Monday, December 5, 2011

Weight Loss - It Takes Guts

It does take guts.  I mean this whole internet weight loss thing.  If you are one of us that writes a blog or shoots videos for YouTube, you know what I'm talking about.  Yesterday, I was talking to a close friend that is starting along their weight loss journey.  They were ready to talk about everything diet related but absolutely didn't want to say where they were at weight wise- not even talk about a specific number for a goal.  At first, I thought they were joking, but they were not going to get into specifics.  Well that is fine and I wish them all the luck in the world, but without some form of accountability, I think your chances of sticking to this are pretty slim.  To me, being so secretive seems so strange when one is used to the stark sharing that is everywhere in our weight loss community.  In fact, they couldn't believe I make videos and talk about my weight and the struggles of losing it.  Well yeah, it does take guts, and at first it was very uncomfortable especially for me because I have always been so shy.  However, now, I wouldn't want to try to do this journey without the help and accountability I get from all of you.  So, if you are out there blogging day after day, or making videos week after week about your weight, chin up and hold your head high and be proud because it does take guts and I am rooting for you all the way!!!

BTW, anyone like Kielbasa and Sauerkraut??


14 comments:

  1. Sounds to me like that person has failed so many times that it's difficult to really put himself "out there" and face it and start doing something about it. I can certainly understand how he feels because failure can become a mindset when it comes to weight loss. I hope you can be the example he needs to realize he can do this and have the confidence in himself to do what he needs to do. You seem to have come to terms with yourself and what you have to do; perhaps your friend can do the same.

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  2. Kielbasa and sauerkraut is SOOOO good.. my mom would throw potatoes in and they'd pick up the flavors and just make my mouth water. I hope your friend gets to where they need to be. I keep my blog a secret from friends and family because far too many of them are negative nancys who would love to turn my life into a reason for gossip. Who has the energy to deal with that, you know? But I have no problem openly talking about my weightloss for those who are or have been on the same journey. It IS very helpful and your friend is lucky that they have you to talk to about this even if it takes some time :0)

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  3. Ha. Paul, you hit on a pet peeve of mine r/t the weight loss community here in Blogland.

    There are MANY weight loss bloggers who do not state their weight. When I came upon the first blogger who neglected to state that little detail, I thought I had just missed it. I looked from post to post, on sidebars, below and above the post... nothin. No weight.

    This particular blogger dutifully recorded her week by week losses--just no bottom line. I thought she was alone in that secrecy. I mean these are weight loss blogs, right?

    Now that I've been blogging for a couple of years, I've discovered many WL bloggers who also omit how much they weigh.

    I suppose, underneath, it's a shame issue, but it feels so deceptive. I mean---IT'S A WEIGHT LOSS BLOG. (Uh-hmm. Sorry for thet yealling.)

    At any rate, regardless of everyone's right to do their blog their way, it annoys me. I often do not follow those particular bloggers.

    You're right. It does take courage--especially when the weight loss slows, stops, reverses. I know. Very tough to record THOSE numbers, I'll tell you. But isn't that part of why we're blogging about this most personal issue? So we won't slip into denial?

    Well, sorry about the length of this comment. Thanks for giving me space to vent my pet peeve. :}

    Deb

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  4. @downsizers You are right in that it takes confidence to put your self out there and a fear a failure might be keeping him from doing it. For me I try to turn this fear into a positive and use it for motivation to keep trying because I am afraid to fail in front of everyone.

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  5. @Carbie Girl Very interesting about keeping the blog from friends and family. I totally see the point of keeping away from the negative people and of coarse who needs more drama. Funny thing I tried to get friends and family to follow along-I even post links on my Facebook-none of them watch or follow--maybe I am not as interesting as I think LOL!!!

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  6. @Deb Willbefree Please feel free to vent at any time or length. I am just glad you read/comment. You know I haven't usually gone into my numbers here because I do it at least every week on YouTube and I didn't want to be redundant. However, it is just now dawning on me that many of my YT viewers don't read here, and many readers don't watch my videos. So, I will make it a point to include my complete story with numbers here too. Thanks for making me think.

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  7. I have to disagree with the secrecy about what people weigh. I am someone who hasn't disclosed what I weigh I have been making youtube videos and blogging for almost a year now and haven't felt the need to share my number with those watching me. Most of it is embarrassment from the number that I see on the scales but I talk about my weightloss honestly I share my struggles, my losses and gains (some of them big ones!)

    People can see changes through what you look like and body shots. I have accountability I make videos and do blog posts whatever the outcome on the scales. I think it is wrong to say someone who doesn't share their weight has no accountability because I do. I have done well this year losing weight without the need to say what I weigh, I have lost 64lbs so far and I have no idea of a goal yet. I have such a lot to lose and I have only ever been fat so until I begin to look how I want I will not have an idea of a goal weight. I have goals in terms of what clothing size I want to be and things I want to achieve which can only be done once I've lost weight.

    I also thing I have as much guts as those who share their weight, I put myself out there every week on a public forum and share things that I haven’t ever told my friends and family about how I feel about being overweight, how ashamed I am of my size and how gutting it is to have to grab onto the support of others to lose weight

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  8. @Gemma Hey Gemma 64 pounds lost is beyond awesome!! Trust me I know how hard it is. I am really proud and happy for you! When I wrote this I was hoping to write something that was an encouragement not something negative or divisive. I can see I failed at that and apologize if I upset you! I wish you were not embarrassed by the number on the scale though. It is what it is, and you are taking steps to fix it. It sounds to me like you are kicking its ass! I just followed your blog and would sub you on YouTube if you send me your user name. I didn't see it on your blog. I think you have a lot of guts! Like I say in the last sentence of my post " So, if you are out there blogging day after day, or making videos week after week about your weight, chin up and hold your head high and be proud because it does take guts and I am rooting for you all the way!!!"

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  9. I wasn't having a go I was just putting my side across I love reading your blog and watching your cooking videos.You are one of the few I have watched who seem to be doing the weight loss thing safely and not going for some crazy loss every week or some crazy unsustainable diet.

    The fact In wrote what I did probably says a lot about my insecurities than anything else. I sometimes wish I felt comfortable sharing my number and even though I am proud of what I have lost I am still ashamed of the number. In the YouTube weight loss community I don't think I watch anyone else who doesn't share their actual weight. Maybe I will someday.

    My username on YouTube is flab2fab82. Thanks for subscribing to my blog.

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  10. Hey, Paul. Just for the record, I didn't realize that you didn't state your weight or I wouldn't have gone on my pet peeve rant. :}

    In fact, I'm pretty sure that you did--at least at the beginning. Are you sure you haven't disclsoed the number?

    Deb

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  11. @Gemma Hi Gemma, well I'm glad we are still friends. I was already subbed to you on YT. I am going to go through some of your vids tomorrow after I get some sleep LOL.

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  12. @Deb Wilbefree Oh I stated it on my Dec 3 post and I may have from time to time in the past. I have it on my YT channel, but I never go through the numbers here for fear of being repetitious. I am putting it in a new post.

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  13. Hi Paul, I've thought about this post the enitre week and it's still nagging in the back of my mind. Although the support bloggers get from the blogging community is very helpful and appreciated, the only person I need to be accountable to is myself. If I choose not to post my weight on my blog, that is my prerogative. I honestly don't care what people's weights are week to week. Give me a total weight-loss number and I can pretty much figure the rest out myself. If someone wants to figure out how much I weigh, some simple math will do that. I have a weight-loss ticker at the top that tells you how much weight I have lost and how much weight I still have to lose. I'm 5'7", you can surely figure out the math. I think that this should be a supportive community where the comfort level of everyone involved needs to be respected. Good on you if you want to share your weekly numbers, that's your choice. No one should be made to feel that they have to share more than they are comfortable with. My issue is not so much with you, but your "venting" commenter. I appreciate all that you share and enjoy reading your blog. Best of luck and keep up the good work:)
    Leigh

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  14. @Leigh C Hey Leigh, thanks for the comment. You know I don't care if a person shares their number or not. I don't care if a person is doing Weight Watchers, juice fasting, low carb, water fast, portion control, Atkins or whatever. All I want to do is help to inspire and motivate ALL of us to lose weight and become healthier and happier people and have fun along the way. Hope you keep reading and commenting!

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