Introduction to Mind Over Platter

[SusieQ]

Good morning!

Thank you, Kippy, for making me a Henchwoman and giving me this opportunity to talk about a subject near and dear to my heart.....the psychology of successful weight loss.

My signature on the WW boards says, "Weight loss begins in the mind, not the mouth." Which is a really, really encouraging notion, because we human beings have a degree of mental flexibility. With the right tools, and a little awareness, we can work with our thoughts to become very, very successful NO COUNT LOSERS!

For those of you who don't know me (****BIG FLOURISH****) let me introduce myself. My name is Susie, and I'm a 49 year old wife and mother, and a shrinking shrink. I'm a mostly-retired psychiatrist. I've lost 45 pounds so far, and I have 24 to go to make WW goal. (I think. Arithmetic is not my strong suit.)

In this forum, I'd like to do two things. First, I'd like to invite all of you to ask questions about the mental aspects of weight loss: sustaining motivation, dealing with binges, the mind-body connection, or the mood-altering properties of foods. (These are all things I know a little about. I'm also very good at saying "i don't know" when I don't, and then going and finding out what I don't know.)

The other thing I am going to do is ramble. I've given a lot of thought to the psychology of successful weight loss and I'm gonna share those thoughts with you. Feel free to comment, disagree, share your own experience, or question!

I hope you find this forum informative, lively, and helpful. Together we will boldly go where no one has gone before......into MIND over PLATTER!

Susie

[triciak]

Hi Susie - running out the door. Very excited about this but wondering - do we do this here or over on the Thread Kippy set up?

[SusieQ]

How many APs for running out the door?

I think this *is* the thread Kippy set up, unless I'm being Dorothy and this isn't Kansas anymore...

Susie

[Rita]

What a great idea to have this. So many people have trouble because they can't get themselves to do what they know deep down is necessary for success - not only in weight loss, but other areas as well. I will be interested in what you all have to say.

[Di]

I think this is a great idea. Looking forward to hearing what people have to say:)

[Jellybeanz]

Moving my question to a new thread.....

[mylikeit]

Thank you, Susie. I'm another shrink (MFT -type) and find this subject to be endlessly fascinating. I look forward to sharing this journey with all of you.

[SusieQ]

Hey, nice to "meet" a colleague, MyLikeIt! Please feel free to jump in anytime...your input will be much appreciated!

Susie

[tripletsedb]

SusieQ,

Really looking foward to your thread and definately feel this coresponds(sp) with many areas some of us on this site are moving into. The psychology of weight maintance. How to continue the motivation and mind -body connection when so much has changed in your life especially when you have lost a lot of weight. I am down -90 pounds and have been maintaining for 21 months.

I still keep my Red Trophy Case (it is the one I received when I lost my first 5 pounds award; I then put the additional '5' stars & Bravos on it) on my computer to remind me how far I have come.

Now other reminders other than clothes to keep me motived in maintance.

Triplet MOM
Cindy

[krb]

SusieQ, Thanks for spearheading this section. When I was in midwifery school I, along with a couple other students, taught a nutrition class segment, on mindful eating. We facilitated the raisin excercise, and used as one of our resources a book on spirituality and weight loss, the title of which escapes me at the moment (did you mention a title in one of your threads?). I know myself to be, in general, a mindless eater. I inhale my food. I barely taste it. I am also the Buddhist-wannabe who drives like a maniac to get there and is still late for meditation group. I'm either trying to avoid something, or cut to the chase. Does that make sense?
I could not be a restaurant critic. Maybe that's an excercise, eh? Write about a meal after eating it (beyond the journaling I've been doing)? I process things through language and articulation. I might try that.
Just some random thoughts here. Thanks again. -Karen

[ksusarah]

Susie,
I'm so glad that this is on the Kippy board! I always enjoy your posts on the WW boards, and you really inspire me to THINK about my food, my weight loss journey, my goals, etc. I am really looking forward to participating in this thread!
Peace,
sarah

[Tylersmommy4]

I don't know how I missed this part of the board - but I love it already!

[COREtothecore]

Susie, you have hit the absolute 'core' of the weight problem that we're all working on; that which very few can master in order to successfully & permanently deal with their weight. You're a saint for taking on this task & adding this new dimension to the site. What to eat is only part of the battle, how to eat is even more important. Thanks for sharing this wealth of information with us.

Cindy

[Tori]

This is great. Thank you.