Me...in da funk

…when you fall off the wagon.  It’s been 3 years since I lost my weight.  During those three years, I’ve had my ups and downs just like everyone else.  Right now, I’m in one of those down cycles…way down in one of those cycles to the point where I’m hoping I can remember my way out.

The frustrating part about this is that I know it is happening and I know exactly what I need to do to get out of it.  However, I’m not necessarily feeling very motivated to do so.

In the past, motivation has been relatively easy for me.  I have been able to do any number of things to regain the mojo: look at before pictures, put on a pair of 46 waist pants that used to fit snugly, change up my workout, change up my diet. At one point, I even started this blog.  I’m willing to do almost anything to start the ignition once again.

Recognizing you’re in one of these funks is, in my opinion, the most important step in recovering.  Realizing how you got there can give you a roadmap for getting out.  So, where did my funk start?

A bit over a year ago, my gym closed.  It was MY gym.  The gym that got me started.  Sure, it was open to anyone who wanted to go but in any conversation I had, I referred to it as “my gym.”  I was also a member at another gym closer to my house so I transition to the closer gym.  In doing so, I lost my workout partner and the feeling of “home”.  Those are two tough losses!

It’s not about what you eat, it’s about why you eat.

Have you ever heard this before?  I’m teaching a Wednesday night class at my Church right now called “Lose It For Life” (LIFL) for the second time and absolutely buy into the philosophy of the author, Steve Arterburn.

I’ve posted before about using root cause analysis to find and eliminate (seek and destroy) the underlying issues for your weight issues.  The LIFL approach, and others like it, is much along the same lines but also includes spiritual healing to help physical and emotional healing.

For most, willpower alone just isn’t enough.  If it were as easy as identifying the underlying issue and just willing it into non-existence, it would be great!  However, for the vast majority, this ends up being an exercise in futility.

Whether it be 10 or 100 pounds, the idea of losing weight is always promoted as a positive thing…something you should aspire to accomplish in order to be a better you.  We’ve all heard the benefits of shedding the spare tire…ad nauseum…yet the obesity epidemic still persists.

Why is that?  Well, logic tells us there must be something to this being overweight thing.  After all, it’s not like the knowledge of how to properly lose weight is hard to find.  So why would people intentionally choose to not try to lose weight?  What are the benefits? 

Being the super-sleuth that I am, I decided to delve into this question with reckless abandon.  That may be overstating it a bit but I thought I’d add it anyway for dramatic effect.  These are some possible reasons that I found:

1.) I really don’t feel THAT horrible at my current weight

I get the ‘occasional’ headache about three times per week but that’s because of my allergies and stress.  I am so exhausted everyday after work that I can’t play with my kids but that’s because my job is so taxing.  I used to be exhausted even when I woke up but I was diagnosed with sleep apnea.  Since I got my CPAP machine, I feel a bit better.  I just can’t see how any of these things have to do with my weight so why should I be concerned?

2.) I enjoy being out of breath just walking to my car

When I leave work everyday, I have to walk at least 50 feet to my car from the front door.  Sure, I’m a little winded but I just consider this my exercise for the day.  One time, when we had a fire drill at work, they made us walk down five flights of stairs.  I really thought I just wasn’t going to make it to the bottom.  I got all light headed and dizzy but I made it!  Then, after the drill was over, the elevators didn’t work so they told us we needed to take the stairs back up.  Oh, hell to the no!  Uh uh!  I made it up one flight of stairs and called it quits.  It took about 20 minutes for the elevators to start working again.  Sure, my boss was ticked but hey, at least I didn’t pass out and have to go to the hospital!  Would my boss rather me be a little late coming back from the drill or spend a day in the hospital?

3.) I can keep eating my favorite foods

They will have to pry my twinkies from my cold, dead hands.  With the world as crazy as it is today, the economy in the tank, everything is just so depressing.  I love my family but I have so much responsibility that is just gets overwhelming.  The little time we have together is based around the dinner table and I, along with everyone else, just wants a little peace, quiet, and contentment.  I can always count on getting some happiness from eating.  It makes everything seem like its going to be ok…if only for just a little while.  I can control this happiness and I love food.  If I give up the foods I enjoy eating, then what will I do to lift my spirits? 

4.) My social activities won’t have to change

There is just no way I’m going to go have a night out with my friends and not enjoy myself with food and drink.  If I don’t try to lose weight, then I can still enjoy myself.  Also, I don’t want to make my friends feel bad by ordering a salad when they are ordering pizza or hamburgers.  That would just be rude and I don’t want to make them feel guilty.  It really is best this way.  See?  I’m not being totally selfish.  I’m also thinking about my friends and how it would impact them.  I’m seen as fun and I don’t want that to change.

5.) I don’t need to become more attractive

My spouse likes me just the way I am.  When I ask if I’m fat, they say “no” and they’re obviously telling the truth.  When I look in the mirror, I see that I could stand to lose a few pounds but if I become too attractive to the opposite sex, I could be faced with temptations that I can’t withstand.  It’s just better that I don’t lose weight so I don’t have to find out.  Anyway, it isn’t that bad.  When I see pictures of myself, I know the camera adds 10 lbs…or 20 lbs…maybe even 3o lbs? 

6.) I don’t have to worry about failing

Nobody likes to fail and 95%-98% of all people that attempt to lose weight do just that…fail.  If I don’t try to lose weight then that’s one less thing I can fail at so I don’t even want to attempt it.  I have read all those success stories about people that have dropped a ton of weight but my chances of doing it are about as likely as hitting the lottery. 

7.) Being overweight is part of my personality

My weight is part of who I am.  I’m the fun loving fat guy that knows how to have a good time!  If I take away the weight than I’m just…not me!  My friends like to tease me about my weight but its all in good fun and they know I’m ok with it.  Really, I promise.  I’m ok with it.  It stung a little at first but then it just became a way they relate to me and part of our group dynamics.  Sort of like bonding in a way.  If I take away the weight, then what will I have?  I prefer to keep things the way they are.

8.) Exercising is just too tiring

I just get so tired when I do any sort of exercise that this, in and of itself, is reason enough for me not to want to lose weight.  I tried once but it just wasn’t for me.  I was so sore, I couldn’t walk for a week!  Besides, I already get enough exercise walking to and from my car at work (and the flight of stairs with a fire drill).  Those other things that happen to overweight people only happen to other overweight people, not me.  Diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, gallstones, osteoarthritis, liver disease, cancer…that won’t happen to me. 

How many of these reasons have you heard?  Have you heard others?  Just leave them in the comments below…I’d love to read them!

It is estimated that the success rate of dieting is between 2%-5%.  I know that may seem like a morale crushing statistic but all is not lost!  It makes sense that if you know WHY most diets fail then you know HOW to avoid the pitfalls and can increase your chances of success, right?  If you’re walking through a minefield your chances of making it through unscathed are slim but if you have a map of where the mines are located your chances of successfully crossing are greatly improved.

The health and nutrition industry is a multi-billion dollar per year industry and it is largely unregulated.  When you add those two things together you can count on the circling of the vultures.  It seems like you hear of a new, whacky diet everyday and people fork over their hard earned money in hopes that it “can be the one.”  There are some really bizarre diets out there and I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to be bizarre to be effective.  You don’t have to eat cotton balls or sedate yourself so you won’t eat.  Yes, those were actual diets.

So why do most diets fail?  Is it the diet or the person?  In my opinion it is both.  Here are few reasons why most diets fail and it is my hope that with knowing these few reasons you may increase your chances of success.