The Zen of Weight Loss: Further Reflections on my Consciousness Diet

Last updated on: April 28, 2017 at 9:07 am by James Ford

The Zen of Weight Loss: Further Reflections on my Consciousness Diet 2017-04-28T09:07:11-07:00 James Ford

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Today I officially became a life time member of Weight Watchers.

What that means is that I achieved my official “goal” weight, and now six weeks from that weigh in I’ve been able to stay within four pound range of my achieved goal weight (two tenths of a pound over the mid-point, thank you for asking). And now as long as I keep within some parameters, mainly not exceeding that goal weight by more than two pounds and weighing in at least once a month, there are no continuing fees for my participation at Weight Watchers.

I’m feeling really good about this. My spouse Jan, without whom this really would have been unlikely, is herself within three pounds of her goal weight. So, together we’ve had quite the year. And it has been a year and change since we began this process. So, here we are.

I’ve been fortunate enough to write for all three of the major Buddhist magazines, although I seem to have the most regular relationship with Lion’s Roar, writing for both their online and print versions. The current print issue actually has an article I wrote about weight loss, Weight Watchers, and dharma practice. I hope you’ll consider buying a copy of the magazine, there are actually much better articles in that issue than mine.

That said if weight is an issue for you, the article might be useful. I explore some of the ways my experience with Weight Watchers is informed by and in turn informs my dharma practices. Although published recently, due to the lead-time in magazine writing, it was written at what turned out to be roughly the mid point on my WW path to “life time.” Now, the truth of it is that if this is going to be a success, as defined for me by keeping most of that weight off for some extended period of time, I’d really like it to be the rest of my life, it means I’m in no sense at the end. I’ve only arrived at a new beginning.

But this does give me an opportunity to pause and reflect.

What I’m finding most about the experience so far is what I’m calling the consciousness diet. I used that term in the past, when I discovered a tracking application and used it. The principal is being aware of what one is eating. Pretty simple in theory. A bit harder, it turns out, in application. Still it is the foundation. With consciousness of what one is doing, one (in this case that one is me. But, maybe it can be you, as well) may then start making choices that are more healthful than not.

Some people, as they say, “eat to live,” and others “live to eat.” For the first category the deal is fuel. The joy of eating is secondary. Me, I belong fully, unabashedly, in the second category. I love to eat. I eat when I’m sad. I eat when I’m happy. I eat when I’m bored. I eat when I’m engaged. Food is a delight. A pleasure. There are a number of reasons I’ve become the principal cook in our family. But, my enthusiasm for food is a big part of it. I suspect these two different broad categories of people might need to engage the issues of eating differently, at least in some ways. But, for both, noticing what we’re doing is that first step.

Important. Critical. And it turns out I need a bit more. The app, where I simply had to record what I’d consumed, well, it worked for a couple of weeks. Me, I’m in the other oriented group of humans, so a gathering is a good thing for me. The weigh in in front of a human being has been critical in my keeping honest in my tracking – not fudging to myself about what I’m actually eating. After all, I can write down it was a smaller quantity than it was, and it is amazing how easy it is to justify that fudging. But then I have to weigh in in front of that other person. And well, the scale tells a lot of tales about what one did or did not do between weigh ins. Coaching on specifics is also a benefit of the group. Finding pointers that may come from the leader (and a special shout out to Lisa, leader-extraordinaire), but as likely as not come from the other participants, are enormously helpful.

Anyway. I’ve hit that marker. Ended one phase. And, embarked on my next.

I actually hope to trim down a few more pounds, five for sure. Maybe even ten. My goal was set by my doctor and Jan and what they think I can actually live with. I’m sure it was a wise call. But it was fifteen pounds above what the charts call for. And so losing five or even ten more pounds would still put me above the charts. But the fire burns and I want to go for losing a few more pounds. And, if that doesn’t happen, that’s okay. I have a place to arrive that feels quite good. That said, I’m not cutting back on my weekly meetings. And, I’m going to continue to track. And walk. And all those little things that have made this a success and have become, well, a life style.

And with that.

My word to you who are reading this is that if weight is your issue, you might check out Weight Watchers. And, if for any reason that doesn’t feel right, just start writing down what you eat. If you can use one of those free applications that help you track the calories (WW uses points, but obviously they’re ultimately based in calories) you are on your way. Finding some friends to walk with as you walk is a good thing, as well.

But, the bottom line, as with dharma practice, as with Zen, you start here. There is no other place.

Best wishes!

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