Self Sabotage-the mind game

Posted on August 21, 2015

There was a post in a game I am participating in about the phsycological effects of dieting. It got me thinking about what we do to prepare to compete, make goal and just generally succeed. Only to self sabotage. It really is about our own mind set. Is our head in the game or are we just going through the motions with no head game at all.

We all know that "head" games are bad but if used properly they can be a dieters best friend. We need to be in our own space and find what works for us. I have been doing some thinking on the comments that came from the orginal post and that is what has lead to this post, plus a couple of other thoughts floating in my head. So I wil begin with those...

I have been watching my weight for a while now (read years), and I have seen an 8 change to a 7, the 7 to a 6 and the 6 to a 5. Now this 5 has changed to a 4 but has slowly gone back up to the 5. I got frustrated with myself and it seemed the harder I tried this number wouldn't change (we are talking about the middle number) I am going back and forth on a two to three pound change, up and down. This morning I am up again. and again I am down on myself. Then I realized that I am doing this to myself, it isn't the scale. The scale only reflects a number. Granted I would like the number to be smaller and it will get that way.

My head games maybe a little different than yours but this is one situation I have found myself in recently. I ran into a friend that I havent seen in a while. We talked for a bit and as we talked she said you look good, have you lost weight? I said yes I have, how much? About 25 lbs since I lost my dad last fall. Wow you look great. I know it is hard losing your dad ... I heard the you look great and thought nice it is beginning to show. My hard work is paying off. yes I am doing something right. Our conversation ended and we went our seperate ways. It was a little later in the day and I was in the grocery store and decided that damn I could use treat. I got myself a chocolate bar. All the while thinking She said I looked great I can have this!! I am allowed to have a treat because of all my good work!! Then again a similar conversation with another friend. She asked what are you doing? are you walking more? just watching what you eat? Basically I am watching what I eat, drinking more water, not walking much because of the bugs and bears (just that time of year). She said it is working I can really see a difference. again I found myself in a store and bought a treat because again I was told that things were working... see the pattern?! I get a compliment and I deserve a treat!! hmmmm another post I saw was "dont use food as a treat, you are not a dog!" or something to that affect. Well damn that is what I have done!! I have treated myself for good work with food!! just like I would be training a dog!! SELF SABOTAGE!! at it's finest!

So the post about the phsycological affects of dieting really brought those actions into the light. Someone had commmented about the fear of succeeding. I have had that conversation before too, I had made the comment about losing weight and then everyone expecting me to participate in sports. I am not sports minded so why would I but in my mind I thought that when I lost weight everyone would expect it. Now there is an excuse to not loose weight if I have ever come up with an orginal excuse!!

I guess the point of this post is to bring to light the fact that everyone has self sabotage moments in what ever form they may be. We need to remember that the scale just reflects a number and to find other goals, achievements to focus on. I know while particpating in diet bet we need to watch the scale but I think we really need to put the focus on other things. How many miles have you run this month? how fast can you rule that mile? How many extra steps in a day? what new food have you tried? and liked? I think it is time to got back to the statement "if you fail to plan, you plan to fail". Let's have a plan for those self sabotage moments so that we can fight them

WHAT IS YOU PLAN TO FIGHT YOUR SELF SABOTAGE MOMENT? NO MORE SHOOTING OURSELVES IN THE FOOT OR IN THIS CASE THE TUMMY!!!!

Comment Now!

Marcie

08/23/2015 6:24AM

Love this post! One way to plan is to say "when I hit x number, I will treat myself to a new outfit" or whatever it is that would be a reward for you - that ISNT FOOD!! Maybe it is a bubble bath or going to a movie you have wanted to see or a new exercise DVD - what works as a reward is different for everyone. For me it was always clothes :-).

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Mel

08/21/2015 3:37PM

Oh my goodness! I needed to hear this today! I know that I do this, but I keep doing it. Today I won a diet bet and what did I do to celebrate? Eat a half a bag of dorito's...uggg.. I did it again- Such a vicious cycle. Thank you for writing this- it's nice to know that I'm not the only one that falls into the "head game" trap.

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BCbabe

I know it is hard to break the trend. we just have to find what makes us feel good and stick with it!! it feels good to workout and sweat for me that is what I want to try to stick with from now on

Marcie

Being conscious of the pattern is half the battle!

Anne M.

08/21/2015 10:15AM

Excellent post, Valerie! Lots of good points in here, and things to think about! I love Louise's idea about putting $5 in a jar every time you get a compliment! And I'm so proud of you, getting to that "4" in your weight!!! Great job! I'm finding out that we have to keep learning new things as we get closer to goal weight, too. I'm trying really hard to focus on how my clothes keep getting looser, rather than on how the silly scale just will not budge for several days at a time.

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BCbabe

I have done my measurements so I can track that. I also watch to see what is different in previous days if the scale doesnt budge. sometimes it is time to push it up a notch or change it up. it is all about tracking

Marcie

Agree Anne - how clothes fit is such a good metric!

Reggie

08/21/2015 9:25AM

Nice post. Very good reflection, or as i call it, a moment of clarity. Keep working at it and it will work. That has been my mantra. Bears, huh? The worst i have to worry about is coyotes and only because of the dog. Bears would make a difference in my walking for sure.

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BCbabe

usually I wouldn't stop walking because of them but they were quite a problem this year and wouldn't move off when we use deterrents. I will keep working on it, Thanks for your support

Louise

08/21/2015 9:16AM

dont use food as a treat, you are not a dogI LOVE THAT line!!! Great post! now next time you get a compliment put $5 in a jar on the counter... keep this up and work out more.... at some point you are going to 'NEED' new clothes --- THERE"S A TREAT!!!! size down!!! You can do this! YOU ROCK!

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BCbabe

mmmm a money reward!! now there is something I can get into!! I need to dump pop from my diet again too. the last time I did it I put $2 per day I didn't drink it into a bank account and yes I went shopping at some point!! Thanks for you support Louise!! you always come up with wonderful ideas!!

Julie Lama

Awesome! So true