nixx
Full Member
....without it sounding preachy or offensive, so let me start by saying that's not my intention at all - it's a genuine question. About me, firstly. I've lost and gained stones and stones all through my life, since being about 12. My latest (and last, I hope) loss - I lost around 4 stones 7 lbs on Lipotrim, and have maintained (and lost a few pounds) by doing WW since I stopped LT in August this year. I joined a class, but don't don't go as I'm not trying to lose. I know it's there if I need it though. I'm very strict with myself and my biggest fear now is putting any weight back on, as I know from vast personal experience that once I start, I wont stop, and I'll be back needing to lose 4 stones before I know it.
Anyway....
I lurk a lot on a lot of boards on this site, but don't post much. I see people repeatedly "starting again" and coming back a day or 3 later saying they've cheated/been bad/fallen off the wagon/had a night out/been stressed etc etc and completely understand this - we're human after all. What I wonder about is this- whether it does us good, whether it's useful for others on the boards to say things like
"don't worry, you'll get back into it"
"it's ok, you deserve a treat"
"what are you like, now start again!"
"it's only a few days, love, you'll pull that back in no time"
"now start again tomorrow, put that behind you"
I can see that as a one-off, if I'd just had one off day in weeks of behaving, that sort of encouragement would probably work, but honestly, it's a theme on these boards over and over again, so it can't be working for "repeat offenders", can it? Are we really helping them by being gentle and kind? Would we not be better getting tough?
My very first WW leader hundreds of years ago was very tough, and took no excuses. She got results! It made members more honest both with her and more importantly with themselves, and they knuckled down and lost the weight, rather than losing 2, gaining 1.5, losing 0.5, gaining 3...etc. etc...
I really don't mean to offend, and I'm not getting at anyone in particular - I just noticed a recurring theme. And I know it's easy for me to say, now I'm at goal, but believe me, maintaining is as hard, if not harder, than losing (and Ive done it a fair few times!).
I wonder what anyone else thinks?
Anyway....
I lurk a lot on a lot of boards on this site, but don't post much. I see people repeatedly "starting again" and coming back a day or 3 later saying they've cheated/been bad/fallen off the wagon/had a night out/been stressed etc etc and completely understand this - we're human after all. What I wonder about is this- whether it does us good, whether it's useful for others on the boards to say things like
"don't worry, you'll get back into it"
"it's ok, you deserve a treat"
"what are you like, now start again!"
"it's only a few days, love, you'll pull that back in no time"
"now start again tomorrow, put that behind you"
I can see that as a one-off, if I'd just had one off day in weeks of behaving, that sort of encouragement would probably work, but honestly, it's a theme on these boards over and over again, so it can't be working for "repeat offenders", can it? Are we really helping them by being gentle and kind? Would we not be better getting tough?
My very first WW leader hundreds of years ago was very tough, and took no excuses. She got results! It made members more honest both with her and more importantly with themselves, and they knuckled down and lost the weight, rather than losing 2, gaining 1.5, losing 0.5, gaining 3...etc. etc...
I really don't mean to offend, and I'm not getting at anyone in particular - I just noticed a recurring theme. And I know it's easy for me to say, now I'm at goal, but believe me, maintaining is as hard, if not harder, than losing (and Ive done it a fair few times!).
I wonder what anyone else thinks?