Losing Weight, Gaining Knowledge
Stacey has a closet full of clothes, some of which she can wear, others not. She'd like to be able to discard most of them but fears she'll need them; she's been so many sizes in the past that she can't anticipate what she'll need in the future.
Oh, how Stacey wishes she could stay one normal size the way she used to years ago. When she married, she recalls, she was satisfied with her looks and weight. Now she hates looking at herself in the mirror. Her husband doesn't say anything but she can tell he's not too pleased with her appearance either.
Stacey recalls the time she was on Weight Watchers and lost 25 pounds. But the results didn't last. She dreads going back to counting calories; she's been there, done that. What's going to help her now?
It took much courage for Stacey to call me. Her nutritionist had suggested she get a coach to help her reach her weight goal. Stacey figured she had nothing to lose ("Ha ha," she thought). She had walked the dieting treadmill so many times before she had begun to lose hope.
Stacey began by describing her efforts to lose weight. "What is failure?" I asked her. "What did you learn from your experience with Weight Watchers?"
We could look at Stacey's history as a series of failed attempts to lose weight or turn it on its head and envision each occurrence as part of her learning. In the first instance Stacey would see herself as going downhill; in the second, she's climbing ever closer to her desired goal.
No matter how many times a mountaineer slips she keeps climbing.
Stacey, like all of us, has the potential to reach her goal. By means of tapping into her courageous spirit and fanning the flames of motivation, she was able to get back to work. We spoke weekly and along with weight loss we discussed other life goals.
Stacey has now begun to live her life as fully as a painter paints her canvas - using inadvertent splatters of paint, as well as intentional strokes, to complete the whole. The result can be a masterpiece.
Oh, how Stacey wishes she could stay one normal size the way she used to years ago. When she married, she recalls, she was satisfied with her looks and weight. Now she hates looking at herself in the mirror. Her husband doesn't say anything but she can tell he's not too pleased with her appearance either.
Stacey recalls the time she was on Weight Watchers and lost 25 pounds. But the results didn't last. She dreads going back to counting calories; she's been there, done that. What's going to help her now?
It took much courage for Stacey to call me. Her nutritionist had suggested she get a coach to help her reach her weight goal. Stacey figured she had nothing to lose ("Ha ha," she thought). She had walked the dieting treadmill so many times before she had begun to lose hope.
Stacey began by describing her efforts to lose weight. "What is failure?" I asked her. "What did you learn from your experience with Weight Watchers?"
We could look at Stacey's history as a series of failed attempts to lose weight or turn it on its head and envision each occurrence as part of her learning. In the first instance Stacey would see herself as going downhill; in the second, she's climbing ever closer to her desired goal.
No matter how many times a mountaineer slips she keeps climbing.
Stacey, like all of us, has the potential to reach her goal. By means of tapping into her courageous spirit and fanning the flames of motivation, she was able to get back to work. We spoke weekly and along with weight loss we discussed other life goals.
Stacey has now begun to live her life as fully as a painter paints her canvas - using inadvertent splatters of paint, as well as intentional strokes, to complete the whole. The result can be a masterpiece.
posted by Dr. Spiegel at
10:10 AM
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