifestyle is so established it’s completely automatic. This doesn’t always happen, but it’s great when it does.

The important thing to notice is action steps come late in the game. The Commitment step is the biggest. Also this book was based on studies the authors had done of people who had successfully made lifestyle changes and they pointed out it often takes several tries before the person succeeds, so don’t get discouraged.

I agree with you that worrying about losing weight is counter-productive. I’ve known too many people who have gone on rigid diets, lost the weight they wanted to, then wound up weighing more than they had when they started. Rigid diets tend to mess up our metabolism, gradually developing a healthy lifestyle doesn’t. The key for me was to find things I liked to do more than eating, and having some of those things involve moving my body (a.k.a. exercise).

]]> By: Cathy in NZ http://stresstopower.com/blog/2010/01/29/long-term-commitments/comment-page-1/#comment-3381 Cathy in NZ Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:51:50 +0000 http://stresstopower.com/blog/?p=1834#comment-3381 Rummuser The little steps are a great way but you have got to have a bit of a plan...start by looking at what you eat linked to what you do on a regular basis. Are you eating too much at one meal in relationship to what you have done or will be doing. Portion sizing is also a really big factor...it's not what you eat but how much. "Diets" often suggest you curtail a favourite food item which just makes for craving. I don't follow any sort of diet but work with me/my tastes - the days offerings - etc. worrying about losing weight, keeping this bit thin, getting that bit right doesn't help either. OK sometimes I will seriously look at one part of my body and get into despair mode but the next day another body part will look just great - swings and round-abouts :-) .-= Cathy in NZ´s last blog ..<a href="http://cedar51.livejournal.com/22067.html" rel="nofollow">Bad Hair Day (not mine!) + other interesting opinions...</a> =-. Rummuser
The little steps are a great way but you have got to have a bit of a plan…start by looking at what you eat linked to what you do on a regular basis.

Are you eating too much at one meal in relationship to what you have done or will be doing.
Portion sizing is also a really big factor…it’s not what you eat but how much.

“Diets” often suggest you curtail a favourite food item which just makes for craving. I don’t follow any sort of diet but work with me/my tastes – the days offerings – etc.

worrying about losing weight, keeping this bit thin, getting that bit right doesn’t help either. OK sometimes I will seriously look at one part of my body and get into despair mode but the next day another body part will look just great – swings and round-abouts :-)
Cathy in NZ´s last blog ..Bad Hair Day (not mine!) + other interesting opinions… My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Ursula http://stresstopower.com/blog/2010/01/29/long-term-commitments/comment-page-1/#comment-3379 Ursula Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:35:19 +0000 http://stresstopower.com/blog/?p=1834#comment-3379 You have a lot to answer for, BHB. Last time you mentioned Brie (don't know where, don't know when) I promptly bought some. Scoffed the lot in one sitting (room temperature, glass of red wine for lubrication.) I don't have a weight problem, never have had. Very lucky because my son who himself is as slim as a rake recently observed that I am "fattist". Which is slightly better than being a fashist. No idea how fashists slim their believes if so inclined. U You have a lot to answer for, BHB. Last time you mentioned Brie (don’t know where, don’t know when) I promptly bought some. Scoffed the lot in one sitting (room temperature, glass of red wine for lubrication.) I don’t have a weight problem, never have had. Very lucky because my son who himself is as slim as a rake recently observed that I am “fattist”. Which is slightly better than being a fashist. No idea how fashists slim their believes if so inclined.

U

]]> By: Rummuser http://stresstopower.com/blog/2010/01/29/long-term-commitments/comment-page-1/#comment-3377 Rummuser Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:21:12 +0000 http://stresstopower.com/blog/?p=1834#comment-3377 Jean and BHB, you have just made me feel like a million bucks as you Americans would say. Thank you. .-= Rummuser´s last blog ..<a href="http://rummuser.com/?p=2828" rel="nofollow">Migration / Promotion To Apple Macintosh.</a> =-. Jean and BHB, you have just made me feel like a million bucks as you Americans would say. Thank you.
Rummuser´s last blog ..Migration / Promotion To Apple Macintosh. My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: bikehikebabe http://stresstopower.com/blog/2010/01/29/long-term-commitments/comment-page-1/#comment-3375 bikehikebabe Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:00:10 +0000 http://stresstopower.com/blog/?p=1834#comment-3375 Ramana, join the club. Seems that a LARGE amount of people of the world have a weight problem. Being skin & bones, but stuffing myself as a teen has helped me now, but now I have to work at not eating too much. I just now ate the last of the 1 1/2 pounds of brie cheese because I know Tom knows better than to eat it. The first & last time I'll buy that. Ramana, join the club. Seems that a LARGE amount of people of the world have a weight problem. Being skin & bones, but stuffing myself as a teen has helped me now, but now I have to work at not eating too much.

I just now ate the last of the 1 1/2 pounds of brie cheese because I know Tom knows better than to eat it. The first & last time I’ll buy that.

]]> By: Jean http://stresstopower.com/blog/2010/01/29/long-term-commitments/comment-page-1/#comment-3374 Jean Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:15:28 +0000 http://stresstopower.com/blog/?p=1834#comment-3374 Rummuser, Good for you for not giving up. I gained control of my weight and developed a healthy lifestyle years ago...it was a big project with a lot of little steps. It was well worth the effort, one of the best things I've ever done. Rummuser,
Good for you for not giving up. I gained control of my weight and developed a healthy lifestyle years ago…it was a big project with a lot of little steps. It was well worth the effort, one of the best things I’ve ever done.

]]> By: Rummuser http://stresstopower.com/blog/2010/01/29/long-term-commitments/comment-page-1/#comment-3373 Rummuser Tue, 02 Feb 2010 03:51:16 +0000 http://stresstopower.com/blog/?p=1834#comment-3373 My long term commitment has been an intention to reduce my weight. I just do not seem to be able to. I do not intend giving up the commitment though! .-= Rummuser´s last blog ..<a href="http://rummuser.com/?p=2811" rel="nofollow">Back Home And Blogging.</a> =-. My long term commitment has been an intention to reduce my weight. I just do not seem to be able to. I do not intend giving up the commitment though!
Rummuser´s last blog ..Back Home And Blogging. My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Jean http://stresstopower.com/blog/2010/01/29/long-term-commitments/comment-page-1/#comment-3372 Jean Sun, 31 Jan 2010 08:50:42 +0000 http://stresstopower.com/blog/?p=1834#comment-3372 Cathy, My guess is the new year probably was connected to the winter solstice, the days starting to get long again. But it would also make sense for it to be connected with Spring, when plants start to grow again. I agree that long term commitments/goals can be complicated. There are a lot of steps involved. Mike, It is hard to manage everything at the same time, isn't it? There's only so much time and we have only a finite amount of energy. "I may not make it, but I don’t have to stop because of that." I agree with that! In fact most people who try to change habits have to try several/many times before they succeed. The previous tries aren't wasted, they're just part of the process. I also agree that people who are successful at work usually do more than just their job description. And choosing to go beyond the minimum requirements is part of what brings them job satisfaction. They're not just wage slaves, they're making a contribution. Cathy,
My guess is the new year probably was connected to the winter solstice, the days starting to get long again. But it would also make sense for it to be connected with Spring, when plants start to grow again.

I agree that long term commitments/goals can be complicated. There are a lot of steps involved.

Mike,
It is hard to manage everything at the same time, isn’t it? There’s only so much time and we have only a finite amount of energy. “I may not make it, but I don’t have to stop because of that.” I agree with that! In fact most people who try to change habits have to try several/many times before they succeed. The previous tries aren’t wasted, they’re just part of the process.

I also agree that people who are successful at work usually do more than just their job description. And choosing to go beyond the minimum requirements is part of what brings them job satisfaction. They’re not just wage slaves, they’re making a contribution.

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