Thursday, February 1, 2007

My friend Dana loaned me "8 Weeks to Optimum Health" by Andrew Weil, M.D. today. I have had a yearning to try a more natural, holistic approach to gaining better health, and Dana has been a treasure trove of information. Thanks Dana :)

I've heard of Dr. Weil before, but have never read any of his books. I've just read through Chapter 1, and a few things have really clicked with me, and I wanted to share them with you.

"If you simply condem unwanted behavior without acknowledging what you are getting out of it, you may not be able to give it up no matter how much harm it is causing. In order to change behavior, you must be clear about what satisfaction that behavior is giving you as well as what it is costing you, then make a conscious decision to move."

I immediately thought of eating as my way of dealing with stress. I don't drink, smoke and have never done drugs. But I eat. The satisfaction I get from eating is quick pleasure and an escape from stress. Eating makes me feel relaxed, and is soothing after any emotional situation I've just gone through. Overeating is definitely costing me my health - I have high blood pressure and GERD, and take daily medication for both. I am constantly fatigued, my skin is terrible, and I get headaches quite often. And for all of these reasons, I want to change. The biggest reason? I'm afraid of dying an early death due to heart disease - which is exacerbated by being overweight.

So then I go on to read this ...

" ... fear can be a great motivator. Avoidance of disaster may be more than adequate compensation for giving up a beloved habit ... Even though I recognize the efficacy of fear in facilitating behavioral change, I feel that seeking positive reinforcement (a reward you can enjoy) is better than pursuing negative reinforcement (avoidance of something you do not want to experience), because research shows that positive reinforcement is better at maintaining new behavior. If fear is your motivator, when fear subsides, so does motivation."

Alrighty then. Like everyone, I came up with little rewards for every 10 lbs I'd lose. But I never quite got to that first 10 lb mark. Ever. In over 2 years of "wanting" to lose weight, I never ever lost 10 lbs.

And then I read this single sentence ...

"Fear can also paralyze you, preventing you from moving at all."

And I realize right then, that's what's happening. I am so freaked out at the possibility of dying because my weight is causing all of these health issues, that even though I know I should lose weight, and I come up with great plans and programs to lose weight, I never ever quite follow through to the end, and finish what I started.

And that REALLY bugs me.

So where do I go from here? I'm going to keep reading this book, and follow Dr. Weil's 8 week program. My only goal for the next 8 weeks is to fully embrace Dr. Weil's program, and see it through to the end.

Labels: February Challenge, Michelle