I received this "motivational" email today...if he were still alive I'd smack him!

"There are two great medicines: diet and self-control."

— Oscar Maximilian Bircher-Benner: Was a Swiss physician and nutritionist

Yep, I would smack him, too.

I think I'd send it back to whoever sent it to me, and ask that they practice his approach, and use their self control to keep their opinions to themselves!

Other than that, yep---I'd smack him too!!!

Kat

I would also hit him..

I hate being the one left scratching my head after the punchline is shared, but the quote doesn't bother me. It's spot on. Good diet usually makes for a healthy body, and the mind (self control) takes care of the rest. Or is it not the quote itself so much as - someone sending a bandster a "motivational" quote that's related to dieting?

Sorry I'm daft today.

I hate being the one left scratching my head after the punchline is shared, but the quote doesn't bother me. It's spot on. Good diet usually makes for a healthy body, and the mind (self control) takes care of the rest. Or is it not the quote itself so much as - someone sending a bandster a "motivational" quote that's related to dieting?

Sorry I'm daft today.

I just hate the word "diet", especially when combined with 'self control'. I've always believed in mind over matter, so it really irritates me to realize that I allowed myself to gain weight for the first time, when I was in my 20's. I wasn't raised with a healthy diet, and this strikes home for me. For years I was a work-a-holic, and just ate whatever was convenient without thinking. I KNOW that diet and self-control are important, it just hit me at the wrong time (after more than an hour of intense and painful physical therapy this morning). So yeah, I gained weight because of a bad diet and lack of self control. Heck I never blamed anyone else for my problems, but I sure didn't need the reminder of my own failings this morning.

I wish there was something that would motivate me to a good diet and self control. But I am afraid that I am a hopeless case. Way too much a a hedionist to practice either. Have I mentioned that I was banded almost 2 years ago and I am still fat?

re: "I've always believed in mind over matter"

I have become ELATED with the conviction that this overeating issue, more often is really 'mind over BEHAVIOR'...and that rational mind requires training and discipline...

Habit and inattention to those familiar all-too-easy behaviors, is just like trying to ignore the effects of gravity....

I was in a WinCo yesterday....getting some sparkling Water for my Sweat Bride....

....there was a large shopping cart parked in the aisle, filled (OVER filled) with all kinds of chips, sodas, bakery items, doritos, Cookies, etc....really FULL both top and on the rack underneath....no one was near it, I thought maybe it was one of those 'sales event' things....

I went around for a few other things, and came back by it....there was a HUGE woman---going toward 400#---now pushing it to the check out line...

Oh why is it so easy to slip back into those behaviors? I am so lucky that my band keeps me from gaining anything back.

And when I see sights like you did at WinCo - well they make me even more determined to be successful!

I wish there was something that would motivate me to a good diet and self control. But I am afraid that I am a hopeless case. Way too much a a hedionist to practice either. Have I mentioned that I was banded almost 2 years ago and I am still fat?

Just think where we would be now without the band - not a pretty sight in my case....

Just think where we would be now without the band - not a pretty sight in my case....

Chelle - The band isn't doing it - it us "our brains/self control " that is making healthy food choices and exercising - the band is just a piece of plastic that is only limiting how much we can stuff our face with at one time - but if we choose to eat every hour - drink milk shakes etc – we aren’t going to succeed - is it the bands fault - Nope - Its ours - brain/self control - we do have it we just don't always realize it - imho.. I take the majority of the credit for losing this weight – yep I give the band some props for helping me feel fuller on a lesser amount of food – but the band isn’t making my food choices or making me go to the gym every day - it’s me – so I believe that I DESERVE the props more than the band. Also, if we say it’s the bands that made us lose weight then I would agree with the rest of the world – “It’s the Easy Way” but I know this isn’t true – cuz I am working my butt off in changing my eating habits and exercising.

You could always dig him up and smacking him...

I honestly think that when people send us 'motivation,' they truly think we will read or interpret words in the same way as the original person. Interpretation is the heart of everything we hear and see. I think just ignoring stupidity is one thing, but if you don't voice your opinion people will not know what we are truly going through. The surgery was difficult, but adjusting to our lives post-band is self-control.

phyllisc: re: "Way too much a a hedionist to practice either."

Long ago I realized to have the MAXIMUM amount of enjoyment, I had to learn to recognize how to prioritize what those things were that gave me pleasure....

In other words, lesser priority pleasures should NEVER interfere with the HIGHER priority pleasures....

I'm still a hedonist....and I'm more efficient that ever....I'm just not a Morbidly Obese hedonist now....

All it takes is making a choice not globally, not in the ether of "I Wish" Land....

Each day requires a little diligent attention to my list of priorities....and the Band has helped maintain my focus on what is important more of the time.....so I can continue enjoying my pleasures in ever more effective ways....

And there in lies the problem!

Priority # 1= Eating, good taste, feeling a full tummy = pleasure.

It always goes back to that. It isn't that I don't have other things that I really enjoy, it is just that eating and food always works it way to the top.

But thanks for reminding me that I need to focus on the things that I enjoy that are not self destructive and will give me the most pleasure in the long run.