The holidays are over, it's week FIVE of 2014, and many people have simply cashed in their New Year's weight loss resolutions - or the exercise promises - or any other wish that seemed so possible as the New Year began.
But not us! At Queen Anne Medical Associates, we have a sturdy group of folks who want to crack this case. We want to answer the question,
"Why do people as smart, funny, and successful as we are still struggle with weight?"
So, we meet, and we talk, and we write.
We explore new approaches to weight loss, and we answer our objections to behaviors that could help us - like exercise. In fact, we're putting on those swimsuits with the knees and we're going to Water Aerobics on February 4 at the Ballard Pool!
Last week's Journal Exercise went something like this: "If your best friend were exactly in your situation, what would you do to show your support?"
We'll talk about this on Thursday, January 30.
The next question: "Resentment has come up as an opponent in our weight loss struggle. Examine your own resentments, i.e., whom or what do you resent? as it pertains to your life."
We're all in this together.
Linda Gromko, MD
www.LindaGromkoMD.com
Welcome back, everyone.
Here's my baseball diamond (your's may be completely different):
My pitcher is life, sending us fair balls, walks, strike-outs - and not always within our control!
- First base: Attitude & Intention
- Second base: Habits & Behaviors
- Third base: Self-nurturing (someone said "self-basting!")*
- Home base: Victory: Improving my Life
Now the trick here is that you keep running the bases - forever! Not for a prom dress, not for a wedding, not for a job interview. For the victory of improving our lives.
In group last week, we itemized factors which are "team mates" and "opponents."
Team mates (things that help):
- Queen Anne Medical Associates, PLLC
- Partner, kids
- Like-minded people
- Comfort
- Spiritual practice
- Volunteering
Opponents (things that don't help):
- Unrelenting food messages and images
- TV
- Stress
- Loneliness/boredom/grief
- Health issues
- Resentment
- Trauma
- PTSD
There are dozens more, but this gets us started.
Week 4 Exercise:
"If my best friend were in exactly my situation, I would encourage him/her by...."
Good luck, get writing.
We're all in this together.
Linda Gromko, MD
*Source may be Dave Barry? Tell me if you know! LG
Welcome back, committed person who wishes to live a better, healthier life!
Last week, we examined the expression,
"If I'm running the bases, I'm in the game."
This came from a client of mine who faces a number of challenges, but found if she consistently did the same behaviors that seemed to keep her on track, she stayed on track.
For one of us, the expression, "Suit up and show up" summed it up. And how often it's true that if we just attend, the battle's nearly won.
We looked at the baseball metaphor, and asked, "Who's the pitcher?" For some, that was "life" or "circumstances," or perhaps, "things beyond our control." Some felt the ball was food.
And the bases? Plenty of ideas: Attitude, Intention, Physical Activity, Self Care, Setting and Reaching an Appropriate Goal, and then, Maintenance!
Seems that to maintain a healthy weight,
- We show up
- We find an attitude that supports our doing the things we need
- We intend to enjoy better health and self-respect
- We learn to take care of ourselves - whatever that might mean
- We set and re-evaluate our goals, and
- Do it over again and again!
This week's exercise:
Who (what) are our teammates, and who (what) are our opponents?
Take care.
We're all in this together.
Linda Gromko MD
One of my wonderful patients, who - like many of us - faces a variety of challenges, has a great saying. She uses it like a mantra. She says,
"If I'm running the bases, I'm in the game."
For her, if she does the things she needs to do to stay on track, she stays on track.
For you, what are the bases? (all giggling aside)
Your assignment, should you chose to accept it...
"If I'm running the bases, I'm in the game. For me, the bases represent...."
Give it some thought; it's probably a different answer for everyone.
Take care.
We're all in this together.
Linda Gromko, MD
Queen Anne Medical Weight Loss Participants - What's so Special About Us?
There's no doubt in my mind that Queen Anne Medical Weight Loss participants are a group of smart, high-achieving, considerate people who have struggled far too long with the distress of excess weight.
We've been able to succeed in many - perhaps most - areas of our lives. But weight? Still an issue! And we all know that the stakes are getting higher.
Let's change this - this year!
I've decided to start a journaling project within our group. The goal is to help us focus on specific themes throughout the year. My longer-range goal is to write a weight loss guide for people just like us.
Your job - if you elect to partipate - is to complete a weekly assigned sentence. You can do this by completing a single sentence only, or write an essay! You may submit it to me or not: your choice. You may use your real name, or you may develop a pseudonym (even a personna!). If this project is expanded into a weight loss guide, you may well be in it.
How do you submit your entries?
You may bring your "journal" entries to Group. You may send them to my email at ljgromko@msn.com. Or add them as comments below. You may submit multiple comments; of course you may participate intermittently. I'll post the assigned exercise on this blog every week.
Why do this?
Accountability is critical. So is focus. So is discipline. And we might learn something about ourselves that will help us, and others like us!
Here's the first Journal Assignment:
"As the year begins....."
Good luck.
We're all in this together!
Linda Gromko, MD
