Dr Phil Reading Club Challenge, Oct10-16, Chapter 1

[cleochatra]

Chapter 1: Getting Real About You and Your Weight

Hi there, and good morning! This week we'll be discussing Chapter One.

This chapter is more of an overview of the entire book, so if anyone is still waiting on your books, it's all right. Follow along, and jump in if you'd like. Of course, everyone is welcome to come and post thoughts about this chapter.

I'm going to ask some questions, lead some discussion, but also be in discussion, too. This is everyone's challenge. Granted, the questions below will require you to wait a minute while others answer so that you know some of these ideas.


Questions you might ask yourself based on Chapter One:

1. What is your get real weight? Are you shooting for it, or are you still shooting for your high school weight (if that's impractical)?

2. He mentions the 7 steps to weight loss control. Rate your personal signifigance of the steps based only on this chapter from 1-7. Here they are only by chapter order for easier remembering.

1. Understanding what you really think about yourself and your weight, learning how to have positive thoughts
2. Deal with emotional eating
3. Change your environment to promote success
4. Deal with impulse eating
5. Learn how to choose the right foods
6. Learn how to exercise
7. Set up a support system

3. Why is will power not important according to Dr Phil? Based on Chapter One alone, do you agree?

4. What is one way you can program yourself for success?


If you have any other thoughts, personal discussions, applications, questions, please feel freeto post them here or to your journal and link to it. Please note you don't HAVE to answer these questions. But it helps to think about them and knowing what's important to you, and seeing how it might change as you learn more about yourselves through this process.

Welcome aboard, and happy Monday!

We will begin discussion of Chapter 2 on Sunday, October 16.
As an aside: I've stickied the original thread. There you can see the most updated links, and older chapter links will be updated there, too, for easy reference.

[cleochatra]

Re: Dr Phil Reading Club Challenge, Oct10-16, Chapter 1

I'm going to go ahead and chime in before I get to the tasks I have today:

1. I have no idea what my 'get real' weight is, and I'm sure I won't know until I get there. Is 125 a reasonable goal? I'll see! If I get to 130 or 140 and am very muscular, feel great and look great, then I'm not so sowrried about hitting 125 anymore. Muscle weighs more than fat, and I never was muscular at 125! I was usually just skinny.

2. For me, this is the order I place these in in importance, sight unseen:

Deal with emotional eating --I've always been this!
Understanding what you really think about yourself and your weight, learning how to have positive thoughts --Learning how to break habits is important
Deal with impulse eating-- this would go up there with emotional eating to some degree
Change your environment to promote success (I've already done this to some extent)
proper foods (because I'm already following a low-carb eating plan)
exercise (because I already exercise)
support system (because I have ADBB)

3. Will power isn't so important because he says that if we understand why we do what we dio it isn't a matter of will but of education. I would agree with him, although we all know that the first few days of induction require will power!

4. One way I can program myself for success is by taking responsibility for my actions and analyzing situations before they occur knowing how I usually respond so as to foment a battle plan and not fall off the wagon to begin with.

Random thoughts: I am excited to start digging into this book, and I know that, especially with the holidays coming, and cold weather (which I detest), I am going to be more stressed out and need to be able to deal with situations as they come up without reacting through eating. Last holiday season was an eatenanny, and I'm not paying a cover charge into that funked-out bad trip again this year!

[wannabethintoo]

Re: Dr Phil Reading Club Challenge, Oct10-16, Chapter 1

1) This has always been a problem for me to figure out because I've always had a lot of muscle. The last time I weighed 130 lbs was back in the 80s and looking back at pictures...I looked like skin and bones. I didn't have a lot of muscle then though and I still looked like skin and bones. Before I gained all this weight (back in 1999), I weighed 170 lbs and I looked and felt great. No one would ever guess that I weighed that. So for me, I'm not sure that 140 lbs is a good goal weight. I guess I'll wait and tackle that problem when I get there. I am not aiming for the skin and bones look so I will stop way before I get there.

[wannabethintoo]

Re: Dr Phil Reading Club Challenge, Oct10-16, Chapter 1

2) I would have to say that the number one in order of importance is the support system....I'm surprising myself here but I've done so many diets (even when I was thin enough and should never have been dieting) and I have to admit that I'm a professional dieter so I know what I'm talking about. I've never had a very good support system during all those years of dieting. Of course it's hard getting people to support you when you're dieting but don't need to. But now that I do need to lose weight, I'm realizing how important support is. I was never successfull on other diets because of the lack of support. This is the only time I've ever lasted this long on a WOE. And it's because of ADBB.

[Zarabelle]

Re: Dr Phil Reading Club Challenge, Oct10-16, Chapter 1

Hi Cleo

I am so glad that you encouraged us to read this book. I hadn't even heard of it! I have just read the first chapter and find it intriguing.

1. Get real weight. Funnily enough, I was just thinking about this yesterday as I was pushing my baby daughter in the park. I would love to be 10st7 (147 pounds) but I know this would be pretty impossible. When I was 21, I lost a lot of weight doing Rosemary Connely (low fat) and stalled for ages at 11 stone (154 pounds). I took me weeks and weeks to drop a further 2 pounds and I looked fantastic at that weight - a small size 10 which is good for my height (5'7). I have decided that now I have had a baby and am 12 years older, I should aim for 165 and see how we go from there.

2. I would put the keys in the following levels of importance for me:
Understanding what you really think about yourself and your weight, learning how to have positive thoughts - I desperately need to get to grips with this. I have very low self esteem at the moment (admittedly better since losing almost 20 pounds but I still need to delve in to this further).
Deal with impulse eating - I definitely feel I treat myself with foods which I need to deal with.

Deal with emotional eating - as above

The following points I feel I am already starting to deal with.

Set up a support system
I can't believe the excellent support I get here at ADBB - I really do feel I have a good support system here. My husband is also very supportive albeit weary after all the different weight loss regeimes and attempts I have made over the last 11 years! He knows Atkins works for me and so is right behind me.

Learn how to choose the right foods
I already know which foods to choose. I study the DANDR and it hasn't let me down yet! What I do like, is being more adventurous with foods - searching for new ideas and recipes.

Learn how to exercise
I already exercise.Change your environment to promote success - I feel I have done this a lot with Atkins WOE already but am still interested to read this.
I am really looking forward to reading everyones views on this chapter and raring to go with chapter two!

xxx

[Spikette]

Re: Dr Phil Reading Club Challenge, Oct10-16, Chapter 1

Hi all Still didn't get my book but I'll chime in based on what's been written so far.

Get Real Weight...I know what I've been comfortable at...but I also know that I have put on muscle from weight training and that's fine with me. I'm small boned and short...barely 5'1". My goal is around 103...but add a few lbs for the muscle and I think a "reasonable" goal might be 106 ish....we'll see.

Order of Importance...

Breaking bad habits, which actually comes from frustration lots of stress and various other emotions...so that's two for one My worse habit is late night snacking...even though it's legal food it is not helping me. I don't sleep all that well, which probably comes from some of the things I mentioned above.

Support system is huge...I do have a couple of "close" friends that totally are there for me...one is my workout partner and he's a great motivator. And of course I've come to realize how important ADBB is for everything.

I changed my environment about 1-1/2 yrs ago...now that's a long story...but now it's all good I do eat right and am learning how to choose even better...Boot camp did that for me. I exercise but I always feel I could do more.

Schedule is kind of rough...but am trying to work with it and get everything in...

I can't wait to actually get this book and start reading it....these discussions are going to be great!

[Bren]

Re: Dr Phil Reading Club Challenge, Oct10-16, Chapter 1

I DID start the book. And of course if anyone has read my journal you know that the "get real" weight hit me right between the eyes. A wonderful thing for me to be hearing right now.
As I said I did start, but not that far into it. The part where he talked about living for the future and not the moment is something that stuck with me also.

[Lisa M]

Re: Dr Phil Reading Club Challenge, Oct10-16, Chapter 1

I have the book and have read the first chapter...I need to read it over this evening over a candlelit bubble bath.

But after a long heart to heart talk with me, I've realized my happiest in life was when I was hovering 155-160. I actually had a wonderful doctor tell me that I was healthy and at an acceptable weight for my height/bone structure/etc. when I weighed 160.....that's about 13 years ago. So I know that's my long term goal.

I have emotional eating issues still to work with. I think everyone has emotional eating issues, but its how we handle them that make it different, difficult or easy.

I do agree that "will power" is not the problem, it's taking responsiblity and making a difference---doing it or not---is the problem. I believe in "doing power".

Programing myself for success isn't an easy task for me---I'm a self motivator and self-sabotager. Self motivation comes from within, and it takes strength and preserverance to keep it going....along with a band of friends to help guide along.

Looks like we all agree to a point that having a support system is very essential. love it!

Hey, Cleo, thanks for taking the time to start this and helping along. I've read my book twice over before and each time I find something new....I'm sure I will again this time. Except I need a different colored highlighter for this roung.

[Lady_Hawke]

Re: Dr Phil Reading Club Challenge, Oct10-16, Chapter 1

Geesh is it Monday already!!!! I best read chapter one then!

[cleochatra]

Re: Dr Phil Reading Club Challenge, Oct10-16, Chapter 1

Tam's always the one who's going to end up smacking erasers out back behind the classroom each week. I love that girl!


I like so very much reading what you all of you take from the writing! Whether it's what Bren carried away that I didn't think about, or Spikette, based on what she's read, it really helps me to not only see what I've read, but helps me to understand what you have all read too! It further pushes into my brain what Dr Phil is saying by reading what you write, and it is neat to see our different thoughts, too.

This is really helping me, I know. I hope it's giving others some benefit as well! Gee. I wish we could start Chapter 2 tomorrow!

[ladyinred]

Re: Dr Phil Reading Club Challenge, Oct10-16, Chapter 1

My first priority was getting a support system, which I have here. DH and kids are very supportive, but it's nice to be able to talk to people who truly understand what you are going through. He can eat a whole cake and lose weight. lol So that was the first thing I did for myself after re-starting Atkins.

Next would be understanding what I think about myself, my weight and having positive thoughts. This is about equal with impulse eating and emotional eating. The impulse and emotional eating are under control right now, but they haven't been tested recently. I'm hoping that he'll going into stuff like why we sabotage our own selves and why we (I) don't feel that we deserve to lose weight and be healthy. I can't figure it out myself, but I know that I've always gotten to a certain point and then stopped. Why?

I've already changed my food environment, I've got my food plan in hand, and I'm doing well in the exercise challenge. I just need to keep up with it, which I don't think I'll have a problem doing.

The way to program yourself for success is to do what we are doing: follow a WOE that works for us, make exercise a part of our daily rituals, touch base with our support group and people who care about us, and keep educating ourselves, i.e. discuss self-help books like Dr. Phil's so we can learn and understand more about ourselves and make ourselves stronger.

[ladyinred]

Re: Dr Phil Reading Club Challenge, Oct10-16, Chapter 1

My get real weight - lol. I think I'm pretty realistic. I will never be 120 like I was when I was 20 yrs old. The only way I could maintain that was on about 500 cals a day. I weighed about 140 when I got married, but that was just before I turned 30. It is also on the heavy end of the normal weight for my height chart. Since then I've aged 15 years, am going through perimenopause (or maybe it's menopause by now) and had 2 kids. Maybe 150 is more realistic, or maybe 140 will still be okay b/c I will be leaner but with more muscle. I guess I'd like to weigh whatever I would have to weigh to look like I weigh 140. Does that make sense? No, I'm not shooting for high school weight. Like the others, I may not know what it is until I get closer, but to be able to wear normal size clothes, from normal stores and, hey!, big dream here, but to be able to wear a bathing suit that doesn't have a skirt attached to it like a 2-year olds?? That would be great.

[manita]

Re: Dr Phil Reading Club Challenge, Oct10-16, Chapter 1

I am enjoying this thread. Even though I don't have the book and owe too much at the library. I think the biggest thing for me is to have support. I am glad to have found you all here! My husband tends to not think. My kids are supportive, yet complain about the food I am making. My brother is awsome, he is on atkins now and very supportive! Yet I am not telling anyone else I will just let them see for theirselves. It is like you go on so many diets and tell family and friends, then fail. It just makes you feel so much worse, when others are involved. All my sil's are thin and beautiful on the outside(don't get me started on the inside )


I wish I knew why I always seem to stop also... I think I read once that the question is "What is being over weight benifitting you? What are you hidding from?"

As far as weight I have realisticly looked at were I want to be and were I think I should shoot for because of my age and kids. I used to be 118 until I hit about 20. Then I was 130, but felt horribly fat. Now I would jsut loveeeeeeeeeee to be 130 again. Yet I think I will shoot for 150 and see how it goes. I just want to not have to buy + sized cloths!

Thanks for this post!!

[iwritedocs]

Re: Dr Phil Reading Club Challenge, Oct10-16, Chapter 1

I think this group is a great idea. I've had Dr. Phil's book for over a year now and read parts of it, some twice. Everything in it makes sense to me. So why don't I examine and work the keys? I'd have to really look at myself from the inside out, I guess.

In reading the posts so far, I had a lightbulb moment. I have no problem with the idea of my get real weight not being where I was 20 or even 10 years ago. I'm in the low 160s right now and all along would like to lose about 10 more pounds. But for the past 3-4months I haven't budged. It's not a stall, it's my own sabatoge everytime I start moving lower.

My lightbulb was realizing that when I reach my current goal (155) I won't look super model thin like all the magazine pictures (even pictures of the 45+ models). I'm just not built that way. So, maybe I keep sabatoging myself from reaching my goal because I know I will be disappointed when I get there. So I guess the most important key for me is accepting my self as I am at my "get real" weight.

Cleo, thanks so much for starting this discussion. I've learned something important already.

[cleochatra]

Re: Dr Phil Reading Club Challenge, Oct10-16, Chapter 1

This thread is amazing! Eveytime someone adds, I have to read and see what your thoughts and experiences are, too!

Lady/Red-- I think you make very valid points, and I look forward to seeing you in skinny bikinny's too! And seeing you work through not deserving weight loss will help me and others, too!

manita-- LOL on the library fines! Oh geez, girl. I think you're doing great by shooting for those small goals! Through working the book, we'll also be able to address why we're hiding behind our fat, and how is being fat benefitting us? Dr Phil comes right out with it, which I like! We can't afford to be tended to any longer if we are going to get real and do what we need to do!

iwritedocs! You gave me goosebumps with your post! That is such an epipheny moment! And you made me realize I am going through what you are right now.

I have an issue with getting past my half-way point. Why? Why, Dr Phil? Tell me! *lol* I want to be succcessful and yet part of me knows I'll never be happy regardless my weight--so why not eat that chalupa?

I can't wait to get to Chapter 2, when he starts hitting it out of the ballpark.